Dame Julie Walters reveals devastating 18 month cancer battle

She's opened up about her diagnosis

Dame Julie Walters

by Samantha Harman |
Updated on

National treasure, Dame Julie Walters, has revealed she was suffering with bowel cancer having been diagnosed just 18 months ago.

Thankfully, following extensive treatment the actress has now been given the all clear.

Initially she thought the doctor had made a mistake when receiving the stage three cancer diagnosis, as she only made the appointment because of heartburn and vomiting.

Following tests, it transpired there were two primary tumours in her large intestine.

CHECK OUT: Harry Potter where are they now?

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Harry Potter cast then and now - SLIDER

Harry Potter1 of 23

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

Daniel worked hard to shake off the wizard-y typecasting that launched his career by taking on some majorly diverse, sometimes disturbing roles.

Harry Potter cast then and now2 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

His theatre debut was playing Alan Strang in the West End production of Equus, where, long story short, he got naked and had sexual attractions to horses.

Harry Potter cast then and now3 of 23
CREDIT: Instagram

Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter)

He shaved off all his hair (which was weird) to play white supremacist Nate Foster in 2016's Imperium but these days favours the hairy look. Perhaps a highlight of his career, he played a dead bloke in the seriously bizarre Swiss Army Man alongside seriously bizarre actor, Paul Dano.

Harry Potter cast then and now4 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

What a power house little Hermione Granger turned out to be (looks like all that extra homework paid off, right Herm?). After SMASHING her N.E.W.T.s – and a bachelors in English Literature from Brown University – Emma's done some great things in film and beyond.

Harry Potter cast then and now5 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

Her most notable recent role was Belle in the live action remake of Disney classic, Beauty and the Beast. But she's also starred in a handful of indie films like How to be a Wallflower and The Bling Ring.

Harry Potter cast then and now6 of 23
CREDIT: Instagram

Emma Watson (Hermione Granger)

She's an official UN Women Goodwill ambassador, an Oxford university fellow AND she's well respected in the world of fashion and couture. Girl, u slayin'.

Harry Potter cast then and now7 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

We loved Ron, and we love Rupert Grint. Arguably the best actor of the three of them (soz, guys) Rupert has mainly gone into TV work, appearing alongside Ed Westwick in London gangster series Snatch, the ABC murders and Sick Note, where he played attention seeking hypochondriac Daniel Glass alongside Lindsey Lohan.

Harry Potter cast then and now8 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

MOST NOTABLE, though, was the time he was cast to play Ed Sheeran's stalker in Ed Sheeran's ACTUAL video for 2011's Lego House.

Harry Potter cast then and now9 of 23

Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley)

See right.

Harry Potter cast then and now10 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)

Moving swiftly onto Nev, because even if he wasn't in your top five for the films, he's definitely a favourite for anyone with eyes these days.

Harry Potter cast then and now11 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom)

Matt's seriously hot now, but he's also married, which is sad. Other than cultivating excellent looks, he's also been busy doing heaps of TV work including 2016's smash hit series Happy Valley.

Harry Potter cast then and now12 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)

Bonnie now lives a wholesome, healthful life over in LA, and her Instagram bio says she makes films and talks about plastic a lot, which her feed seems to corroborate.

Harry Potter cast then and now13 of 23
CREDIT: Instagram

Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)

She's got plenty of indie credits to her name, and she's got a really cute dog. She's also been showing off some fancy camera skills taking pictures of her friends.

Harry Potter cast then and now14 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)

Did you know Draco Malfoy sings? Well, you do now.

Harry Potter cast then and now15 of 23
CREDIT: Instagram

Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy)

In fact, his Instagram is full of videos of him singing and playing guitar, singing with his idols, singing on stage, even singing shirtless and singing with the Simpsons. He's been involved in lots of stateside productions too, and does a lot of American accents. He also has a very cute dog. We wonder if his dog and Bonnie's dog are friends?

Harry Potter cast then and now16 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)

Evanna's moved away from acting, with her last film credit in 2015, but she's still very much in the public eye.

Harry Potter cast then and now17 of 23
CREDIT: ABC

Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood)

Another to have glown UP, Last year she made it to the final of Dancing with the Stars, America's answer to Strictly Come Dancing, and she's been using her platform for good as vegan activist. She hangs out with her fluffy cat Puff a lot, and plays the banjo. Cute.

