Lucy Davis, the 53-year-old actor known for her role as Dawn Tinsley in The Office, has clarified that she is “still alive” after some fans prematurely offered condolences following her announcement that she has incurable breast cancer. In a new social media post, Davis thanked supporters for their overwhelming kindness, while also addressing the mix-up with characteristic humour.
Davis Overwhelmed by Support After Cancer Revelation
Davis revealed earlier this week that she has breast cancer which has spread to her bones, and that she does not know “how long” she has left. The announcement prompted a flood of messages from fans, friends, family, and former colleagues, which Davis said left her “utterly overwhelmed.”
Writing on Instagram, Davis said: “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. That said, thank you to everyone for the tremendous amount of kindness and support you have sent me. Good grief it was emotional.”
She added that she is trying to read all the comments on her post, asking for patience: “I am trying to go through all the comments on my post – and I’ll get there, just give me a bit of time.”
Skateboard Video Lightens the Mood
However, among the thousands of well-wishes, a couple of people appeared to have misread the news and posted RIP messages. Davis joked about the error, saying: “Also, to the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented RIP, you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive – hurrah.”
To lighten the mood, Davis shared a video of herself attempting a skateboarding lesson, courtesy of actor Malachi Barton, her co-star from the Disney Channel comedy The Villains of Valley View. She joked that she has “no sporting ability whatsoever” and wanted to “lighten things up” after the emotional response.
Diagnosis and Career Highlights
Davis first revealed her diagnosis on Tuesday, explaining that she was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year and a half ago. By the time it was discovered, the disease had metastasised to her bones, including her spine, right hip, and ribs, and it was “too late” for chemotherapy. In her candid post, she said she is focused on making the most of her remaining time: “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.” She also stated, “I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it.”
Her announcement drew support from many former colleagues, including Ricky Gervais, who starred alongside Davis in The Office, and her father, comedian Jasper Carrott. Davis’s career includes an early appearance on her father’s BBC sitcom The Detectives, a role in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and her breakout part as Dawn Tinsley in The Office in 2001. She later appeared in Shaun of the Dead (2004), Wonder Woman (2017), and played Hilda Spellman in Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Davis’s latest update shows her approaching the future with spirit, learning to skateboard and gently correcting those who wrote her obituary a little early.
