You know Georgie Henley — she played Lucy in the Chronicles of Narnia film series.
Well, this week, the actor opened up for the first time about a private health battle. Writing on Instagram, Georgie revealed that at 18, she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that can result in death if not treated right away.
Georgie, 27, said it was "a rare and punishing infection that nearly claimed [her] life and wrought havoc throughout [her] body." It even almost caused her to lose her arm: "In order to prevent the amputation of my left hand and arm I received gruelling invasive surgery, and later extensive reconstructive surgery which resulted in a series of skin grafts and scars."
Georgie said that she took "a long time to heal both physically and mentally" from the infection and has only recently started getting to a place where she feels comfortable sharing her story. "For the last nine years I have been open about my scars in my personal life, but have hidden them entirely in any professional context: wearing bandages or coverings, makeup on set and stage, long sleeves whenever I might be photographed, trousers so I could put my hand in a pocket," she wrote.
"The industry I am part of often focuses on a very narrow idea of what is deemed aesthetic ‘perfection’," she continued, "and I worried that my scars would prevent me from getting work. The truth is there is no such thing as ‘perfection’, but I have still lived with the shame of feeling different, exacerbated by the expectations that came with beginning my career at a young age."
She added, "But my scars are not something to be ashamed of. They are a map of the pain my body has endured, and most importantly a reminder of my survival. They do not affect my capacity as an actor, and I’m proud to be a person who has visible scars in this industry."
Georgie concluded the post by expressing her gratitude for the medical professionals and others who have helped and supported her along the way.
