Colin Firth's ex-wife, Livia, is recovering from breast cancer surgery.
The 54-year-old eco-activist shared the news with her Instagram followers on Tuesday and credited early detection as likely saving her life.
The filmmaker, who Colin divorced in 2019, posted several selfies documenting her recovery and captioned the carousel of images: "I thought about this post a lot, and have decided to do it as prevention saved me.
"Few weeks ago, thanks to a regular yearly mammogram, my doctor (wonderful woman called Margherita) made an early diagnosis which was further investigated and revealed a carcinoma in situ."
She went on to explain that this early-stage cancer, if left untreated, could have developed into something much more severe within months.
"The beginning of a cancer which would have turned real bad in a few months and which I promptly removed and now it’s gone," she added. "Thank you to the amazing @ieoistitutoeuropeodioncologia and all the team there who were so incredible.
"I am SO lucky that this did not go any further, SO grateful as I have the privilege of access to great medical care, SO aware that there are millions of people who do not and I am not taking any of it for granted."
Livia and Firth split in 2019 after 22 years of marriage.
Their relationship faced challenges, notably between 2015 and 2016, when Livia had an affair with her childhood friend Marco Brancaccia, which she admitted to.
After initially separating in 2015, the couple reconciled, purchasing a £1.6 million three-bedroom flat nearby. They first met on the set of the 1996 BBC drama Nostromo and married in Tuscany a year later.
They share two sons, Luca, 21 and Matteo, 19, while Firth also has a 32-year-old son, Will, from his previous relationship with actress, Meg Tilly.
In November 2019, nearly two years after the affair was revealed, Firth announced their split, but emphasised that they remained "united in their love for their children."
Livia is reportedly dating 46-year-old Scottish climate activist Callum Grieve.
