Timothy Spall thought he ‘might not make it' after leukaemia diagnosis
Actor Timothy Spall thought he 'might not make it' after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
The award-winning star, 68, who is known for playing Peter Pettigrew in the Harry Potter film series and starring in 2014 film Mr Turner, said the thought of leaving his family behind was 'unbearable'.
Speaking to Saga Magazine, the actor spoke about his leukaemia diagnosis, which he received in 1996, and the 'horror' of what dying would do to his family.
He said: 'I was 39 and we had three kids, and out of the blue I was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease called acute myeloid leukaemia. When I was told I had it, I got down on my knees and asked God to spare me for my family.
'There was a time when they thought I might not make it. The only really unbearable thing was what my family would do if I went? I wouldn't be there to look after them, and that was my job as a husband and father.
'The pain and the horror of what me dying would do to the people I loved was the only unbearable side of it. The rest I could take.
'One day, between treatments, the doctors had done tests and they thought I'd relapsed. A massive mushroom-type thing had grown in my lung. I was about to go and have full body radiation and a bone marrow transplant knowing there were things in my body that'd potentially kill me. That morning, I woke up and thought, sod this, I'm not going to die.'
Spall is married to writer Shane Spall and has three children named Rafe, Pascale, and Mercedes.
He added: 'We've been married for 44 years and are inseparable. Joined at the hip. We got married four months after we met. I think there is a lot to be said for marrying someone you don't know. I was just in love with her. She is also my best mate.'
The English actor won the Bafta for Leading Actor in 2024 for his role of Peter Farquhar in the true crime series, The Sixth Commandment, beating Succession star Brian Cox.
He also portrayed the Duke of Norfolk in the hit BBC Two series Wolf Hall, following the life of Thomas Cromwell, the principal adviser to Henry VIII.
Spall said: 'I thought it was a shoo-in for Brian Cox because Succession was such a popular show, and he was brilliant.
'It was my sixth Bafta nomination, and I got used to doing the 'smile', so I thought it was going to be another one of those.
'When I won it, I was genuinely surprised.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ryan Reynolds' £50m purchase, divorce from Hollywood actress and huge net worth
Ryan Reynolds has thrown himself into a host of business ventures since achieving Hollywood stardom, including the purchase of newly-promoted Championship club Wrexham Ryan Reynolds has partnered up with a Hollywood star to buy another sports team after the resounding success of Wrexham, which he co-owns with Rob McElhenney. The two actors have been instrumental in Wrexham's meteoric rise from non-league to the Championship in just four seasons. They became the first side in history to win three consecutive promotions in the top five leagues of English football. The fairytale rise has made Wrexham a world-renowned name, with the club just one promotion away from the lofty heights of the Premier League. But the Canadian has now taken another bold step in his sports empire by teaming up with his close friend, Hugh Jackman. Reynolds and his Deadpool & Wolverine co-star have announced that they now own an Australian sailing team named the BONDS Flying Roos. The rebranded team competes in the high-profile SailGP global sailing event, a competition backed by a diverse set of celebrity investors such as football superstar Kylian Mbappe, actress Anne Hathaway, F1 legend Sebastian Vettel and heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder. Reynolds' portfolio already includes stakes in Mexican football team Club Necaxa, Colombian side La Equidad and F1's Alpine. But for Jackman, the endeavour marks his first foray into sports ownership. "We're incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure," Reynolds and Jackman said in a statement. "Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride. Apologies in advance to Australia." The figure Reynolds and Jackman forked out for their new team hasn't been officially revealed but it's believed they splurged at least $50million (£37m) between them. And in light of the Wrexham co-owner's latest business move, we delve into how he amassed his colossal fortune and those who have supported him on his journey to stardom. Astonishing net worth Reynolds is reported to have an eye-watering net worth of around $400m (£295m), having been named as one of Hollywood's top earners. Forbes listed the movie star as 2024's second highest paid actor with a whopping haul of £79m, putting him just behind Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in the fortune stakes. Reynolds owed much of his success last year to crowd-pleasers like the Marvel blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine, while family film IF and Emmy-winning documentary Welcome to Wrexham also contributed. Beyond his box office earnings, Reynolds has shown financial acumen with shrewd business ventures, acquiring up to a 20 per cent stake in American gin company Aviation Gin