Welsh Hollyoaks and Netflix star's lifesaving operation after migraine issue

Wales Online

27-06-2025

Welsh Hollyoaks and Netflix star's lifesaving operation after migraine issue
Craig Russell had started forgetting things and began suffering from terrible migraines before scans revealed he had a benign tumour in his brain which was the size of a lime and had been there for over a decade
Craig Russell and his wife Kate who encouraged him to see a medical professional when he began forgetting things
A Welsh actor said he nearly died after a large tumour grew undetected for more than a decade inside his brain.
Craig Russell, known for his roles in TV shows such as Hollyoaks and Netflix's Queen Cleopatra, has shared his near-death experience which resulted in him having a deformed skull.
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Craig, 48, from Cwmtwrch in the Swansea Valleys and now living in Falmouth in Cornwall with his wife Kate, 40, and their two sons Teddy, 10 and Henry, seven, said he first noticed there might be a problem when he began forgetting things and then had migraines in September 2022. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter .
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He then described a harrowing incident where a "whooshing" came from the back of his head when he gave a scream during filming for 2024 film Edge of Summer which he said "nearly caused me to collapse".
By January 2023, grappling with deteriorating health, Craig admitted he was "all over the place" until Kate urged him to book an appointment with his GP. During the consultation he recalled how the doctor realised Craig was losing vision in his left eye and swiftly arranged a CT scan.
Craig's head after surgery which removed the tumour which was the size of a compressed lime
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Hours after the scan Craig's GP telephoned with unsettling news that they had "found something" within the imagery, prompting an urgent referral for additional MRI examinations towards the end of February 2023.
The scans revealed he had a substantial benign tumour within his cranium comparable in dimensions to a compressed lime.
Craig said: "It stopped me in my tracks. I never thought it would happen to me." Medics believed, given the size of the tumour, it had probably been developing inside his brain without him knowing for around 15 years. "The tumour got so big it pushed my skull up and out. It deformed the back of my head," he explained.
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Benign brain tumours can be dangerous even though they are not cancerous because they can still cause serious problems by pressing on and damaging the brain. So Craig underwent a risky operation in March 2023 to remove the mass which could have resulted in blindness or death.
Part of his damaged skull was removed and rebuilt using a plastic-concrete mix held in place by bolts and staples in his scalp. Craig underwent a critical seven-hour surgery at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth where surgeons removed a section of his skull affected by the tumour.
Craig thanked his family for supporting him through a very difficult period in his life
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Craig recalled: "My surgeon explained my tumour had been growing there for about 15 years and it appeared to have enveloped all the important stuff I needed to survive. There was a very real chance I wouldn't survive the operation because one little mistake and that's it – or at best I could come out blind or have a stroke."
Craig, who praised his family and particularly his wife for her "unwavering support", recovered successfully and has since become an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research and a patron for children's charity Joseph's Smile.
His most recent film, Protein, which premiered on June 13 this year featuring him in the role of a serial killer with a penchant for cannibalism, was a decade-long project. At one point the actor said it seemed uncertain whether he would survive to witness its release.
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"Someone asked me if I thought I'd ever see the film finished, which was a sobering idea as I nearly died before it came out," he said. "I'm so glad I was there to see it – I don't know if you can watch movies from the afterlife so I just have a lot of pride for everyone involved. I feel lucky to have had a brain tumour in a way because I've learnt so much about life, people, and resilience."
Despite facing post-operative challenges with swelling and fluid build-up around his brain Craig revealed he has fully recovered, attributing his improvement to weight-lifting which encouraged the drainage of fluid. "My head still hurts occasionally but I'm now back to full health," he said.
Craig is now an ambassador for the Brain Tumour Charity and called for more funding for research when he appeared in parliament last year
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He has advocated for increased government funding towards brain tumour research and he has taken on the role of an ambassador for Brain Tumour Research. Advancements in treating meningiomas, the kind of brain tumour Craig endured, may be coming as researchers from the University of Plymouth have pinpointed a significant protein influencing their growth, reports Brain Tumour Research.
By targeting the protein scientists managed to decelerate or stop the proliferation of tumour cells in lab environments – a development that Craig described as "a big step forward". Craig's recent film, Protein, which is showing in select cinemas, was particularly poignant for him given the uncertainty over whether he would live to see its premiere.
"The fact all that work we did is now being recognised favourably, especially by Mark Kermode, makes me so proud, so happy, and so relieved," he added. "If I had truly listened to my body this would have all been done and dusted years ago – so if you think you've got something wrong please just go and see your doctor."
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Protein is currently screening in select cinemas and is set for digital release on July 14.