‘It came as a big shock’: Legendary actress shares secret cancer battle (2025)

Anjelica Huston has opened up about her battle with cancer, which she has keep a secret until now.

Huston, 73, shared her “bout with cancer” in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE this week.

“It came as a big shock, but it made me conscious of what I shouldn’t do, of places I shouldn’t go,” the actress said. “One of those places was taking life too seriously. So now when the opportunity arises, I laugh, and I try not to make a big deal out of things.”

Huston was diagnosed with cancer after the release of her 2019 film “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum."

“It’s not something that came lightly,” she said of diagnosis, the type of which she chose to not disclose.

“That was a very serious moment for me,” Huston continued. “I managed to survive it, and I’m proud of myself.”

The Academy Award-winning actress has been cancer-free for four years now.

“That means so much to me,” Huston said. “It’s a fantastic thing. I’m very proud of myself, and I’ve been very lucky. My doctors have been wonderful.”

Huston told PEOPLE that she is “in the clear,” but still does regular scans. After six years of hiding her cancer battle, Huston wanted to come forward in hopes of inspiring others.

“Sometimes you feel like you don’t want to talk about it for the obvious reasons, but there’s a lot to be said for talking about it and getting it out there and celebrating the fact that one’s come through,” Huston said. “Life is tenuous and wonderful. It also gives you the idea that the world is big and you can somehow match up to it. That you’re ready for whatever happens.”

Huston’s extensive Hollywood career spans several decades. The daughter of director John Huston, she made her big screen debut in her father’s 1969 film, “A Walk with Love and Death.” Anjelica had her breakthrough performance in 1985’s “Prizzi’s Honor,” for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Some of Huston’s other most notable roles include Morticia Addams in the “Addams Family” films from 1991 to 1993 and Carrie Chapman Catt in the 2004 cable film “Iron Jawed Angels,” for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

Most recently, Huston starred in BritBox’s three-part limited series “Towards Zero” as Lady Tressilian. The murder mystery series will premiere over three nights on BritBox, starting Wednesday, April 16.