Julia Louis-Dreyfus announced via social media that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
On her Instagram and Twitter, the actress posted a statement, declaring “1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today, I’m the one.”
However, she immediately went on to say that “the good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality.”
Just when you thought… pic.twitter.com/SbtYChwiEj
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) September 28, 2017
While it is doubtless that the final part of her statement will be maligned by some for making a personal tragedy into a political one, Louis-Dreyfus is remarkable for seeking immediate positivity in the face of what would crush many others.
Louis-Dreyfus has had an incredible year for a performer, however. Her recent Emmy win for a lead actress vaulted her into record-breaking territory among other winners, considering that this was her sixth consecutive Emmy for the HBO series Veep. Counting her Veep trophies beside those she’s won for Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine, she is now tied with Cloris Leachman for the greatest numbers of Emmys won by any individual actor or actress. Leachman and Louis-Dreyfus each have eight Emmys for their individual work.
Jeffrey Wright has joked that the Emmys were made to be “a day when all the beautiful women and all the beautiful men gather to give golden statues to Julia Louis-Dreyfus.”
HBO has said that Louis-Dreyfus learned of her diagnosis the day after her most recent Emmy win, and that this has not factored into their decision to end Veep, the seventh and final season of which is being written currently. The Home Box Office announced in their own statement that “our love and support go out to Julia and her family at this time. We have every confidence she will get through this with her usual tenacity and undaunted spirit, and look forward to her return to health and to HBO for the final season of Veep.”
Louis-Dreyfus has previously teamed up with the Livestrong Foundation, and has been an advocate of other humanitarian and positive causes throughout her career.