before selling it in a massive $600m (£443m) deal in 2020. He also sold a large stake in mobile network company Mint Mobile to T-Mobile with the $1.35billion (£997m) deal seeing him pocket over $300m (£220m). The Deadpool star has invested a considerable sum in Wrexham, with him and co-owner McElhenney reportedly splashing out over £20m of their own money on the football club since their 2020 takeover. In 2023, an episode of Welcome to Wrexham revealed that they had lost around $12m (£8.9m) since taking over the club, with Reynolds responding by saying: "I'm going to throw up." Life with famous wife after Hollywood divorce Reynolds has been married to Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively since 2012, after meeting her on the Green Lantern film set. As their romance blossomed, they quickly became one of Hollywood's most beloved power couples, exchanging vows in a private South Carolina wedding before going on to welcome four children - James, Inez, Betty and Olin - together. Lively has been seen attending Wrexham games at the Racecourse Ground and paid a gushing tribute to the city after they secured promotion to the Championship in April. "Back to back to back," she wrote in an Instagram post. "History was made. Congratulations to @wrexham_afc. I will never forget the love and elation in that town today. Thank you for sharing it with us always." "And to these two men, @robmcelhenney & @vancityreynolds ... the love and respect that pours out of you each and together exponentially grows and creates more joy, more possibilities, more magic, more history," the actress added. "This picture feels to me like a painting of all you do for so many, while being so present and appreciative of every moment." Before marrying Lively, Reynolds made headlines thanks to his relationships with some of the most famous women in show business. In 2004, he got engaged to fellow Canadian Alanis Morissette, having met the singer at Drew Barrymore's birthday party two years earlier. They split up in 2007, with Morrissette citing the pressures of fame as a contributing factor, but they have remained close friends ever since. Reynolds, whose romantic history in the noughties reportedly included names like Sandra Bullock, Melissa Joan Hart and Charlize Theron, soon began to date actress Scarlett Johansson. The couple married in 2008 in an intimate Vancouver ceremony. But by 2010, they had parted ways, with the pair admitting that the relationship fell apart due to their busy schedules and a lack of quality time spent together. "We work and then go home," the actress later admitted to Time Out. "I'd just stare at the wall for a few hours before I got to sleep." Friendship with Rob McElhenney While they have overseen one of the most remarkable stories in football history together, Reynolds and McElhenney weren't even friends when they decided to buy Wrexham, having only briefly interacted with each other online on a few occasions. Contrary to what many believe, it wasn't Reynolds who first had the idea to take over a football club, either. Instead, it was McElhenney who spearheaded the plans after being inspired by British comedy writer and football fan Humphrey Ker to invest in a team. Despite not being a big football fan himself, McElhenney was captivated by Ker's passion for Liverpool. As a result, Ker suggested he watch the Netflix series Sunderland 'Til I Die during the coronavirus lockdown. The show piqued the interest of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor further, leading him to want his own football club to make his own documentary about. After the actor determined his budget, Ker then helped him pick out some suitable candidates. Wrexham stood out to McElhenney due to the club's history, passionate fanbase and need for new investment in the wake of the pandemic. He then approached Reynolds, who had previously messaged him about his favourite Always Sunny scene, to secure additional funding and attach another high-profile name to the club. Reynolds was excited by the idea and did not want to merely be a sponsor, but a co-owner alongside McElhenney. In November 2020, the pair purchased the club for £2m and the rest is history, with the duo now being very good friends despite not meeting face-to-face until April 2021. McElhenney has since told People that Reynolds is one of his closest friends, describing him as a "kind and generous soul, and somebody you can rely on." Hailing the actor as a "truly inspiring person," he added: "Our families have grown incredibly close, and even though we live on opposite coasts, we feel like we're right next to each other." Sign up to our newsletter! Wrexham is the Game is great new way to get top-class coverage Wrexham AFC is the arguably the fastest-growing club in the world at the moment thanks to a certain Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The Dragons have achieved two consecutive promotions and are cheered on by crowds from not only North Wales but also from all over the globe, thanks to the success of the Disney+ documentary 'Welcome to Wrexham'. But does it have a dedicated, quality source of information piped through to your inbox each week, free of ads but packed with informed opinion, analysis and even a little bit of fun each week? That's where Wrexham is the Game steps in... Available every Wednesday, it provides all the insights you need to be a top red. And for a limited time, a subscription to 'Wrexham is the Game' will cost fans just £15 for the first year.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'My boob job saved my life twice - I wouldn't be here right now'
