Babe and Kath And Kim star Magda Szubanski announces cancer diagnosis
The 64-year-old Melbourne resident posted on social media that she had started treatment for stage four mantle cell lymphoma, which she described as a 'rare and fast-moving blood cancer'.
'It's serious, but I've started one of the best treatments available (the Nordic protocol), and I'm lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne,' Szubanski posted.
'I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me,' she added.
Szubanski said that she had shaved her head before appearing in a video 'in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks'. That was an apparent reference to undergoing chemotherapy.
Szubanski received international acclaim for her role as the farmer's wife Esme Hoggett in the 1995 movie Babe. The movie that tells the story of a pig that wants the job of a sheepdog was nominated for seven Academy Awards.
Szubanski reprised the role in the 1998 sequel: Babe: Pig In The City.
She played sports-loving Sharon Strzelecki in Australian sitcom Kath And Kim. The series ran from 2002 to 2005 and inspired an American remake with the same name.
Magda Szubanski, left, with John Travolta, right, in 2004 (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
Szubanski voiced the role of Miss Viola in the animated films Happy Feet in 2006 and Happy Feet Two in 2011. Both were produced and directed by George Miller.
Szubanski was born in Liverpool, England, on April 12 1961 and moved to Melbourne with her family in 1966.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Neighbours star shares update on seven month old son after brain tumour surgery
Australian model, Erin McNaught, has revealed her seven month old son has undergone surgery to remove a brain tumour after heartbreakingly noticing a 'rapid decline in his health and happiness' Former Neighbours star Erin McNaught has told fans her baby son, Obi, has undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his brain following "the hardest few days". The brave tot was diagnosed with cancer, aged just seven months, after Erin noticed a "rapid decline in his health and happiness". Thankfully, the mum-of-three, 43, said Obi's medical team were "very happy" with how the major operation went this week as she updated followers while thanking them for their support. Taking to Instagram, sharing a snap of herself kissing little Obi, whose head was wrapped up in bandages, in hospital following his operation, she said: "Today Obi had the surgery to remove the tumour. The amazing team here are very happy with the way it went." Earlier this week, the former Miss Universe Australia and her music producer partner Stace Cadet shared Obi's devastating diagnosis. The couple, who welcomed their first child together in October last year, issued a tearjerking joint statement on Thursday morning, as they opened up about their son's health concerns. "For the last few weeks we have noticed a rapid decline in Obi's behaviour and happiness," the statement began. It continued: "He was having problems eating, sleeping and most recently, keeping his head straight." The couple explained that after noticing Obi change so quickly, they booked him in for an MRI scan under the advice of their doctor. The scan, conducted earlier this week, tragically revealed that a large tumour was situated on the right side of his brain. "At about 6:00pm Tuesday night we met with a neurosurgeon who broke the heartbreaking news," Erin and Stace continued, adding: "We are absolutely shattered and the last few days have been our hardest days." Following Obi's operation, the proud parents praised the team at Queensland Children's Hospital, who are now working with Erin and Stace to devise a treatment plan. "Our team at the Queensland Children Hospital have been incredible and remain hopeful that we can remove the mass and get Obi healthy and happy pending the results," they concluded. The post was met with lots of well wishes from from family, friends and fans, including Erin's ex-husband, British musician, Example, who she shares two children with - sons Evander, seven, and Ennio, five. In November 2007, Erin was cast as Sienna Cammeniti in Neighbours. She said she was "nervous" about joining the show because it was "a big change" to the modelling work she was known for. However, after she began filming her first scenes on 17 December, by March 2008, she revealed her contract had been extended three months before leaving the iconic Aussie soap in July 2008.
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Wales Online
Kylie Minogue issues health update as she has 'succumbed' and cancels Tension Tour dates
Kylie Minogue issues health update as she has 'succumbed' and cancels Tension Tour dates The Aussie pop star has cancelled shows on her tour Kylie Minogue has told fans she has laryngitis (Image: Matt Crossick/PA ) Australian pop star Kylie Minogue has postponed a run of European shows, having 'succumbed to a viral infection' after completing the UK leg of her tour. The Padam Padam singer, 57, performed more than a dozen shows in the country as part of her Tension Tour, with her final date a performance at Glasgow's OVO Hydro on June 6. On Friday, Minogue said in a social media post that she would postpone her upcoming shows in Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia due to her contracting laryngitis, an inflammation of the voice box. 'Hi Lovers, as some of you may know, a week ago we finished the UK leg of The Tension Tour', she said. 'I made it over the finish line (Yay) but unfortunately have succumbed to a viral infection (Hello laryngitis) I've tried my best to recover fast to start our next run of shows on Monday but I'm afraid it will take me some days to be well enough to get back on stage and perform my best for you. Article continues below 'I'm so, SO sorry! I have no choice but to postpone the shows in Berlin, Lodz, Kaunas and Tallinn as scheduled. 'Please keep hold of your tickets, we're doing our very best to reschedule the dates and will update you very soon on that. 'Thank you for understanding – you know I love you all. And I LOVE THIS SHOW! And I'll miss you next week. And, I can't wait to see you. Love Kylie xxx'. Article continues below In 2024, Tension II, a sequel to her 2023 studio album, saw Minogue secure her 10th number one on the UK albums chart. Also in 2024, she took home the global icon gong at the Brit Awards and won the best pop dance recording Grammy for her hit Padam Padam.
