Cancer Halted Her Career

Alex Kingston has opened up about the career fears she faced after being forced to withdraw from a TV project following her uterine cancer diagnosis.

Alex Kingston, best known for Doctor Who, first disclosed her uterine cancer diagnosis in October last year, sharing that she had undergone both a hysterectomy and radiotherapy the previous year. Speaking to The Telegraph in an interview published on Wednesday, 22 April, the 63-year-old actress said she has since recovered, but admitted the setback badly shook her confidence about returning to work. Reflecting on that period, she said: “Well, that’s it. I’m not going to get another job ever again.”

Her screen comeback came with ITV’s upcoming spy drama Secret Service, where she stars as an MI6 intelligence security chief alongside Gemma Arterton. The series gave Kingston a chance to step back into television at the right pace, marking a significant return for the actress, who remains widely known for her acclaimed Doctor Who role during the Russell T Davies years.

Following treatment, Kingston also signed up for Strictly Come Dancing, teaming up with professional dancer Johannes Radebe and reaching week 10 of the competition. Hosted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, the BBC series became another important chapter in her recovery. However, Kingston later revealed that one performance resulted in a rib injury, forcing last-minute adjustments to the choreography.

The actress has previously said she decided to seek medical advice after experiencing bloating, pain and blood in her urine. She also disclosed that she suffered a haemorrhage while performing at Chichester Festival Theatre in the summer of 2024, but still finished the show.

Earlier this year, Kingston also spoke out about Craig Revel Horwood’s criticism of her Salsa to Mousse T’s “Horny”, arguing that his remarks went against the message of confidence, freedom and self-expression she hoped to promote.