Marisa Abela, the acclaimed actress known for her role in the BBC drama Industry, has candidly discussed her experience with thyroid cancer and the subsequent surgery to remove a tumour. Diagnosed at the age of 23 in 2020, Abela faced a challenging journey that included an eight-hour operation, raising concerns about her ability to speak again.
During an appearance on the podcast How To Fail with Elizabeth Day, the now 29-year-old actress reflected on the fear and uncertainty she encountered following her diagnosis. She revealed that the most frightening aspect was the possibility of losing her voice due to the surgery’s risks. “Obviously you never expect to get to be told that you have cancer at 23,” Abela said. “The aftermath of the whole thing was scary to me.”
Abela’s cancer diagnosis came during the Covid-19 pandemic, a time when she initially sought medical help for symptoms that included brain fog. The diagnosis led to a total thyroidectomy, which involves the removal of the entire thyroid gland, along with the removal of approximately 19 lymph nodes from her neck. According to the NHS, this procedure is common in cases of thyroid cancer.
The actress detailed her mental state before and after the surgery, sharing feelings of bleakness and anxiety. “I knew I was ill, I could tell something was really wrong and then I just switched into, like, ‘get it out, get it out’ mode, and: ‘Am I going to be able to speak again?’” she recalled.
Abela also described the pre-surgery consent process, which included signing documents that acknowledged the potential risk of nerve damage affecting her voice. Upon waking from the surgery, her immediate concern was to confirm that she could still speak. “The first thing I did was go, ‘maaa’, because I just wanted to make sure I could talk,” she said.
In addition to her health concerns, Abela was apprehensive about the physical impact of the surgery, particularly the scar on her neck and its implications for her acting career. She articulated her worries about potential hormonal issues resulting from the removal of her thyroid, stating, “That was very scary.”
The surgery took place during a difficult time, as she had to enter the hospital alone due to Covid-19 restrictions. Abela spent her recovery in the burns unit, as the intensive care unit was at capacity during the pandemic. “2020 was bleak for me,” she noted.
Through this challenging period, her husband, actor Jamie Bogyo, provided immense support. Abela praised him for being “the most supportive person in every way.”
Abela’s resilience and talent have continued to shine since her diagnosis. In 2025, she won a Bafta for Best Actress for her portrayal of Yasmin Kara-Hanani in Industry. She has also appeared in notable films such as Barbie (2023), She Is Love (2022), and the upcoming biopic Back To Black (2024), which tells the story of Amy Winehouse.
Listeners can hear more about Abela’s experiences and insights in her full interview on the How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast. Her journey serves as a reminder of the challenges many face with health issues, particularly in the context of a global pandemic.
