Marisa Abela has spoken candidly about a serious health scare she faced at the very start of her acting career, revealing she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer aged just 23.
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The actress, now 29, said doctors discovered a lump on her neck in 2020 after she sought medical advice for persistent and unusual fatigue. In an interview with The Times, Abela explained that the diagnosis came as her career was beginning to gather pace. Best known for her role in HBO’s Industry, Abela underwent an eight-hour operation to remove the tumour, followed by radioactive iodine treatment. She said the experience was daunting but ultimately successful.
“I’m all in the clear now, thank God,” she told the newspaper. While her health is stable, Abela said she continues to attend regular check-ups and will remain on medication for life after losing the function of her thyroid.
“I don’t have a working thyroid, so these tablets effectively create one,” she said, adding that she never misses medical appointments. She also highlighted the importance of hormone regulation, particularly for women, noting that the thyroid plays a crucial role in maintaining balance in the body.
The diagnosis coincided with the launch of Industry in 2020, a drama following young bankers navigating ambition and excess within a fictional London investment firm. Abela’s portrayal of Yasmin Kara-Hanani has since earned widespread acclaim, including a BAFTA for leading actress in 2025. The series is now set to return for its fourth season.
Since then, Abela’s career has expanded rapidly. She starred as Amy Winehouse in the 2024 biopic Back to Black, appeared alongside Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in the thriller Black Bag, and is currently training for the forthcoming action film Highlander, which also stars Russell Crowe and Henry Cavill.
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Away from the screen, Abela marked a major personal milestone last year by marrying fellow actor Jamie Bogyo. The couple met while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and became engaged in 2024 following a proposal on Primrose Hill.
Recalling the moment, Abela said she had expected the proposal to happen weeks earlier in Paris. Instead, Bogyo left a dinner early, claiming to feel unwell, leaving her briefly disappointed before the engagement eventually unfolded later. The pair married in East Sussex, with an evening reception at Soho House Brighton attended by friends and colleagues, including several of Abela’s Industry co-stars. She described the wedding as a lively celebration and praised Bogyo for his unwavering support.
“He reads everything I’m sent, I read everything he writes — we’re a team,” she said. “He’s always been my biggest supporter and my biggest fan.”
