Alex Kingston has revealed that her time on Strictly Come Dancing served as the 'perfect antidote' to her cancer treatment. The actress, known for roles in Doctor Who and ER, competed on the BBC show with professional dancer Johannes Radebe last year before being eliminated in November.
During her stint on the programme, Kingston disclosed that she had been diagnosed with womb cancer and underwent a hysterectomy and radiation treatment in 2024. Speaking in a VT, she said the diagnosis made her fearless and encouraged her to speak out to help others.
In a new interview with Saga Magazine, Kingston explained how dancing provided an escape. 'I truly loved my experience, and it was the perfect antidote to coming through cancer treatment,' she said. 'To be paired with Johannes Radebe was a dream. He’s got a beautiful soul.'
Kingston also discussed the impact of her diagnosis on her career. She had to walk away from another TV show due to her health, which she found uncomfortable. 'Like many actors, you always fear you won’t work again and I worried people might think I was unreliable,' she added.
The actress is now preparing for her new ITV drama Secret Service, based on Tom Bradby's novel. She described it as 'the first job I was offered after treatment' and a perfect way to ease back into work. Reflecting on her outlook, Kingston said: 'I’ve always been a positive, glass half-full type of person, and going through a cancer journey has made me double down on that. It makes you confront your mortality but I intend to live to 100.'
Kingston has also been open about her fertility struggles, undergoing multiple rounds of IVF to conceive her daughter Salome in 2001. She wonders if her uterine cancer diagnosis in 2024 is connected to those treatments.
