Industry actress Marisa Abela, 29, is opening up about her battle with thyroid cancer that unfolded just as her career was taking off. In a candid interview with The Times, Abela revealed she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 23—the same year she landed her recurring role as Yasmin on the HBO drama. Abela told the outlet she is now cancer-free and “all in the clear.” But recovery, she said, has come with lasting consequences. Because her thyroid no longer functions, Abela told the outlet that she will need to take medication for the rest of her life. The actress also recalled fearing the diagnosis—and surgery—could end her career before it truly began. After an eight-hour operation, she told the outlet, seeing her stapled and bloodied neck in the mirror left her thinking, “That’s it, my career is over.” Instead, Abela’s career surged. Since her diagnosis, she has appeared in Back to Black, Black Bag, and Barbie. Now in remission, she said the experience reshaped her priorities, giving her “real perspective on what’s important and what’s not.” Abela married longtime partner Jamie Bogyo, 31, in September, calling the celebration an “amazing, big party” attended by close friends—including her Industry’s castmates.
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