Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zara Woodcock

EastEnders' Melanie Clark Pullen painted for pain relief during cancer battle

EastEnders star Melanie Clark Pullen returned to Ireland and began painting as a form of pain relief during her battle with breast cancer.

The soap actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 and died on March 29 at the age of 46.

She had been living at home in Bangor, Wales, when she had a double mastectomy, had her ovaries and tubes removed as well as reconstructive surgery.

Before the surgery could take place, she had to undergo five gruelling sessions of radiotherapy.

Around that time, she was introduced to Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, a charity that includes counselling, art therapy, family support and more.

She started trying out painting (@booksbytheseaballyholme/ Instagram)

Melanie decided to explore her artistic side and start painting and journalling.

Speaking to Irish News in 2020, Melanie revealed she couldn't 'write at all' when she was undergoing chemotherapy.

"All my family on my mum's side are artistic but I never thought I could paint," she said.

"It turned out that it was the only way I could express myself though; through drawing and painting."

It was the only way she could express herself (@booksbytheseaballyholme/ Instagram)

The TV star added: "I’ve gone from trying to make something really nice to playing with shapes and lines and not criticising myself. The painting and drawing gave me a way of dealing with the pain and just experiencing some of what was going on."

She went on to compliment her art therapist, Joanne Boal, for being the most 'incredible' and 'compassionate' person.

She painted everything from mermaids to flowers (@booksbytheseaballyholme/ Instagram)

Melanie painted everything from flowers and scenery to abstract lines and portraits.

The star shared a lot of her works on her art Instagram, booksbytheseaballyholme.

The art sessions ended up 'really helping her' despite the pain she was in.

Get all the biggest showbiz news straight to your inbox. Sign up for the free Mirror Showbiz newsletter.

In 2020, Melanie was given the all-clear but was unfortunately diagnosed with a brain tumour in June last year.

She posted on her website: "I was only given the all clear from cancer 18 months ago and it's a cruel blow to think that I will now be starting into some kind of treatment again and that this time it will be long term and a permanent fixture of my life."

Melanie kept her fans up to date with her journey, and posted about it as recently as March 14.

She played the role of Mary Flaherty in the long-running BBC soap EastEnders.

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.