If you've ever found yourself genuinely willing a celebrity well, Magda Szubanski is the kind of person who earns it. The comedian and actor, best loved for her role as the endearingly hapless Sharon Strzelecki in Kath and Kim, has shared some very welcome news: she is in remission following a diagnosis of stage-four mantle cell lymphoma.
Szubanski posted the update to her Instagram on Friday, roughly nine months after publicly revealing she had been diagnosed with what she described as a "rare and fast-moving blood cancer". The video showed her with short, regrown hair, a visible sign of the journey she has been through since shaving her head ahead of chemotherapy treatment in May last year.
"I wanted to share the fantastic news, which is I've completed chemo and I am now in remission, so phew, big relief," she said in the video, according to SBS News. She was careful to temper the celebration with clarity: "It's not a cure, but because I got a good remission, that hopefully means I'll keep the cancer at bay for a good long time."
That distinction matters. Cancer Council Australia notes that remission, particularly in blood cancers, means that signs and symptoms have reduced significantly or disappeared, but it does not always mean the disease is gone permanently. Mantle cell lymphoma is classified by clinicians as a particularly aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and long-term management remains an ongoing process for many patients.
Szubanski opened her announcement with warm wishes for Mardi Gras, staying true to form as a longtime and vocal advocate for LGBTQI+ rights. She noted with some sadness that she would be unable to attend Sydney's Taylor Square celebrations in person, where the Glitter Club event had been renamed Magda's Glitter Club in her honour. "I am so gutted I can't be there. I'm afraid it's unavoidable, but have a wonderful time and big love to you all," she said.
The outpouring of public goodwill toward Szubanski over the past nine months says something about her place in Australian life. She first appeared on television in the mid-1980s after being spotted by ABC talent scouts at a university revue, and has since built a career spanning sketch comedy, film, and social activism. Her roles in Babe and Happy Feet, alongside her work on Fast Forward and Big Girl's Blouse, cemented her as a genuinely beloved figure. In 2018, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for her contribution to the marriage equality campaign.
She closed her video by expressing gratitude to her medical team and to the many people who have sent messages of support. It was a moment that felt entirely in character: generous, warm, and refreshingly straightforward about the road still ahead. The short version: Magda's doing better, and Australia is very glad to hear it. For anyone who has followed a loved one through a cancer diagnosis, her honest framing of remission as hopeful but not final will resonate deeply. You can find support and information about blood cancers through the Leukaemia Foundation.