Julia Louis-Dreyfus Was ‘Deeply Terrified’ By Cancer Diagnosis

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, renowned for her outstanding career in comedy spanning from her days on Saturday Night Live to her iconic role in Seinfeld, reached the pinnacle of her success by securing her sixth Emmy in 2017 for her stellar performance in the HBO series Veep. This monumental achievement not only solidified her status as a comedy legend but also etched her name into the annals of television history as the recipient of the most Primetime Emmy Awards, totaling an impressive 11 wins (eight for acting, three for producing).

However, amidst her momentous triumph, life dealt her a sudden blow as she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2017. The news was life-altering and marked a poignant and challenging chapter in her personal journey.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus reveals her initial reaction when she got her cancer diagnosis

During a candid conversation with journalist David Remnick at the 2023 New Yorker Festival, the 62-year-old recalled the deeply personal and emotional moment when she received her cancer diagnosis. She revealed that her initial response to the shocking news was an unexpected one—laughter. However, the laughter quickly morphed into a wave of intense, uncontrollable emotion, leaving her in a state of wild hysteria.

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“I started laughing, because the night before I had won an Emmy. And so, I came downstairs and … the Emmy was there. It was on the dining room table. I’m coming down to get coffee. My cell phone rings and it’s my doctor saying, ‘Guess what, you have cancer,'” Louis-Dreyfus explained. “And I’m like, ‘Huh? What?’ And so, it was a very bizarre juxtaposition. And, of course, I did laugh, and then I became hysterical, crying, because I was terrified, as most people are, or as all people are, if they get a diagnosis like that.”

She was afraid despite having a supportive family

The actress also detailed that she enjoyed her family’s support after receiving the shocking news. “I have a very strong and supportive family,” Louis-Dreyfus admitted. “And for which I am eternally grateful, upon whom I relied — sisters, husband, my sons, my mother, my mothers, my stepmother, everybody.”

However, she went on to express that despite having a supportive and loving family by her side, the daunting reality of what lay ahead still filled her with overwhelming fear. “I was deeply terrified, because who wouldn’t be? I mean, all the tropes are true,” she confessed. “You know, you get that call and it’s like, ‘What, me? No, no, no.’ I mean, you can’t imagine that something like that would happen to you.”