Industry’s Marisa Abela: I thought my career was over when I first saw thyroid cancer scar

Industry actress Marisa Abela has revealed in harrowing detail how seeing her scarred body for the first time after cancer surgery left her fearing her career was over.

The 27-year-old star was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in November 2020 shortly after filming the first series of the TV drama in which she plays privileged billionaire Yasmin Kara-Hanani. 

Recalling the moment she first saw the scar across her throat, she said: ‘When I first went to the bathroom after surgery and I saw myself in the mirror, I thought, ‘That’s it, my career is over’.

‘[My neck] was stapled, bloody. It wasn’t pretty at all, and the scar is big.’ 

She also told of her fears that her future acting roles would be restricted to characters with the description ‘she had this big scar on her neck’ and how her diagnosis at the age of just 23 had changed her thoughts about her body. 

Abela with her Industry co-stars at a special screening of its third series in King’s Cross, London

Abela with Mickey Down and Konrad Kay at a special screening of Industry in London last week

‘[After] being diagnosed with cancer – even if it’s something like thyroid cancer, which isn’t necessarily life-threatening – there’s a distrust within your body I really wouldn’t wish on anyone,’ she told The Times.

‘This thing existed inside me for years without me knowing it was there – and that has changed my relationship with my body.’

However, after undergoing treatment, which included swallowing radioactive iodine pills, Ms Abela – who played singer Amy Winehouse in the film Back to Black – is keen to point out the positives of her experience.

‘My work is so important to me, and I enjoy it so much, but when, for example, something like playing Amy – where things can go crazy… I’ve been through more thanthat and I understand what my priorities are,’ she said.

‘When you’re on cancer wards, you’re seeing things that are so bleak and so sad, and it really does just put everything into perspective.’

• Industry continues on BBC1 on Tuesdays, with all episodes available on iPlayer.