Liz McEwan, 45, was diagnosed with breast cancer after deciding to have a boob job because she felt "flat-chested" - and her decision also saved her life a second time When Liz McEwan hears Chumbawamba's 1997 classic I get knocked down, but I get up again, every word resonates. Just as whenever she sees Kylie Minogue strutting her stuff she smiles - feeling the warmth of sisterhood. For, in October 2022, sick of her 'tiny boobs' mum-of-two Liz, now 45, decided to have implants. Her vanity saved her life … TWICE. 'I always had really tiny boobs, an AA cup and I didn't feel feminine,' says Liz, of Wolverhampton, West Midlands. 'I'd been thinking about having implants for about 20 years. But I'd had my kids and wanted to do something for myself.' Liz, 45, now an English teacher, with a son, aged 7, and an 11-year-old daughter, booked to see a cosmetic surgeon and, as part of the process, in December 2022, she had a mammogram and then ultrasound to scan her breasts. The mammogram was clear but, at the ultrasound, the radiologist suddenly became gravely concerned. Liz, whose husband Nick, 45, is a contract manager for a commodities company, says: 'As she looked at my second breast her face just totally changed and she started measuring something. 'She said 'I can see something. This is definitely falling into the category where I want to do a biopsy immediately.' 'Then she saw another one (a tumour) and then another one. So there were three (tumours) in total. 'It was just awful. I said 'Let's do the biopsy' and it happened then and there." Two days later, on 23 December, her cosmetic surgeon called. 'He said 'I'm really sorry, your biopsy has come back showing it is breast cancer,' she explains. 'The rug was pulled out from under me. He then said to me words I'll never forget - 'Your decision to have breast implants has saved your life. We are going to do surgery as soon as we can, but it's not going to be implants, unfortunately, it's going to be a mastectomy.' 'He reassured me by telling me, 'I think you will be OK, but you might not have been.' 'He then referred me to an amazing breast cancer surgeon. 'I had a mastectomy on the right side, followed by a preventative mastectomy on the left, and full reconstruction on both sides.' Told the breast cancer, while it had been caught early, was aggressive, she needed chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. This was the point when she started to really identify with Kylie. Talking about the singer's openness about her own breast cancer, which she had at 36 in May 2005, Liz, says: 'Kylie said it was like a nuclear bomb going off in her body and that's exactly what it was like for me. 'I thought, 'People like Kylie don't get breast cancer,' but they do. 'I felt like that 1990s song, I get knocked down, but I get up again. And I did. There's still life at the end of it all.' Liz's mastectomy revealed aggressive breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. 'I realised it really could have killed me,' she says. Following surgery, she was scheduled for six rounds of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation and 14 rounds of targeted immunotherapy. But then a second life-threatening condition was discovered. She explains: 'They did a routine echocardiogram as standard, as the type of treatment I had could cause heart problems and they discovered I have a genetic heart condition called cardiomyopathy - a disease of the heart muscle. 'The doctor told me, 'this has again saved your life because we have found it early and so we can work quickly, so it doesn't put pressure on your heart. You will be absolutely fine.' 'My decision to have implants on the one hand opened up a whole can of worms, but on the other, it's actually good as I'm here to tell the tale - as cardiomyopathy can be a ticking time bomb.' Women are currently offered breast screening routinely on the NHS from the age of 50. But Liz is speaking out as the NHS is trialling screening for women aged 30 upwards, which if rolled out nationally, she believes, will save lives. Each year, more than 10,000 women who are younger than the routine screening age are diagnosed, with breast cancer being the most common cause of death among young UK women - with 2,000 dying each year - highlighted by the tragedy of Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding, who died, aged 39, in 2021. And this week, singer Jesse J revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, aged 37. Liz says: 'I was shocked - but also not shocked - to see that Jesse J was diagnosed this week, because it seems to be becoming so much more prevalent in young women. It really can happen to anyone. 'I remember reading about the diagnosis of Sarah Harding and feeling so sad for her, but never imagining it could happen to me, until it did. 'But there's hope when you are diagnosed early. 'This is why it's so important that screening for women is brought in much earlier than the age of 50. 