Alex Kingston has revealed that taking part in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has made her feel ‘fearless’ following her battle with uterine (womb) cancer last year

Alex Kingston has revealed that competing in this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has transformed her life just a year after her shocking battle with uterine cancer — leaving her feeling “fearless” and more connected to her younger self than she ever imagined.

The actress, 62, who is currently competing in this year’s glitzy ballroom series with professional dancer Johannes Radebe, 38, was diagnosed with the disease in May and subsequently underwent a hysterectomy and radiation therapy

The 62-year-old actress, who is partnered with Johannes Radebe, 38, was diagnosed in May last year and underwent a hysterectomy followed by radiation therapy. Now, as she continues performing on the ballroom show, Alex says she feels “reborn,” crediting Strictly for helping her rediscover the energy and confidence she thought she had lost forever.

But now, she says, she feels more fearless than ever – and credits Strictly with helping her reclaim the vitality of her 25-year-old self (pictured 2000)

Speaking to The Mirror, she joked: “My husband says my 25-year-old body has come out of the closet! Thank you, Strictly — I’ll take it!”
She added that the experience has made her “fearless,” even if the looming pressure of Saturday night performances still leaves her terrified. Her biggest hope now, she says, is that sharing her story encourages others facing their own battles to keep going.

Alex explained that talking openly about her diagnosis felt like the right moment, especially as she remains in the competition. By staying on the show, she wants viewers to see that life continues even after hardship — and joy can return when you least expect it. She urged anyone struggling to “take every moment and enjoy it,” reminding them that “we only get one shot.”

In a recent interview with The Mirror, Alex shared: ‘My husband basically has said that my 25-year-old body has come out of the closet! Thank you, Strictly, I will take it! It has made me fearless’

With the Strictly final getting closer, Alex said she’s taking each day as it comes, just as she did during her radiation treatments. Dwelling on the past or future, she said, is no longer part of her mindset.

Her health journey first became public several months ago, when she revealed she had secretly battled uterine cancer last year. Alex admitted she had been experiencing symptoms for a long time but dismissed them as age-related — until she haemorrhaged on stage during a theatre performance. After completing her run in The Other Boleyn Girl, she sought medical help and was told the cancer was located in her fallopian tubes but had not reached her ovaries.

Alex, who was starring in The Other Boleyn Girl at the West Sussex theatre in April and May last year (pictured) was diagnosed after she ‘haemorrhaged’ on stage

Despite the trauma, Alex says the moment she had surgery she “felt like herself again,” something she hadn’t felt in years.

The actress has also spoken openly about her fertility struggles, having undergone 13 rounds of IVF before giving birth to her daughter Salome in 2001. She believes the hormonal treatments contributed to early perimenopause and long-term weight gain, something she felt was never fully explained to her.

Today, however, gratitude defines her outlook. She says she feels lucky to be alive and refuses to waste a single day — a mindset that drove her to accept Strictly’s invitation. As the oldest woman in this year’s lineup, she wanted to dance “for women of a certain age,” proving that life doesn’t end at 60.

Last month, she admitted training had been more challenging than she expected, especially after her health struggles. But standing beside Johannes on This Morning, she said: “Age is just a number. After a certain age, you’re not dead below the knee.”

Reflecting on everything she’s endured, Alex now believes more strongly than ever that life is too short not to leap into the things that scare you. And for her, Strictly has been the leap that brought her back to life