Latest news with #Magda
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Not all bad': Aussie icon Magda Szubanski shares upbeat health update as she continues treatment for stage four blood cancer
Beloved Aussie comedian Magda Szubanski has returned to social media with a health update, just over a month since revealing she's battling stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. The 64-year-old posted a lighthearted video to Instagram on Monday night, giving fans a glimpse into how she's coping with treatment. True to form, Magda managed to find humour in the tough situation, captioning the post: "The upside of The Cancer - it ain't all bad!!" "Thank you @lego and @thrivepr for my new Lego Land Rover classic Defender. This will keep me busy for a bit," she said. Dressed in a cosy grey hoodie, the Kath & Kim star beamed as she showed off her new LEGO set. "Having The Cancer is not all bad because, look… LEGO," she said in the clip, grinning. Magda then quipped that she's "such an 11-year-old boy trapped in a 64-year-old lesbian's body". "I don't know how that happened, it just is what it is," she said. While the comedian and writer admitted that fiddly LEGO builds can be a challenge thanks to "chemo-induced numbness" in her fingertips, she said she's "planned ahead by ordering a kit with pliers and finger protectors". "GOOD TIMES!!!" she joked. The Logie-winning actress even gave a sweet nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was known for her penchant for Land Rovers. "Now all I need is a Lego Queen Elizabeth II to pop in the driver's seat," she said. Magda's update was quickly met with a flood of supportive messages from fans and fellow celebrities alike. "God bless you and your beautiful outlook on life and Lego… sending positive vibes," Married At First Sight alum Dave Hand wrote, while Big Brother winner Reggie Bird added: "Oh looking forward to the end result." MasterChef favourite Julie Goodwin left a simple but heartfelt purple heart emoji. "The one thing chemo hasn't taken away from you is your spirit & your sense of humour Magda. You rock, you've got this x Hang in there, Lego is great!" one fan commented. Another wrote: "Love you Magda. (Love Lego too!) Keep up the good work. We are all here cheering you on from the sidelines." One admirer even suggested LEGO make a Sharon Strzelecki figurine - Magda's iconic Kath & Kim character – to "pop in the driver's seat". Magda first revealed her diagnosis on 29 May, sharing that the aggressive cancer was only discovered by chance during a routine breast screening, which detected swollen lymph nodes. "TBH, I've been feeling pretty rats*** for ages," she said at the time. "So I asked for extra bloods and - voila!" While she admitted the diagnosis is "very rare, very aggressive, and very serious", she said she was already undergoing treatment in her hometown of Melbourne and remained hopeful. "I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful," she told fans. "I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me." She urged others to be proactive about their health, saying: "Get tested and listen to your body!" Just days later, on June 1, she returned to Instagram to thank fans for their outpouring of support. "It's been so moving, and really, youse are the wind beneath my wings," she wrote, her trademark humour shining through. "Thank you very much, love youse all."
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ladies in Black: why U's new Aussie drama is better than Call the Midwife
The TV adaptation of Madeleine St John's 1993 novel is coming to U and it's packed with drama, light-hearted mayhem and thought-provoking intrigue, with a killer cast. If you're after a warm, character-driven drama with heart, heritage and a fabulous wardrobe to match, Ladies in Black might just be your perfect next binge - and it's better than Call the Midwife. Set in the glittering world of a 1960s Sydney department store, this glossy new series is based on Madeleine St John's 1993 novel, The Women in Black and was initially released in Australia last year - but it's available to stream on U from this Saturday (July 12). With a fresh cocktail of fashion, friendship and female empowerment - all led by Goodfellas and Entourage star Debi Mazar, it combines feel-good nostalgia and powerful, quietly political storytelling, tackling issues like women's rights, racism and class. In this show, Debi plays Magda, the glamorous and fiercely intelligent head of model gowns at Goodes, a fictional version of Australia's legendary department store company David Jones. But Magda's not draped in silks - she's wrapped in secrets and ambition. 'Her dream has always been to have her own boutique, her own business,' Debi says, 'She is someone who sees the future of fashion.' Debi helped shape her character's backstory, inspired by her grandmother's own history. 'I made Magda Polish,' Debi says, 'She says 'I've had so many losses', so I created a back story for her. She's married to Stefan but I imagine she might have married someone who was Jewish. I feel that she lost a baby. Magda's life has not been easy. I related to Magda a lot because my grandmother was from Latvia, she married a Jewish man. But because he was Jewish, and it was wartime, he had to escape. She stayed but then her country was occupied. My grandmother went through a lot of similar things as Magda.' Kickers' 'durable' Back to School shoe range that 'last all year' Alongside Debi is a cast of fresh and familiar faces - including rising star Clare Hughes as Lisa, a teenage shopgirl and aspiring writer. Lisa's story, full of hope and heartache, will resonate with anyone who has dared to want more. 