Hermione Norris has revealed she has suffered from long Covid, which left her concerned about her ability to take on physical challenges.
The Cold Feet star, 59, said she is now much better but the change to her body has been a “shock”.
Norris is one of seven celebrities who embarked on a pilgrimage through north-east England to one of Britain’s most important pilgrimage sites, Lindisfarne, for new BBC series Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island.
She was joined by stars including Ashley Banjo, Patsy Kensit and Tasha Ghouri for the programme but said she had concerns about her health before setting off.
She told Prima magazine: “I’m not great at extreme discomfort. I had long Covid a few years ago, so I was worried about my physical fitness and the demands of walking so much every day, plus carrying the backpack.
“But we did a couple of massive walks and I was fine. I was pleasantly surprised.”
She added: “Having been ill [with long Covid], my focus is on being well and healthy.
“It’s about exercising, not to make me look good but to keep me strong. I stretch a lot, and I’ve really got to start lifting weights.
“I also use an infrared sauna for my autoimmune condition. I get really stiff joints. I’m so much better after the long Covid, but I feel different, physiologically.
“It gave me a shock, as I’ve always been quite fit and strong.”
Long Covid is when the symptoms of Covid-19 last longer than 12 weeks, according to the NHS website.
Symptoms include extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, joint pain, aching muscles and brain fog.
Norris, best known for her role as Karen Marsden in cult 90s drama Cold Feet, said she has also noticed significant changes since going through the menopause, telling the magazine: “Menopause talk is everywhere now. But the alchemy that happens is unquestionable. The masks drop.
“I feel like a different person from who I was in my 40s – mentally and physically – in a good way.
“Now I enjoy simple things. My morning coffee, a walk, my doggies, beautiful skies. The joy is in the day-to-day of living, not the big things.”
The May 2026 issue of Prima is now on sale.