'I know there's pros and cons to screening and there's an argument about the so-called 'worried well,' where over-screening can cause unnecessary concerns, but a lot of countries do screen from age 40 and I strongly believe the UK should too. 'It seems that - for whatever reason - and the research is still unclear - more and more young women are being diagnosed. 'We 100% need mammograms and screening younger. 'I now have regular check-ups for my heart as well and I take beta blockers while it continues to recover from the chemotherapy. But it's all going in the right direction.' Liz is now writing a book, which has the working title When Life Gives You Melons, to help people to understand the reality of cancer treatment. It also makes it clear that there is hope, no matter how dark things can seem. She says: 'Chemotherapy is so awful and there are quite a lot of influencers out there making it look almost glamorous. 'There's a whole 'chemo chic' thing on social media of people looking great in leggings and putting on lip balm and taking selfies. 'I naively thought it was going to be like that for me. But the reality for most people is not sitting in designer leggings, it's just hell, nausea and awful. 'In the book I use my experience as a lens through which to explore life - sometimes quite deeply and other times much more light heartedly.' Incredibly grateful to be alive and quite happy with her body now, she says: 'I'm really happy with my reconstruction. I have ended up with a B cup, very modest. 'But I'm now confident in my body and with my boobs. And I'm so grateful to be here. 'Physically I feel really good, my hair is growing back, I'm back in the gym and I am living life to the fullest. 'I am going to wear a swim suit on the beach this year with more confidence than ever. I'm just glad to be here. 'I never imagined that going for implants would lead to the discovery of three deadly tumours, and then a heart condition which also could have killed me. 'Going to have a boob job ended up saving my life twice!'
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I starred in one of the nineties' biggest TV shows but ditched fame for a completely different job - I've been through hell but I don't regret it
This Life hit our screens in 1996 on BBC Two and went on to become a huge fan favourite. The TV drama, created by Amy Jenkins, went on to have two series which broadcast between 996 and 1997. It followed the lives of five law graduates trying to navigate their lives after university, played by Amita Dhiri, Jack Davenport, Andrew Lincoln, Jason Hughes and Daniela Nardini. Some of the star-studded cast decided to stick with their acting, but Daniela ended up doing something totally different. Scottish actress Daniela played Anna Forbes in the hit show and went on to receive a BAFTA for Best Actress in 1998. She reprised her role for the TV movie This Life +10 in 2006 to celebrate the show's 10 year anniversary. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. After This Life, Daniela landed roles in the likes of Quite Ugly One Morning, Sirens, Lewis, Vera and Waterloo Road. But nowadays she is doing something very different. Daniela is now a qualified and practicing psychotherapist. She also has her own CBT practice in Glasgow, Scotland. Her profile on Psychology Today reads: 'I have worked as an actress for over 35 years. 'This has been an invaluable education for me to study what it is to be human and how we can all suffer at times and feel misunderstood and lonely. 'I myself have struggled at times. 'My practice involves helping you gain insight, clarity and believe it or not humour at times. 'I don't shock easily so I won't judge.' It adds: 'I can help firstly by listening to you. 'Often we feel unheard or feel shame because we are struggling. 'I am here to listen without judgement and to offer you compassion and kindness. 'Together we can work out a plan that will help you feel more in control and able to make the changes you want to happen as well as working at your own pace. ' Her types of therapy include acceptance and commitment, cognitive behavioural, compassion focused, creative therapy, person-centered and positive psychology. Daniela's top specialties include depression, anxiety and behavioural issues, and has expertise in addiction, cancer, divorce, family conflict and parenting. The actress can use the tough times in her life to resonate with others after losing her father in 2015, followed by a divorce and a cancer diagnosis in 2018. Back in 2020 Daniela opened up to us about the 'worst five years of her life'. She said: 'I went through a very dark period. 'Sometimes I wonder if it was all the emotional stuff I was going through that caused my cancer. 'A couple of years down the road, I now feel as if I've emerged stronger and a better person really. 'Anna would be proud.' Speaking about This Life, she added: 'I love that people still enjoy the series. 'But This Life feels like another life now. It was very exciting and intoxicating at the time. 'We all got quite famous through it, quickly, which was a shock and a little bit terrifying. 'I don't miss any of it though. 'I'm glad I experienced it but I don't crave it. What I do crave is good work. It's quite hard to find work that excites you and speaks to you.
