Olivia Williams, currently starring in Dune: Prophecy, has opened up about her prolonged and frustrating journey to receiving a correct diagnosis of VIPoma, a rare form of pancreatic cancer. The British actress revealed she endured years of misdiagnoses before a single doctor ordered the test that finally revealed the truth. This significant delay, she explains, means she can never truly consider herself cancer-free.
Despite her diagnosis in 2018, Williams has continued to thrive in her career, appearing in high-profile projects like The Crown and the upcoming Dune: Prophecy. In a candid interview, she detailed how she experienced symptoms for nearly a decade but bounced between ten doctors across three countries, each offering incorrect diagnoses.
Speaking with The Times UK, Williams recounted being wrongly diagnosed with lupus, perimenopause, and even labeled as “crazy” – a label so impactful that a doctor recommended psychiatric evaluation. It was only after consulting a gastroenterologist in Los Angeles that she was tested for a specific hormone, leading to the discovery of the VIPoma.
“If someone had f—ing well diagnosed me in the four years I’d been saying I was ill,” Williams stated, “when they told me I was menopausal or had irritable bowel syndrome or [was] crazy… then one operation possibly could have cleared the whole thing and I could describe myself as cancer-free, which I cannot now ever be.”
Since her diagnosis, Williams has undergone multiple procedures to remove the tumor and sections of her pancreas, spleen, gallbladder, and liver, as metastases continue to appear. She is now a vocal advocate for early detection, urging others to be proactive about investigating unusual symptoms. She is also supporting Pancreatic Cancer UK at the upcoming TCS London Marathon, hoping to raise awareness and funds for a crucial early detection test. “This is where I get emotional but I’m not looking for sympathy,” she explained, “I’m looking for a cheap, early test.”
Looking ahead, Williams is set to reprise her role as Tula Harkonnen in Dune: Prophecy Season 2 on HBO and Max. She also recently appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time Season 3. Furthermore, she will join Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology series on Netflix, portraying Alma Hitchcock opposite Tom Hollander’s Alfred Hitchcock in the third season, which focuses on the story of serial killer Ed Gein.
