Joanna David
Actress Joanna David is no ordinary patron for
just another charity. Unusually for a
neurological charity, Joanna is a sufferer
herself, under-going decompression surgery
for her Arnold Chiari Malformation in 1993.
"I first knew something was wrong when I
started getting severe pains in my head, when
I was putting pressure on my system, whether
that be shouting (I am an actress after all),
bending over, or sneezing," explained Joanna,
when she met up with Trust Chairman Tony Kember in
central London earlier this year to discuss her new
role. She added, "It impacted on most parts of my
everyday life, including the acting. If I was doing
hysterical scenes or shouting, I'd get severe pains in
my head, or when we doing company voice exercises."
Like many sufferers, that moment when she was first
told that something was wrong, and given a name for
it, sticks in her memory.
"When my consultant first told me that it was Arnold
Chiari, I thought, 'What did that mean?', 'An
operation?', 'Would it work?' and 'How experienced
was the surgeon?' Little did I know that he was the
best, and just how soon would I be able to work again,"
she tells the Newsletter. He is Michael Powell,
consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital for
Neurology and Neurosurgery in central London.
It wasn't just Joanna that had to come to terms with the
news, but her partner (actor Edward Fox) and their
children (actress Emilia Fox, younger brother Freddy,
and Lucy - Edward's daughter from his previous
marriage).
"My family didn't really realize the seriousness of it all
until I was in hospital in intensive care. I was operated
on in the June of that year, and got through the six
week check-up, but did have severe psychological
anxiety and depression afterwards," explains Joanna
candidly. "But I had fantastic medical treatment, and
was well again by the October."
"If I had any advice for someone newly diagnosed with
the condition, it would be that when you see your
neurologist and surgeon, ask them everything that is
on your mind - and anything that worries you. Don't
leave it there to play on your mind."
Even before becoming a Patron for ACT, Joanna had
thrown herself into raising funds, most notably for the
National Hospital (for an MRI scanner), as well as
sharing her own experiences to raise awareness of the
condition. "Since the operation, I've tried to support
the National Hospital, where I had my treatment. I
have trekked to Nepal, for which we raised £ 8,000 in
sponsorship. I've also given talks to journalists about
the amazing treatment I received. I've also spread the
word by speaking at a neurological nurses'
convention.”
Despite putting a lot of energy into the cause herself,
Joanna is under no illusion that everyone is as lucky.
Explaining why she was happy to sign
up to support the Trust, Joanna says,
"Some of the symptoms can be
seriously disconcerting, but the support
that fellow sufferers can give who have
had unique insights into dealing with
the condition is vital. Whilst surgery
can be as good as a cure for many, for
others it can leave both a physical and
psychological legacy. The Ann Conroy
Trust helps provide support for those
needs and fears. I do tell people that
I've had the condition, and that I have
recovered 100% - so I suppose I am a good
advertisement for the operation."
Her profile has already helped recruit five new
members to the Trust, when a new regional group was
set up in Norfolk, in June. Press coverage she helped
to generate ensured that sufferers at both ends of the
county were able to speak to a fellow sufferer for the
first time, in one case, in 12 years.
On the professional front, Lancaster born Joanna
continues to be in demand on both TV and Radio.
"My most recent acting assignments include Bleak
House, which is to be shown on TV soon." Bleak
House is the ground-breaking adaptation of the
Dickens classic on BBC One in the Autumn which will
be aired in the style of a modern day soap opera, in
twice weekly, half hour episodes. Also in the starstudded
cast are names such as Charles Dance,
Alistair McGowan, Pauline Collins and Johnny Vegas.
"I've just appeared in the ITV drama, Falling, and a
radio play too, called Moving Day," adds Joanna,
demonstrating that the condition has not prevented her
from having a successful acting career.
Joanna, who lives in Little Venice, West London is a
very familiar face and voice in the UK, whether on TV
(as well as her acting credits which include Rosemary
& Thyme, Monarch of the Glen, Heartbeat and as Mrs
Gardener alongside her daughter in Pride & Prejudice,
the cameras repeatedly focused on Joanna as she
chatted with Rowan Atkinson at the wedding of Charles
and Camilla, who was sat next to her in St George's
Chapel), in films (for example, she played the wife of
Peter Baring, the chairman of the bank in Rogue
Trader, which starred Ewan MacGregor as Nick
Leeson), on the radio (in numerous plays), or narrating
audio books.
As a complete Joan Hickson 'Miss Marple' nut, I will
always remember Joanna in particular for playing the
part of Emma Crackenthorpe in the adaptation of 'The
4:50 From Paddington". It doesn't take a sleuth to
work out that Joanna David is going to a high profile
advocate for the Ann Conroy Trust, and the
neurological conditions it represents.
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