Harry Potter cast then and now18 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Oliver and James Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)

Perhaps the biggest shocker of them all, FRED AND GEORGE AREN'T ACTUALLY GINGER. The brothers (who are actually twins, believe it or not) dyed their hair red for the duration of the films, and are actually brunette.

Harry Potter cast then and now19 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Oliver and James Phelps (Fred and George Weasley)

Other than living a lie, they've not done too much in the way of acting since the HP franchise wrapped – other than milk said franchise for all it's worth, having both featured as their respective twin in a range of spin off and Harry Potter-themed projects. But we can't say we blame them.

Harry Potter cast then and now20 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Katie Leung (Cho Chang)

Katie is still acting, having most recently appeared in psychologic thriller White Dragon (formerly called Strangers), which has just landed on Amazon Prime.

Harry Potter cast then and now21 of 23
CREDIT: Instagram

Katie Leung (Cho Chang)

She's close pals with Evanna Lynch and the two of them recently walked in the London Women's March together. She's big on family and her Instagram is overflowing with adorable snaps of friends and relatives. N'aw.

Harry Potter cast then and now22 of 23
CREDIT: Warner Brothers

Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas)

He played a minor-ish role in HP, but Alfred Enoch has gone on to do some big things – mainly walk the red carpet and present awards at awards ceremonies, by the looks of things.

Harry Potter cast then and now23 of 23
CREDIT: Getty

Alfred Enoch (Dean Thomas)

He starred in the Netflix smash How to Get Away with Murder for four years between 2014 and 2018, but has also appeared in Broadchurch, Mount Pleasant, Sherlock and Troy: Fall of a City.

In an interview with BBC's Victoria Derbyshire, she revealed, "I was thinking, 'That's ridiculous, he must have made a mistake'. I couldn't believe it."

When Julie delivered the difficult news to husband Grant Roffey, she said, "I'll never forget his face, tears came to his eyes."

In spite of being incredibly shocked by the news, the star remained positive, holding out hope for a full recovery, "I thought 'Right' and then you hold onto the positive because he (the doctor) said, 'We can fix this'."

As part of her treatment, Dame Julie had about 30cm taken out of her colon and underwent chemotherapy.

Since her last scan she's been given the all clear.

Julie Walters
Julie Walters, promo tour Educating Rita, 1985 ©Getty

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Dame Julie rocketed to fame in cult classic film Educating Rita (1983), also starring megastar Micheal Caine.

She instantly won the hearts of the nation playing Rita, a straight talking hairdresser in her 20s who wants to go to college and in doing so strikes up an unlikely friendship with her slightly pompous professor (played by Caine).

If you haven't seen it, then you must.

Other iconic roles include, Mrs Weasley in Harry Potter, jaded dance instructor, Mrs Wilkinson in Billy Elliot and of course, best friend and fellow Dynamo Donna in Mamma Mia and sequel Mamma Mia 2.

Meryl Streep and Dame Julie Walters
Meryl Streep and Dame Julie Walters, Mamma Mia Premiere, Leicester SQ, 2008 ©Getty

During the invasive cancer treatment she had to be cut from certain scenes in upcoming film, The Secret Garden, which also stars Oscar winner Colin Firth.

Dame Julie also missed the premiere of Mamma Mia 2, saying she had a ruptured hernia in order to detract the spotlight from herself.

Tom Felton, Emma Watson, Dame Julie Walters
Tom Felton, Emma Watson, Dame Julie Walters, Deathly Hallows Press Call, 2011. ©Getty

The beloved actress revealed this may be her last film role, saying, "I'm not saying I'll never act again.

"But I certainly don't think I can go back to [a film that requires working] six days a week, five in the morning till seven o'clock at night."

We think you've earned the right to put your feet up Dame Julie.

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According to Bowel Cancer UK, the disease can affect anyone of any age.

More than 2,500 new cases are diagnosed each year in people under the age of 50.

One in 15 men and one in 18 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime.

Symptoms include, blood being present in stools, intermittent and occasionally severe, abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, constant swelling of the tummy and being sick.

If in doubt ALWAYS visit your GP.

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