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Holby City star Sharon D. Clarke has shared she's undergoing treatment for cancer.
The actress, 60, shared her diagnosis as it was announced her role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Othello would be postponed.
Sharon previously played Doctor Lola Griffin in Holby City, and also played Grace O'Brien in series 11 and 12 of Doctor Who.
The star had landed the titular role of Othello, but in a statement it was announced the show's planned run would be pushed back so she could 'take some time and space she needs to undertake treatment.'
Othello was due to run next year from February 13 until April 3 at Stratford-upon-Avon's Swan Theatre, and its new dates are yet to be confirmed.
Sharon said: 'I would like to thank all the beautiful people at the RSC for their understanding, love, support and healing energy.
Holby City star Sharon D. Clarke has shared she's undergoing treatment for cancer, forcing her to postpone her role in a stage adaptation of Othello (pictured in the Channel 5 drama Ellis)
'Othello will be my north star as I undergo treatment.'
Sharon went on to share how her wife Susie McKenna and her family were coping with her cancer diagnosis.
She said: 'Susie, my family and I are overwhelmed, humbled and buoyed by the tidal wave of love that we have received and are so blessed to have an army of strength and support to hold us up.
'Love and thanks to my beautiful people.'
Sharon's director, Monique Touko, said: 'On behalf of the entire creative team, we send Sharon all the love for her ongoing treatment and recovery.
'As a director, I have been incredibly blessed to collaborate with Sharon on this major reframing of Shakespeare's tragedy, which reimagines Shakespeare's Othello through the lens of misogynoir.
'Her generosity and passion for this project continues to astound me and I look forward to us coming back together when the time is right to share this production with the world.'
The production artistic directors shared that they made the 'difficult decision' to postpone the play because Sharon is 'integral' to Monique's adaptation.
The actress (pictured in May) shared her diagnosis as it was announced her role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Othello would be postponed
They said: 'Sharon is, in every sense of the word, a warrior, and we know she will meet this challenge with the unwavering strength and indomitable spirit that she brings to so many aspects of her life and work.'
Monique's Othello sees Sharon take on the role of a respected female general, who falls in love with noble Venetian woman Desdemona.
The RSC stated that fans who already have tickets to the postponed shows will be automatically refunded.
Tottenham-raised Sharon, whose parents moved to the UK from Jamaica, says her haven is the North London home she shares with wife Susie McKenna, an executive director at Hackney Empire.
The pair fell in love while working on Cinderella 19 years ago; Clarke played the Fairy Godmother to McKenna's Dandini.
English (US) ·