Photo: Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue
One year after she announced herbreast cancer diagnosis,Julia Louis-Dreyfusis opening up about her recovery.
Sitting down with PEOPLE for this week’s issue, on stands Friday, theVeepstar, 57, says she has “so much to be grateful for.”
“I’m grateful to be alive,” she says. “I’m grateful for myheroic husbandandour lovely young boys, or young men, I should say, who are our boys. And my friends and family. I’m grateful I have the life I have.”
“It’s just a joy to do what you want to do andhave success with it,” she adds. “That’s happened to me in my life and it doesn’t happen to everybody. I’m well aware I’ve had a great deal of good fortune.”
The acclaimed HBO comedytook time offwhile Louis-Dreyfus underwent cancer treatment, which shecompletedearlier this year. Now, havingreturned to work, she says she’s “feeling well.”
“I amvery grateful to myVeepcrew— all of them, cast, writers, crew, everybody above and below the line — who have waited out this period of time,” she says. “But I’m feeling good and feeling quite ready and delighted to focus on funny things as opposed to things that aren’t quite so funny.”
RELATED VIDEO: Julia Louis-Dreyfus Stars in New PSA, Wants to Help Others Fighting Cancer
In the PSA, the actress touches on a cause that hits close to home:affordable health care.
“It is not lost on me how dire my circumstances would be if I did not have really strong insurance through my union,” she tells PEOPLE. “And the idea of not being covered when you’re in a crisis, from a health care point of view, is an unconscionable thing to me.”
“I can’t say it’s a club I ever really wanted to be a part of, but now that I am part of it, I’m delighted to help those who need help,” she adds. “I guess you could say that’s a huge silver lining to all of this horribleness — being able to help others who are in the same spot. And that is quite gratifying.”
Asked whether she’ll continue to advocate for women’s health moving forward, Louis-Dreyfus instantly responds: “S— yes! My god! Emphatic yes! I can’t imagine not doing it.”
source: people.com
