Miranda Hart opens up about suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome

British actress Miranda Hart recently opened up about being bedbound for years after Lyme disease led to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). In an interview published by The Times on Monday (October 14), the 51-year-old actress shared her emotional journey of illness, recovery and resilience.

Hart explained that her health began to decline when she was 15, but things took a sharp turn after she wrapped the final season of her show in 2015. She experienced a “total collapse” and was left housebound and bedbound due to the severity of her condition.

“I was housebound and bedbound for years,” Hart said. “I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have any responsibilities or identities." She shared her frustration of living a “half-life” without knowing why her health had deteriorated so much.

ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hart described how the illness impacted her immune system and robbed her of the joy she could have experienced in her career. 

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While she has regained some of her health, Hart admitted she has not fully recovered and continues to live with fatigue and other symptoms. However, she remains hopeful. “I believe I will get better,” she told The Times. “I’ve only recently been out in the world again.”

Hart’s candidness follows her appearance on The Graham Norton Show on October 11, where she praised Selena Gomez for her Apple TV+ documentary My Mind & Me. The documentary, which explores Gomez's struggles with lupus and mental health, deeply resonated with Hart. 

"When I saw your documentary...I was thinking, 'Do I share?'” Hart told Gomez on the show. The two connected over their shared experiences of living with chronic illness, with Hart crediting Gomez’s vulnerability for inspiring her to open up.