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Chronicles of Narnia actor Georgie Henley has revealed that she secretly battled a carnivorous beetle that nearly killed her and narrowly saved her arm from being amputated.
The actress, 27, took to Instagram on Tuesday when she revealed that she had been hiding her scars for years because she thought she would be missing out on work.
After gaining international recognition playing Lucy Pevensie in the fantasy film series The Chronicles of Narnia, she went on to study English at the University of Cambridge.
Shocking: Chronicles of Narnia star Georgie Henley has revealed she secretly battled a carnivorous beetle that nearly killed her, narrowly avoiding having her arm amputated (pictured in October)
But within weeks of starting her course, she developed necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but serious bacterial infection that can occur when a wound becomes infected.
The bug affects the tissue under the skin and surrounding muscles and organs and can be fatal, with treatment usually involving antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected area.
Discussing her secret battle with the insect, Georgie shared a black and white photo of herself as she wrote: “When I was eighteen years old and in my sixth week of college, I contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and punishing infection that nearly took my life.” and destroyed my whole body.
“To avoid amputation of my left hand and arm, I underwent a grueling invasive surgery, and later an extensive reconstructive surgery that resulted in a series of skin grafts and scars.”
Screen debut: Georgie gained international recognition playing Lucy Pevensie in the fantasy film series The Chronicles of Narnia (pictured with co-star James McAvoy)
Georgie describes the impact it has had on her life: ‘It took a long time for me to recover both physically and mentally, but I hoped that one day there would be the right time to talk about what happened. Today is a start.
For the past nine years I have been open about my scars in my personal life, but have completely hidden them in any professional context: wearing bandages or coverings, make-up on set and stage, long sleeves when I would be photographed, pants so I could put my hand in a pocket.
“The industry I’m in often focuses on a very narrow idea of what constitutes aesthetic ‘perfection’, and I was worried that my scars would keep me from getting a job.
Candid: The 27-year-old actress took to Instagram on Tuesday when she revealed that she had hidden her scars for years because she thought she would miss out on her job
Lief: Georgie was immediately inundated with support from her famous friends
“The truth is there is no such thing as ‘perfection,’ but I have still lived with the shame of feeling different, exacerbated by the expectations that came with starting my career at a young age.”
As she learned to change her mindset, she continued, “But my scars are nothing to be ashamed of.
“They are a map of the pain my body has endured, and above all a reminder of my survival.
“They don’t affect my quality as an actor, and I’m proud to be a person who has visible scars in this industry.
“I want to thank Addenbrooke Hospital for their exceptional care.
“I want to thank my family and friends for their continued love and support through the most difficult times, especially my parents who have weathered every storm with me, no matter how devastating.
“Thank you to my agents and the people who have hired me over the past nine years, who have never seen my scars as a problem and have respect for who I was as a person and an actor.
“Finally, I want to thank everyone who reads this and has supported me and my work, it really means more than you can know.”
She concluded: “I’m sure I’ll tell you more about my experiences in the future, but today I’m just happy to finally feel free for the first time in a long time.”
Georgie was immediately inundated with support from her celebrity friends.
Emma Corrin wrote: ‘Love you geo ❤️’; while Honey Ross noted, “I love you more than words can say.
The wisest, nicest, most phenomenally powerful woman. Best friend for life. And then a little.’
Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie wrote: ‘I love you Georgie! ❤️’ as model Charli Howard wrote: ‘You are beautiful inside and out ❤️❤️❤️’
Like Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame, Georgie made her film debut at the age of nine in a hugely successful children’s film.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2010, prior to the release of the last film in the franchise, Georgie explained that she was wary of using social media.
Fantastic Four: Georgie made her film debut at age nine alongside Anna Popplewell as Susan, William Moseley as Peter and Skandar Keynes as Edmund
She revealed: “I’m jealous of my friends because Facebook is fun and you can see what’s going on in other people’s lives. Emma lets me use hers so I can stalk sometimes, but not in a scary way!
“You know, maybe I’m lucky, because in five or six years, when we all audition for jobs, employers will find all these photos of them drunk, and I won’t be here!”
Since her turn in Narnia, Georgie has appeared in a string of films and most recently co-starred with Laura Carmichael of Downton Abbey in the TV series The Spanish Princess.
One to watch: Since her turn in Narnia, Georgie has appeared in a string of films and most recently co-starred with Laura Carmichael of Downton Abbey in The Spanish Princess