Metro
6 hours ago
- Metro
The 7 best 'explosive' Australian thrillers free to watch in UK
It seems like Australian TV is finally having its moment in the spotlight. For decades the biggest exports from Down Under has been soaps like Home and Away and Neighbours, with Brits drawn to the sun and sea that was on offer through screens. However, in the past few years interest in other shows has grown, with many now flocking to see completely different versions of the country. Instead of the shores of Summer Bay or the community centred around Ramsay Street, interest is now sky high in thrillers and crime dramas that might not have you dreaming of hopping on a plane there anytime soon. You may have heard of the exceptional The Kettering Incident, Mystery Road and Underbelly. But if you're looking for other hidden gems to discover here are our picks – just in time for a weekend binge too! Based on the debut novel of the same name by journalist Chris Hammer, Scrublands first hit screens in 2023. It follows journalist Martin Scarsden (Luke Arnold) as he investigates what he initially thinks is a straightforward story about a small town a year on from a tragedy. As he digs deeper to discover the details of what actually happened after a priest shot dead five parishioners, Martin comes up against local residents who want to keep the past buried. The four-parter was a hit with critics and audiences alike, with The Guardian writing: 'It's a rock-solid addition to the rural noir genre, engaging from the start, all the way to a satisfyingly explosive finale.' A second season recently aired in Australia, so here's hoping the BBC will drop the follow-up episodes soon too. Another book-to-screen adaptation that's well worth a watch is Wake in Fight. Based on Kenneth Cook's 1961 novel of the same name, the 2017 miniseries starred Sean Keenan as John Grant, a schoolteacher who becomes trapped in an isolated outback town. The TV show had big shoes to fill after the 1971 film adaptation was nominated for the Grand Prix du Festival at the 24th Cannes Film Festival. When watching the reimagining, many viewers said they'd been left 'on the edge of their seat'. 'The cinematography is splendid, certainly rivalling the original movie. The sun-bright, yet dark, landscape and decaying town paints a delicious background for Grant's seemingly endless nightmare. The spirit of the original remains very well intact despite most of the modernisation,' user dnj-96166 posted on IMDB. Vikings star Travis Fimmel stars in Black Snow, which follows Detective James Cormack (Fimmel) as he investigates cold cases while also battling his own personal demons. Released in 2023, the first season was set in 2019 and saw him investigating the inquiry into the cold case murder of 17-year-old Isabel Baker in 1994, in the fictional Australian town of Ashford. In its review, Flicks called it a 'moody, well-made crime drama that forefronts a little-explored area of Australian culture and history'. Meanwhile viewers called it 'suspenseful', 'superb' and a 'edge of your seat' watch. The second season, which follows the investigation of another crime, was also recently released in the UK. Waking up with amnesia in an Australian hospital, a man played by Jamie Dornan, is assisted by a local woman who remembers him and offers to help rediscover his identity. However, it quickly emerges that he has a dark past and must do what he can to escape it before it finally catches up with him. After premiering in 2022, The Tourist was followed by a second season last year, with those episodes set in Ireland. With a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, critics said it was 'gripping', 'suspenseful' and even 'merrily unhinged'. Speaking to Forbes about the challenge to keep his character likeable enough to the audience to throw their support behind him, Jamie previously said: 'It's tough because we want to be on his side. The whole idea of the show hinges on the audience rooting for him.' Beginning with three feature-length TV movies in 2012, Jack Irish was based on Peter Temple's novel series of the same name. Set in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, it starred Guy Pearce as the titular character, a former criminal lawyer turned investigator and debt collector. After the murder of his wife by a client, Jack then pursues detective work and chasing people down for money. Following the success of the movies, Jack Irish was turned into a TV show, with the three seasons airing between 2016 until 2021. In its review of the first season, the New York Times wrote: 'It's straightforward, noirish mystery starring a laconic, mostly noble, unapologetically genre-friendly gumshoe.' All three movies and the three seasons are streaming on Channel 4. A fictional story that was inspired by true events, High Country stars Leah Purcell as detective Andrea 'Andie' Whitford who is transferred to the town of Brokenridge in the Victorian High Country and assigned to investigate the mysterious case of five missing people who have disappeared into the wilderness. But as she gets deeper into the investigation, she begins to uncover a complex web of murder, deceit and revenge. The eight-part series also stars Game of Thrones' and Derry Girls' Ian McElhinney, Sara Wiseman (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road) and Shannon Berry (The Survivors). TV Tonight's review read: 'It's fair to say the themes of High Country, being missing persons and associated crimes, have been explored in a range of other series, including Scandi-noir drama. Here it gets the First Nations treatment thanks to the fine talents of Leah Purcell.' Both seasons are currently available to stream in the UK. Red, White and Royal Blue star Akshay Khanna plays Senior Constable Zil Ahmed in Critical Incident. More Trending After he pursues a suspect at a train station while off duty, a shocking incident unfolds that sees an innocent bystander injured. As the investigation unfolds, Zil discovers the person he suspected of being the suspect was not the perpetrator of a crime he was chasing her for. Despite this he becomes obsessed with pinning something on her. View More » Viewers called it 'riveting', 'nuanced' and 'layered'. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Channel 4 star vomits as his girlfriend sleeps with another man on 'unnecessarily graphic' show MORE: EastEnders pulled from BBC iPlayer on Monday as new boss issues statement MORE: The Race Across The World victors aren't too posh to win
