Australian actress Magda Szubanski, best known for Kath & Kim and Babe, shared an emotional update from her hospital bed while receiving treatment for stage-four cancer. In a heartfelt Instagram video, she thanked a young fan, Annabella, who dressed as her character Sharon Strzelecki for Book Week, saying the gesture “lifted my spirits” during chemotherapy.

Szubanski admitted, “Chemo is smacking me around right now,” a candid reflection of her physical and emotional struggle. She was first diagnosed in May with stage-four mantle cell lymphoma, a rare and aggressive blood cancer discovered after a breast screening showed swollen lymph nodes.

Despite the diagnosis, Szubanski remains hopeful, praising her doctors and the Melbourne healthcare system for giving her “the best fighting chance.” She also expressed gratitude for the “incredible support” from loved ones.

Known for her humor, she asked fans to keep their distance, joking, “Don’t hug me, kiss me, or breathe anywhere near me!”

Messages of love continue to flood in as Szubanski’s honesty, bravery, and wit inspire people worldwide, reinforcing her status as a beloved Australian icon.