Lucy Davis has thanked fans for their 'tremendous amount of kindness and support' after revealing her incurable breast cancer diagnosis, while keeping her sense of humour intact. The 53-year-old actor, best known for playing Dawn in the UK version of The Office, took to Instagram to respond to the flood of messages she received following her heartbreaking announcement.
Overwhelmed by Support
In a new post, Davis said she had 'ZERO idea' her cancer post would attract such attention, admitting she was 'in shock'. 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 thanked everyone for their kindness, noting it was 'emotional' trying to read through all the comments. She also addressed a couple of people who misread her news and commented 'R.I.P.', joking: 'you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive - hurrah!'
Celebrity and Fan Reactions
Davis was quickly flooded with support from fellow famous faces, including her former co-star Ricky Gervais and her dad, comedian Jasper Carrott, according to the Mirror. Fans also branded her an inspiration for going public with her diagnosis, with many praising her response in the comments.
One fan 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 added: 'You have encouraged such awareness and bravery in so many others in the same situation, at the dawn of an exciting new beginning.'
Diagnosis and Journey
Davis spoke for the first time about her illness earlier this week, revealing she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer over a year ago. In her 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. I’m not scared of whatever comes next. I’m at peace with it.'
Career Highlights
Davis started her showbiz career in the early 90s, landing roles in The Detective alongside her dad. It wasn’t until 2001 when she claimed her breakthrough part as Dawn Tinsley in The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. After this she appeared in Shaun Of The Dead and 2017 flick Wonder Woman among many other projects. She also delighted a new generation of fans with her efforts as Hilda Spellman in the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina, opposite Kiernan Shipka, Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo and Gavin Leatherwood.
Davis's openness about her diagnosis has sparked an outpouring of support, with many praising her bravery and humour in the face of adversity. Her message serves as a reminder of the importance of community and laughter, even in the most challenging times.
