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Laura Aikman’s Journey: Overcoming Illness and Rising in British Television
Laura Aikman has captured the hearts of viewers with her versatile performances, returning as Sonia in the latest Gavin & Stacey Christmas special and tackling new, challenging roles in BBC’s This City is Ours and Disney+’s Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. Behind her career’s flourishing momentum, however, lies a lesser-known story of resilience—her battle with a debilitating, undiagnosed illness that nearly forced her to give up acting altogether.
Battling an Agonising Mystery Illness
Aikman’s rise in British television has not been without hardship. She spent a significant period of her life feeling “very, very unwell,” plagued by extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, persistent diarrhoea, and even blood in her stool. Multiple visits to doctors frustratingly resulted in misdiagnoses. Her symptoms were dismissed as simple haemorrhoids (“piles”), and the treatments provided had no effect on her deteriorating health. Despite her persistence, she found herself at a dead end with conventional medical approaches.
Desperate for answers, Aikman turned to a homeopath. During their conversations, the homeopath questioned whether her career as an actress might be contributing to her health decline and asked directly, “Can you do another job?” For Aikman, this was a wake-up call—a stark moment forcing her to consider how deeply acting was woven into her identity.
“It was literally making me unwell, the stress of not working and feeling like I wasn’t good enough or didn’t have anything going on.”
Diagnosis and the Road to Recovery
Refusing to give up, Aikman eventually received a proper diagnosis: ulcerative colitis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the large intestine. Ulcerative colitis flare-ups occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the digestive tract, leading to severe symptoms and life disruptions. The condition often requires long-term management, but with the right medication, many individuals—including Aikman—achieve periods of remission and regain quality of life. Surgery is generally reserved for only the most severe cases. Learn more about ulcerative colitis and support networks from resources such as Crohn’s & Colitis UK.
Reclaiming Her Passion for Acting
With her health stabilised, Aikman returned to work with renewed determination. In 2024, she embraced an intense new challenge: portraying Rachel in BBC’s This City is Ours, a drama immersing viewers in Liverpool’s underworld. Rachel, a driven woman navigating dangerous territory within the city’s drug scene, presented Aikman with an opportunity to explore a type of character she had never played before. Of the role, she joked, “It was the year of the b*tch,” later reflecting on how rewarding such complex parts can be for an actor’s growth and satisfaction.
For more on Laura Aikman’s career highlights, see her full filmography on IMDb and her biography on Wikipedia.
A Career Marked by Versatility
Throughout her decades-long career—beginning with shows like The Mysti Show and spanning BBC, ITV, and other networks—Aikman has become known for her adaptability and depth. Her journey stands as a testament to perseverance, not just in the demanding world of showbiz, but through battling personal adversities that could bring other careers to a standstill. Her story is one of triumph, showing that resilience and self-belief can overcome even the toughest of setbacks.
To catch up on the latest updates and fan reactions to her roles—especially memorable moments from the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special—follow the #GavinAndStacey hashtag on Twitter or visit Laura Aikman’s social media pages, where she frequently shares behind-the-scenes glimpses and interacts with fans.
For more insight into BBC’s dramatic offerings and upcoming projects, visit their official This City is Ours page, and keep an eye out for updates about Aikman’s future performances.
Laura Aikman’s experience is a stark reminder of the unseen struggles behind public success—and how, with the right support and personal resolve, even the steepest setbacks can become turning points in a remarkable career.
