Lucy Davis, best known for playing receptionist Dawn Tinsley in the original UK version of The Office, has revealed she has incurable breast cancer.
The 53-year-old actress, daughter of comedian Jasper Carrott, shared her diagnosis on Instagram on Tuesday. She wrote that she was diagnosed a year and a half ago with stage 4 breast cancer, which has metastasized to her spine, right hip, and ribs. “The cancer is incurable, and too late for chemo,” she said.
Davis described finding a tiny hard spot that she almost didn’t bother getting checked. “So I guess I’m saying don’t ignore anything – get everything checked out,” she wrote. She also noted that despite the diagnosis, she is trying to live her life as joyfully as possible and has found teachable moments in the experience.
Emphasising the importance of humour, Davis asked her friends and family to make fun of her and, above all, not to treat her like a sick person. “There’s nothing that will make you feel more unwell than being treated as if you’re unwell,” she said. She added that she is not scared of what comes next and is at peace, saying she will see her late dog Gracie sooner than expected.
The actress said she plans to continue working, calling acting one of the biggest joys of her life, and will keep up her animal rights advocacy. Her Instagram post included a video of her ringing a bell in hospital and reading a poem often used to mark the end of cancer treatment.
Davis went on to appear in films such as Shaun of the Dead and Wonder Woman, and in Netflix‘s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, recently marked its 25th anniversary on BBC.
According to Cancer Research UK, stage 4 breast cancer means the disease has spread to another part of the body, making it incurable, though treatment can control it for years. The NHS says possible symptoms include lumps, skin changes such as dimpling, and nipple discharge.
