EastEnders actress Gillian Wright, 61, has revealed she suffered a serious health scare with acute pancreatitis, a condition that left her in 'unbearable' pain and required emergency hospital treatment. The actress, best known for playing Jean Slater, described the experience as a 'brush with death'.
Wright first noticed symptoms—a sharp, persistent stomach pain—while at a dog agility class. After returning home, a neighbour called 999, and she was rushed to hospital. In a rare interview with the Sunday Mirror, she said: 'It was touch and go. The pain was unbearable. If somebody had given me the choice of living with that pain a day longer or swallowing a pill to end it all, I’d have taken the tablet.'
Her parents flew down from the Highlands of Scotland to care for her, and her sister and nephew were frantic with worry. While in hospital, Wright was prescribed morphine, but experienced severe side effects including hallucinations, leading to impromptu performances for staff and patients.
Acute pancreatitis is a serious inflammation of the pancreas. According to the Pancreas Foundation, mortality remains at about 10 percent despite modern medicine. The most common cause is gallstones, but excessive alcohol consumption and hereditary factors can also play a role. Wright's condition was believed to be hereditary.
The NHS notes that main symptoms include severe pain in the centre of the tummy, which can worsen and travel to the back. Pain is often exacerbated by eating or drinking, especially fatty foods. Treatment typically involves intravenous fluids and nutritional support, with a feeding tube if necessary.
To reduce the risk of developing acute pancreatitis, a healthy lifestyle is recommended, including eating five portions of fruit and vegetables daily and limiting alcohol intake to no more than 14 units per week.
