2 days ago
Magda Szubanski's shock career move following rare blood cancer diagnosis: 'Close to my heart'
Famed Australian actress Magda Szubansk is set to reboot the fictional character that made her a household name.
The 64-year-old, who revealed last month that she has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer, will appear as her beloved Kath & Kim sitcom character Sharon Strzelecki in a new nationwide mental health initiative.
Magda, who originated the part in the TV classic Kath and Kim, will revive Sharon for a 60 second ad for Medibank's 'Family Roast' campaign.
Based around around a card game intended to help Australians have more 'meaningful' conversations around mental health, the Family Roast will also introduce two new characters - Sharon's children Tim and Pam.
'Supporting the mental well-being of Australians has always been close to my heart - whether through making people laugh, or through raising awareness and funds for trauma,' Magda, who has been working on the campaign for three months, announced on Tuesday.
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'This is a fantastic initiative, and we hope it gives everyday Aussies some practical tools to better understand mental health and connect more meaningfully with one another.'
Medibank's announcement revealed that the ad campaign, which drops on June 8, will feature Magda as Sharon and her 'children' playing the Family Roast card game and 'getting to know each other on a deeper level.'
Magda starred as the unlucky in love Sharon in the ABC hit comedy Kath & Kim from 2002 to 2005 and again in 2007 and 2022, as well as two films, Da Kath & Kim Code in 2005 and Kath & Kimderella in 2012.
The sitcom, which also starred Jane Turner, Gina Riley, Glenn Robbins and Peter Rowsthorn, went on to become one of Australia's most beloved comedies.
It comes after Magda revealed last month that she has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
The Australian comedian announced she is battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma - a rare and fast-moving blood cancer.
Sharing the news on line Magda appeared on camera with a shaved head after beginning her treatment to fight the disease.
'Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma,' she began.
'It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately. But the good thing is I'm surrounded by beautiful friends and family and an incredible medical support team.
'Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate.
'It's pretty confronting. It is a full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time.'
Magda said she has started a treatment called the Nordic protocol, which treats Mantle Cell Lymphoma by shrinking the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases.
It's known as the Nordic regimen based upon its clinical trial sites in Denmark and Norway.
The actress explained she will be 'lying very low' due to her weak immune system.
'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 said.
'Please keep a distance though because I will be very immunocompromised. So I can't hug no more.
'Don't hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly.'
The Kath & Kim star said the cancer was discovered during a routine breast screening.
'This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up,' she explained.
'TBH, I've been feeling pretty rats**t for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and - voila! So the take away is - get tested and listen to your body!
