Samantha Womack has had plenty to celebrate recently. Not only has the actress marked her 50th birthday with friends and family, she's also received the greatest gift possible entering a new decade cancer-free.
In August, Samantha announced that she had breast cancer. It came in the wake of Olivia Newton-John's passing - the Grease legend having battled with the disease for 30 years.
The former EastEnders star speaks to us on her milestone birthday after enjoying a few celebratory days at The Lakes By Yoo resort in the Cotswolds with her partner and ex-Coronation Street star Oliver Farnworth. She tells us she feels in a good place and explains she has found an even greater appreciation for life.
Samantha has an hour before she takes to the stage. The previous day she was in the Cotswolds with Oliver for our shoot, but she looks fresh-faced and far from tired. It's quite remarkable for someone who has gone through gruelling surgery and chemotherapy, and as we sit down to chat she tells us she's been given the best gift of all - she is now free from cancer.
"I just feel really thankful and really grateful that I caught it when I did," she says. "I feel very thankful for my life. I know that sounds crazy, but it's almost like I can see the beauty in everything now like everything feels special. I keep bursting into tears, because I'm happy.
"I think it [going through cancer] shifts your perspective and suddenly everything feels really important and really vital and you suddenly just appreciate everything."
Samantha's diagnosis came out of the blue. She hadn't suffered any obvious symptoms or found a lump. It was only during a "random check" that doctors alerted her to a shadow on her right breast.
Denne historien er fra December 12, 2022-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 12, 2022-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities