STAR of Slow Horses Olivia Cooke has revealed how a dibilitating health condition left her unable to work for half of 2026.
The 32-year-old was struck down with the shingles virus at the end of last year, forcing her to take an extended break from her acting jobs.
She contracted the infection while in New York, having to jet back to the UK for treatment.
Olivia subsequently spent weeks holed up in her London home in order to fully recover.
Speaking to GQ Hype, she detailed how much it exhausted her, saying: “I had a two-month period where I couldn’t do small talk.
“Someone was like: ‘How are you?’ And I was like: ‘Yeah, I’ve had shingles’.”
The House Of The Dragon actress admitted that constantly working contributed considerably to the illness.
“I feel like the past two years, I’ve been, like, jobs, jobs, jobs, and I got really burnt out,” she said. “Your body has a way of flooring you to make sure that you do actually lie down.”
During her rest period, Olivia passed the time cooking and rearranging her house in East London, which she shares with partner Ralph Davis, describing herself as “a real housewife”.
“I was cooking different meals every day and sorting my cupboards out.
“I was like a real housewife, like, horribly, but I enjoyed it.”
It also gave her the opportunity to take time away from social media, deactivating Instagram.
“I was just like, I’m on this too much – it’s not nourishing,” she explained. “I think the celebri-fied nature of being an actor has now snowballed into this monster.
“And I just think we need to get off this train and realise that we make these TV shows and films, yes, for escapism, but also because it’s artful and it’s creative and it’s not for followers or for a brand deal.”
Despite being back on the social media platform, Olivia’s approach to it has changed.
“Even replying to a DM from someone that is semi-famous or wholly famous, that’s anxiety,” she added. “Why do I then now feel like I have to be smart and charming for this person that I don’t know?”
Olivia is currently filming A Talent For Murder, in which she’ll portray an American heiress on the run.
In Slow Horses, she stars opposite Bond contender Jack Lowden.