Close friends of Magda Szubanski, David Campbell and Lisa Hewitt, have reassured fans with an update on her health.
Magda Szubanski is navigating a challenging health journey with the support of her friends.
The beloved Australian actor, famous for her role as Sharon Strzelecki on Kath & Kim, is facing stage four cancer, but those close to her say she’s keeping her trademark humor intact.
David Campbell and his wife Lisa Hewitt, longtime friends of Szubanski, revealed that her laughter and the overwhelming support from loved ones have been crucial to her resilience.
“She’s talked about how the outpouring of love and support has helped her get through everything,” Hewitt shared on Stellar’s Something to Talk About podcast. “She’s an incredible person, and we’re so lucky to have her in our lives.”
Campbell added that Szubanski “laughs at everything,” even her own illness, turning moments of struggle into moments of humor.
“And they say laughter is the best medicine—there’s some truth to that. It really lifts people’s spirits,” he said.
Szubanski shared the news of her cancer diagnosis in May in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“Lovelies. Well. Some not great news. I’ve been diagnosed with stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma—a rare and fast-moving blood cancer,” she wrote.
She confirmed she was receiving treatment in Melbourne.
“I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I’ve never felt more held by the people around me,” the actor shared.
She asked fans to keep their distance if they spotted her in public, given how immunocompromised she had become.
“Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly,” she suggested.
Szubanski revealed that the aggressive form of cancer was discovered via a breast screening, where her lymph nodes were up.
“I’ve been feeling pretty rats**t for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and – voila!
“So, the take away is — get tested and listen to your body.”
Szubanski addresses her cancer at the 2025 Logie Awards
In August, Szubanski was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Molly Meldrum, Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton and Rebecca Gibney
She gave her acceptance speech via video.
Magda Szubanski is getting by with a little help from her friends.
The Aussie actor, best-known for her role as Sharon Strzelecki in the iconic Kath & Kim series, is currently battling stage four cancer.
According to her close friends David Campbell and his wife Lisa Hewitt, she’s laughing through it with her signature sense of humour.
“She talked about the fact that having that outpouring of emotion, and the support that she’s felt, has been instrumental in her getting through everything,” Hewitt told Stellar’s podcast Something to Talk About.
“I can’t speak for her own personal health, but she’s an incredible person, and we are so fortunate to have her in our lives,” she continued.
Campbell assured fans that Szubanski “laughs at everything”.
“She laughs at herself. And she made us laugh at the cancer with her,” he said.
“And they say laughter is the best medicine. It’s kind of true. It does make people feel better.”
Szubanski opens up about cancer diagnosis
Szubanski shared the news of her cancer diagnosis in May in a heartfelt Instagram post.
“Lovelies. Well. Some not great news. I’ve been diagnosed with stage four Mantle Cell Lymphoma—a rare and fast-moving blood cancer,” she wrote.
She confirmed she was receiving treatment in Melbourne.
Magda Szubanski with David Campbell and Lisa Hewitt. Picture: Instagram.
“I won’t sugar-coat it: it’s rough. But I’m hopeful. I’m being lovingly cared for by friends and family, my medical team is brilliant, and I’ve never felt more held by the people around me,” the actor shared.
She asked fans to keep their distance if they spotted her in public, given how immunocompromised she had become.
“Wave enthusiastically from a safe distance and know I love you madly,” she suggested.
Szubanski revealed that the aggressive form of cancer was discovered via a breast screening, where her lymph nodes were up.
“I’ve been feeling pretty rats**t for ages. So I asked for extra bloods and – voila!
“So, the take away is — get tested and listen to your body.”
Szubanski addresses her cancer at the 2025 Logie Awards
In August, Szubanski was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Molly Meldrum, Graham Kennedy, Bert Newton and Rebecca Gibney
She gave her acceptance speech via video.
Magda Szubanski was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame in 2025. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images.
“I want to say first of all — let’s get this out of the way — I have not been awarded this honour because I have cancer.
“I am getting this because of 40 years of hard work: lobbying, bribing, threatening, whatever it took,” she joked.
“Finally, it has all paid off, so I don’t feel like an impostor, I feel like I have earned it and I am thrilled,” Szubanski shared.
She thanked the Australian public for supporting her on her cancer journey, saying that the support she has felt has been “like a tsunami”.
“When I go online and look at those messages, every time, my heart lifts, and I feel that much stronger to deal with the cancer.”
What else is Szubanski known for?
Szubanski is best known for bringing Sharon Strzelecki to life, a character she helped create alongside her Kath & Kim co-stars Jane Turner and Gina Riley on the sketch comedy series Big Girl’s Blouse.
She also played Esme Cordelia Hoggett in the beloved children’s film Babe and its follow-up, Babe: Pig in the City.
Her film work includes acting alongside Steve Irwin in The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, as well as lending her voice to animated hits such as Happy Feet and 100% Wolf.