In an interview with The Times published on Saturday, Jan. 3, the actress, now 29, shared that a doctor discovered a lump on her neck after she sought medical advice for unusual and persistent fatigue. The diagnosis came in 2020 — the same year her breakout HBO series Industry premiered.
Abela underwent an eight-hour surgery to remove the tumor, followed by radioactive iodine treatment. Today, she says she is cancer-free but remains under close medical supervision.
“I’m all in the clear now, thank God,” Abela said, adding that she attends regular checkups and will take medication for the rest of her life. “I don’t have a working thyroid so these pills sort of create one. I’m never going to miss those appointments.”
She also emphasized the importance of hormonal health, particularly for women. “The thyroid is all to do with your hormones, and staying on top of your hormones, as a woman, to make sure things are running as they should, is important,” she explained.
The diagnosis arrived as Abela’s career was rapidly gaining momentum. On Industry, which returns for its fourth season on Jan. 11, she plays Yasmin Kara-Hanani, a role that earned her a BAFTA for leading actress in 2025. The series follows ambitious young bankers navigating power, excess, and pressure inside a fictional London investment firm.
“It’s not Downton Abbey,” Abela joked of the show. “I never get bored of the show. It’s not afraid to do things that might upset the audience.”
Since then, Abela’s profile has continued to rise. She portrayed Amy Winehouse in the 2024 biopic Back to Black and starred opposite Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in the thriller Black Bag. She is currently training for the upcoming action film Highlander, alongside Russell Crowe and Henry Cavill.
Off-screen, Abela also marked a major personal milestone last year, marrying fellow actor Jamie Bogyo in September. The couple met while studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and got engaged in 2024 after Bogyo proposed on Primrose Hill in London.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Abela recalled, explaining that she had anticipated a proposal during an earlier trip to Paris. Instead, the moment came later — and not quite as planned. After Bogyo left a dinner early claiming to be ill, Abela returned to their hotel expecting a romantic surprise, only to find him genuinely sick. “I had to play off my disappointment really quickly!” she said with a laugh.
The couple tied the knot in East Sussex, with an evening reception at Soho House Brighton. Several of Abela’s Industry costars attended, including Myha’la Herrold, who served as one of her bridesmaids.
Describing the wedding as “amazing and a big party,” Abela added that it was “very booze-focused.” She also credited Bogyo as a constant source of support. “He reads everything I get sent, I read everything he writes and we’re a team,” she said. “He has always been my biggest supporter and my biggest fan.”
Reflecting on her health journey and the rapid growth of her career, Abela expressed gratitude and optimism. “2026 is looking very exciting,” she said — a sentiment shaped by resilience, recovery, and a future she’s eager to embrace.
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