EastEnders' star Samantha Womack has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The actress, 49, announced she is "starting my own battle with this disease" in a heartbreaking post as she paid tribute to Olivia Newton-John on Tuesday in the wake of her death.
Grease icon Olivia died aged 73 on Monday morning at her ranch in Southern California, surrounded by her loved ones. Her cause of death has yet to be announced.
Samantha seemingly found strength from the actress, who battled breast cancer for three decades, to share her own health struggles.
Uploading a throwback photo with daughter Lily Rose, now 17, from her time on the West End stage in the Grease production, Samantha recalled how Olivia came to see her on stage in the tribute.
Samantha wrote: "This was the most magical of evenings. Olivia and Chloe had come to see Grease in London and we had dinner together afterwards.
"I was so excited and in awe, she was my childhood. I now start my own battle with this disease and am left feeling deeply moved."
Sam played Sandy in Grease in the West End.
The actress is best known for playing the role of Ronnie Mitchell in EastEnders but has also had roles in comedy Game On and represented the United Kingdom in the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest.
Dozens of fans rushed to offer Sam support after the comment on Twitter.
One wrote: "Lots of love to you", while another added: "gosh sending you all our best wishes and lots of love".
This Morning's Soap correspondent Sharon Marshall said: "Wishing you love and strength."
Mirror Online has contacted Samantha's representative for further comment.
Samantha decided to share her secret cancer battle, seemingly inspired by Olivia who fought breast cancer since 1992 and went on to become one of the biggest vocal champions for raising awareness before her untimely death on Sunday.
During her 30-year breast cancer battle, Olivia was diagnosed three times, the first being in 1992.
She faced heartache again in 2013 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time.
She chose to keep her battle with the disease under wraps the second time around - only opening up about her illness once she had beaten it.
Olivia's world turned upside down again in 2017 when a tumour was found at the base of her spine.
At the time, she was told by doctors that the cancer had spread to her bones and had progressed to Stage 4.
The actress established her Olivia Newton-John Foundation to help fellow cancer sufferers, as well as the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, which gives treatments to patients.