'She wants to become a writer and she's desperately trying to get her articles published in the student newspaper,' says Clare. 'She's trying to balance all of that and work out who she is. She's discovering boys and sex and drinking which is all very new to her.' One of her first grown-up experiences? Heartbreak. 'She's very curious about boys and love and decides that Richard, the editor of Honi Soit, is the right one for her,' Clare says. 'But she falls in love with the idea of him.' Lisa faces another challenge of the era: sexism in every direction. 'She's writing about the pill and has a lot of feminist ideals in her head, but she's constantly coming up against 'the boys' telling her what to do,' Clare says. 'I admire that she puts them in their place.' Meanwhile, Jessica de Gouw shines as Fay who is newly married to the dashing Rudi (Thom Green). 'She is very empowered in the Goode's department store,' Jessica says. 'But at the same time, she's starting out this life as a newly married woman and none of it fits' Jessica says. 'She's madly in love with her husband but struggling in the domestic sphere.' Fay's past is also shrouded in mystery, but there are clues it could be heavy. 'Early on, I had conversations with John Logue, our hair and makeup designer, about what Fay could look like. We decided she might be a redhead,' Jessica says. 'She had another life before Goodes'. She worked at the Trocadero. She was somewhat more risqué than the women she's now surrounded by so we wanted to give her that edge and spiciness.' Jessica had to adapt to big change, trading her brown locks for an auburn hue. Amid the shifting sands of grief, love and liberation, a new figure arrives at Goodes: Virginia Ambrose, played with icy elegance by Miranda Otto, once known as Eowyn in the Lord of the Rings saga. Virginia, Magda's poised and intimidating replacement, brings a different energy - and a few surprises. 'She provokes a lot of things in the department,' Miranda says, 'She asserts herself in a certain way and you think that she's one particular thing. But then you discover there's a lot more to her. She's mysterious.' Off-set, however, Miranda couldn't have been more thrilled to work with her director sister Gracie again. 'We worked together for the first time on The Clearing,' Miranda says. 'She brings an awesome energy to the set. You can tell that Gracie has played sports because she understands the team; she inspires them and keeps the energy going.' As Magda gears up for her bittersweet exit, one more arrival threatens to unravel things further - enter Angela, a sharp and ambitious newcomer with a powerful pedigree. Played by breakout star Azizi Donnelly, Angela is the daughter of Goodes' fiercest competitor, Dawud Mansour. 'She moves between worlds' Azizi Donnelly says, 'Her story is about discovering herself and going after her ambitions and dreams as a fashion designer.' Ladies in Black is Australia on the brink of change, captured through the eyes of the women making it happen. Visually, the show is stunning, filled with swoon-worthy dresses, sleek 1960s hairstyles and sumptuous sets. But beneath all the glamour, there's a wider message: women supporting women, lifting each other up and rewriting the rules. At a time we're all craving comfort, connection and maybe a little escapism, Ladies in Black brings all three. It's a reminder that, sometimes, the most radical thing a woman can do is believe in herself - and help others do the same.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
MAFS star quits showbiz and returns to day job as he puts a call out for new business
MARRIED At First Sight hunk Ross McCarthy has revealed that he has quit showbiz and returned to his day job. The E4 star has returned to his roots as a painter and decorator following his failed TV marriage. 3 3 Ross shared a call out for his business in which he revealed that he and his team are happy to travel for jobs far and wide. He appears to be using his fame to drum up interest in the business by committing to doing jobs for his followers across the country. Appealing for more custom as he returns to his old life, Ross wrote online: "To all my followers who live further away. "If you're looking for painting and decorating work done, especially bigger jobs, feel free to DM me. "I've had a few people ask about distance, but it's no issue now - we're happy to travel and focus on delivering quality work every time. "Let's get your space looking spot on." Ross made history on the show as its first deaf groom, but he broke Sacha's heart after struggling with his anger issues. The reality TV star has since turned his life around – and found new love with a girlfriend Magda. In a powerful message to fans, Ross revealed that he's 65 days sober and determined never to go back. Watch the moment MAFS bride makes major relationship U-turn as she drops bombshell on husband after meeting his family In an emotional post, he shared: 'For everyone who's been asking me about this book – what is it, and what's it done for me – well, here you go. 'I'm finally ready to share it with the world, because I'm more stable now, and my mindset is stronger than ever. 'So yeah… I'm an alcoholic. 'And I'm proud to say that out loud now, because back then, I couldn't.' Ross credited a life-changing book and the unwavering support of his loved ones for helping him on his journey to sobriety. 3
Daily Mirror
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Comedian diagnosed with 'rare' stage four cancer and makes sad admission
