Lucy Davis, the 53-year-old actor known for playing Dawn Tinsley in the UK version of The Office, has thanked fans for their support after revealing her incurable breast cancer diagnosis. In a new Instagram post, she said she was 'utterly overwhelmed' by the reaction and joked that some people had misread her news and commented R.I.P.
Davis responds to fan support
In her latest Instagram post, Davis shared an old video of herself learning to skateboard, captioning it with a message of gratitude. She wrote: "Ok, so the last two days have been utterly overwhelming, in that I had ZERO idea my cancer post would have the attention it did. Truly, I am in shock."
She continued: "That said…. THANK YOU to everyone for the tremendous amount of kindness and support you have sent me. Good grief it was emotional! I am trying to go thru all the comments on my post - and I’ll get there! Just give me a bit of time:)"
Davis also addressed those who misunderstood her condition, adding: "Also, to the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented R.I.P., you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive - hurrah!"
Fans praise Davis as 'an inspiration'
Fans have flooded the comments section with messages of encouragement, with many branding Davis an inspiration for going public with her diagnosis. One wrote: "You're absolutely incredible Lucy! You are so loved! Thank you for sharing this beautiful video & funny moment with us! You've been a part of so many people's lives through many of your amazing acting roles over the decades! Keep shining Queen."
Another replied: "You have encouraged such awareness and bravery in so many others in the same situation, at the dawn of an exciting new beginning." A third user added: "You go girl, know kick up some dust, have a blast and make memories for those who love you. Not sending love, but sending hope for you to have the best fun."
Davis reveals stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis
Earlier this week, Davis spoke publicly for the first time about her illness, revealing she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer over a year ago. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she confirmed the condition had "metastasized" to her bones, including her spine, right hip, and ribs, meaning it was now "too late" for chemotherapy.
She said: "As of now, I’m trying to live out whatever might be left of my life in as fun a way as I possibly can. The thing that has been most vital to me is humour. I asked my friends and family to make fun of me as much as possible (which they’re really good at), and most importantly of all to not treat me like a sick person. There’s nothing that will make you feel more unwell than being treated as if you’re unwell."
Davis added: "I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it."
Career highlights and support from co-stars
Davis rose to fame in 2001 with her breakthrough role as Dawn Tinsley in The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. She later appeared in Shaun Of The Dead and the 2017 film Wonder Woman, among other projects. More recently, she delighted a new generation of fans as Hilda Spellman in the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina.
Following her initial announcement, Davis received an outpouring of support from fellow celebrities, including her former co-star Ricky Gervais and her father, comedian Jasper Carrott. The support has continued to grow as fans and colleagues rally around her during this difficult time.
