Lucy Davis, best known for playing Dawn Tinsley in The Office, has expressed gratitude for the 'overwhelming' support she received after revealing her incurable breast cancer diagnosis. The 53-year-old actor shared the news on Instagram, saying it was 'too late' for chemotherapy, and has now responded to the flood of messages from fans and celebrities.
Actor's humorous response
In a new Instagram post, Davis thanked those who reached out and joked about a couple of people who misread her previous post and commented condolences. Alongside an old video of her learning to skateboard, 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 added: 'That said…. THANK YOU to everyone for the tremendous amount of kindness and support you have sent me. Good grief it was emotional! I am trying to go thru all the comments on my post - and I’ll get there! Just give me a bit of time:)'
'Also, to the couple of people who slightly misread the news and commented R.I.P., you’ll be delighted to know I am still alive - hurrah!'
Fans' praise
Fans have branded Davis an inspiration for going public with her diagnosis, with many praising her response in the comments. One 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 replied: 'You have encouraged such awareness and bravery in so many others in the same situation, at the dawn of an exciting new beginning.' A third added: 'You go girl, know kick up some dust, have a blast and make memories for those who love you. Not sending love, but sending hope for you to have the best fun.'
Diagnosis and career
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. She confirmed the condition had 'metastasized' to her bones including her spine, right hip and ribs, meaning it was now 'too late' for chemotherapy.
'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,' she said. 'The thing that has been most vital to me is humour.'
Davis started her showbiz career in the early 90s, landing roles in The Detective alongside her dad, comedian Jasper Carrott. She gained her breakthrough part as Dawn Tinsley in The Office in 2001, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. She later appeared in Shaun Of The Dead and Wonder Woman, and played Hilda Spellman in the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina.
