Beloved actress Jenny Agutter has shared a candid update on a long-term health condition, revealing she continues to feel the effects of a shingles infection she suffered five years ago. The Call The Midwife star, who plays Sister Julienne in the hit BBC drama, spoke out just as the show's new series is set to return to screens.
The Painful Legacy of a Shingles Infection
Agutter, now 73, was struck down with shingles just before the programme's 2020 Christmas special. While the painful infection typically lasts up to four weeks, the actress explained she is still experiencing discomfort half a decade later. Speaking to Woman's Weekly Magazine, she described a persistent "itchy, bruised feeling" on one side of her face, specifically around her eyebrow and forehead.
She previously told ITV's Lorraine Kelly that the episode was a "painful and horrible" time. The shingles attacked nerves in her neck, causing a rash and pain on one side of her head and eye, alongside a month of photophobia, or light sensitivity. She suggested stress or the effects of lockdown may have been a trigger.
Gratitude and Resilience Amid Discomfort
Despite this ongoing issue, the veteran star of The Railway Children and Red Dwarf emphasised she remains in otherwise good health. "I am very lucky and thankful that I can enjoy a walk, that my body's functioning and working properly, that I have an appetite and can enjoy food," she stated. She acknowledged the natural creaks of ageing, joking about grunting when getting up from a low chair, but maintains a positive outlook.
No Retirement in Sight for the Dedicated Actress
With the latest series of Call The Midwife wrapping filming and her 73rd birthday passing in December, some might expect Agutter to consider stepping back. However, she firmly dismissed any notion of retirement. "I enjoy the stimulus of work," she declared. "I love going to work and seeing people. There's something really good about working on projects in a collaborative way and I love being on set and seeing how everything is done."
The new series, which kicks off in 1971 with storylines embracing Women's Lib, begins tonight at 8pm on BBC One. For those concerned about shingles, the NHS advises that the first signs often include a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin, a headache, or general malaise, usually followed by a rash a few days later. They recommend seeking advice from a pharmacist or NHS 111 if you suspect you have the condition.