Australian comedian Magda Szubanski took to her Instagram page to announce the heartbreaking news with her fans Australian comedian Magda Szubanski has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. The star, 64, took to her Instagram page to share the heartbreaking news with followers as she revealed she's been battling Mantle Cell Lymphoma, which is a type of rare and fast-moving blood cancer. Appearing on camera with a shaved head, she said: "Hello my lovelies. So, the head is shaved in anticipation of it all falling out in a couple of weeks because I have just been diagnosed with a very rare, very aggressive, very serious lymphoma. It is one of the nasty ones, unfortunately. But the good thing is I'm surrounded by beautiful friends and family and an incredible medical support team. "Honestly, we have the best in the world here in Australia, particularly in Melbourne, so I feel very fortunate. It's pretty confronting. It is a full on. But new treatments keep coming down the pipeline all the time." She continued: "I just got to [laughs], what are you going to do? Anyways, love you all. Please keep your distance though because I'll be very immunocompromised so I can't hug no more." The comedian further explained in the caption: "Lovelies. Well. Some not great news. I've been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma—a rare and fast-moving blood cancer. "It's serious, but I've started one of the best treatments available (the Nordic protocol), and I'm lucky to be getting absolutely world-class care here in Melbourne." The Nordic protocol is a treatment that shrinks the tumours with a combination of drugs administered in five phases. "I won't sugar-coat it: it's rough. But I'm hopeful. I'm being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I've never felt more held by the people around me." She went on to say: "I'll be lying very low while my immune system takes a hammering, so if you see me out and about—don't hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me! Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly. "This is an obscure cancer and was only discovered incidentally via a breast screen where they found my lymph nodes were up. TBH, I've been feeling pretty ratshit for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and - voila! So the take away is - get tested and listen to your body! "For now, just know I'm in good hands, good spirits—but I reserve my yuman right to be a cranky old moll." Friends and fans rushed to the comment section to share their support, with one user writing: "Right there with you darling," and another posting: "Oh lovely one!! Sending you so much love and courage and hugs." One person said: "I'm so sorry to hear this Magda, but this cancer has no idea what it's taken on does it? You come from strong, odds-defying stock and you'll beat this. Much love." As shared by Cancer Research UK, Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare type of B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Lymphoma develops when white blood cells called lymphocytes grow out of control. They move around your body in your blood and your lymphatic system. The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
Perth Now
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Celebrities react after TV legend's shock cancer diagnosis
Celebrity friends of Magda Szubanski have rallied around the Aussie comedian after she revealed she had stage four cancer on Thursday. In an emotional video shared to her social media, the Kath and Kim star told fans she had been diagnosed with stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma. In the clip, Szubanski told how she had anticipated the hairloss she had experienced due to her treatment — but assured followers she was 'being lovingly cared for by friends and family' and had a 'brilliant' medical team. Among the heartfelt messages from fans were uplifting well-wishes from Szubanski's famous friends. One of the first stars to reach out to Szubanski was MasterChef Australia legend and this season's host Poh Ling Yeow who wrote, 'You look beautiful as a Goog my love. And the Mutley laugh has me thinking you're going to be good at this. We're right behind you. Love u and see you soon ♥️🥚♥️.' Sam Neill, best known for his role in Jurassic Park, said, 'Right there with you darling xx.' 'Much love to you Magda! You've done so much to fight for our rights, you've well and truly earned the right to be a 'cranky old moll!' ❤️❤️❤️,' wrote journalist Narelda Jacobs. Fellow comedians Rove McManus and Pete Helliar let the actress know that they had her back. 'Lots of love and support to you beautiful one 💖,' McManus said. Beloved Aussie star Magda Szubanski has revealed she has stage 4 blood cancer. Credit: Instagram 'Sending you all my love Mags!!!!! You (and we) know how strong you are!! ❤️,' Helliar declared. Radio host Carrie Bickmore, who recently celebrated the 10 year anniversary since launching her campaign to raise funds for the Brain Cancer Centre told Szubanski, 'Oh babe. F**k. You've got this 💪 yelling at you now from a distance that we all love you ❤️❤️.' The kind and impactful words of support for Magda's battle extended beyond TV and media personalities. Grace Tame, who was named Australian of the Year in 2021, added, 'Sending you all the love in the world and warm, immuno-safe virtual hugs ❤️🩹 Xxx.' Perth-born model and actress Megan Gale wrote, 'Sending an abundance of love, hugs and strength your way Magda. ♥️♥️♥️.' 'Mags, I'm so bloody sorry to hear this. Sending all my love and strength mate! Love you!!! ❤️ fight this! ❤️,' said former professional tennis player and four time Olympian Rennae Stubbs. Author Briony Benjamin shared her own experience with the disease: 'Oh Magda I'm so sorry to hear this. As a blood cancer survivor I'm sending you so much love. Can you tell that lymphoma to bugger off and leave the good ones alone? Thanks. Sending love xxxxx.'
