Oscar-winning actress Anjelica Huston has revealed she endured a battle with cancer in 2019 and has been “in the clear” for the past four years.
Huston, 73, shared her story in an exclusive interview with People magazine. She told the outlet she was diagnosed shortly after the 2019 release of her film “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.”
“That was a very serious moment for me,” Huston told People without revealing the specific type of cancer. “I managed to survive it, and I’m proud of myself.”
After keeping her health issues private for six years, Huston told People she’s ready to share her story in order to help uplift others.
“Sometimes you feel like you don’t want to talk about it for the obvious reasons, but there’s a lot to be said for talking about it and getting it out there and celebrating the fact that one’s come through,” she said.
“[The diagnosis] came as a big shock, but it made me conscious of what I shouldn’t do, of places I shouldn’t go. One of those places was taking life too seriously,” she added. “So now when the opportunity arises, I laugh, and I try not to make a big deal out of things.”
When she found out she was cancer-free, she said she “just walked in my garden and smelled the roses and thought how clever I was.”
“I’m at the four-year mark, and that means so much to me,” said Huston, who still goes in for regular scans. “It’s a fantastic thing. I’m very proud of myself, and I’ve been very lucky. My doctors have been wonderful.”
Huston is the daughter of director John Huston and the granddaughter of actor Walter Huston. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for 1985’s “Prizzi’s Honor,” making her the third generation of her family to receive an Oscar. She has also received acclaim for her portrayal of Morticia Addams in the “Addams Family” films and the Grand High Witch in “The Witches.”
Now healthy, Huston is continuing to act. She is slated to appear as Lady Tressilian in BritBox’s limited series “Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero,” which premieres on April 16, though she notes she got to play most of her scenes while lying in bed.
“I loved playing from bed,” she says. “It was very relaxing and wonderfully undemanding. I’ve always liked bed anyway. It’s one of my preferences and now I’m convinced, absolutely. It’s almost a prerequisite.”
