Australian comedian Denise Scott reveals secret health battle

Beloved Australian comedian Denise Scott has shared the heartbreaking health battle she’s kept private for months.

Australian comedian Denise Scott has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The beloved screen star, 68, opened up to Australian Women’s Weekly about her secret health battle, after six months of privately undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Speaking to the magazine, Scott said she discovered an unusual rash ahead of production on her upcoming ABC series, Mother and Son, earlier this year.

A mammogram confirmed the worst, that Scott had an aggressive form of breast cancer (HER2-positive).

“It was all just a shock,” Scott said.

Denise Scott is battling cancer. Picture: Australian Women's Weekly

Despite the diagnosis and extensive treatment schedule, Scott carried on filming the show, a reboot of the popular ‘80s series also starring Matt Okine.

When the 12-hour days became too much, Scott would have a body double stand in for her.

“This production meant a lot to me,” she told the publication.

“But the doctors were making it clear: ‘You have to start chemotherapy within days.’ I don’t know who first suggested I try to do both, which in hindsight was insane. I think it was me. I was thinking, I don’t want to shut this whole production down, and I was also thinking, I want to live.”

Denise Scott and Matt Okine co-star in ABC’s Mother and Son, which will premiere this month.

Denise underwent treatment while filming the show. Picture: SBS-TV.

Despite her clear commitment to work, the Winners & Losers actress admitted the diagnosis had given her a fresh perspective on life.

“I’ve realised that my work has been who I am,” she said. “Work makes me feel normal. It’s the reason I get out of bed. And that’s made me think that perhaps I’ve been ignoring other parts of life for quite a long time now.

“So, I want to rectify that a little. I want to see more of my grandson. I want to do some gardening. I want to travel. I want to keep doing comedy and writing too, of course. But first, I want to get well.”

Scott’s role as Maggie in Mother and Son, which premieres on ABC August 23, marks her first lead TV role.

The show first aired in 1984 with Ruth Cracknell and Garry McDonald.

Myf Warhurst, Briggs and Denise Scott for the Spicks and Specks reunion show.

Across her three-decade long career, Scott has featured on shows like Spicks and Specks, Good News Weeks, Would I Lie to You?, Have You Been Paying Attention, All Star Family Feud and Hughesy, We Have a Problem, The Project and Studio 10.

Scott is also a renowned stand-up comic and author, and was honoured in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours in June for “significant service to the arts as a comedian and actress.”

Scott lives with her long-term partner John Lane in Melbourne. The pair, who have been together for more than 40 years, share two adult children, Bonnie and Jordie.

Originally published as Australian comedian Denise Scott reveals secret health battle