HER emotional performance as devoted mum Eileen in It’s A Sin, who wept by son Colin’s bedside while he was dying left viewers in tears.
But without the support of one incredible person, 59-year-old actress Andria Doherty would have barely remembered her lines.
She suffers from antiphospholipid lipid syndrome – a condition known as Hughes syndrome which causes an increased risk of blood clots and can affect speech and memory.
But thanks to specialist treatment from NHS rheumatologist Dr Julian Nash, her cognitive abilities have been given a boost.
In a bid to show her thanks, Andria is nominating him for Best Doctor at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards – and urges YOU to do the same.
She said: “Great care by individual clinicians should be recognised. If you know someone who has given you incredible care, please nominate them.”
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Former midwife and nurse Andria, who stars in the hit Channel 4 show alongside Olly Alexander, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2012 after suffering a series of falls and paralysis down one side of her body.
The condition affects the brain and spinal cord and, in some cases like hers, mobility.
A few years after being referred to Dr Nash, Andria was also diagnosed with the rare Behcet’s disease which causes blood vessels to inflame.
But currently, Hughes syndrome is the condition causing her the most problems. On top of all this, she also has a duodenal villous adenoma tumour in her stomach which could at any point turn cancerous.
All her conditions are carefully monitored by Dr Nash from the Swansea Bay University Health Board, who carefully liaises with other consultants to keep Andria safe.
Hailing the incredible medic, she said: “He is particularly diligent. He goes above and beyond. He is amazing.
“I know that he does it for every patient he has. He is willing to listen and discuss and never rushes you. I’ve never once felt like I was wasting his time.
“He will sit and chat with you and go through all your concerns no matter how long it takes. He makes his patients feel like the priority.”
While the medics’ specialism is rheumatology, he makes sure to chase up any other medical issues Andria has to ensure she is in the best health possible.
He has personally kept an eye on the actress’s referrals to ensure all her conditions are receiving timely treatment.
Andria can have cognitive issues, which affect things like learning lines, and suffers from joint and muscle pain.
Dr Nash ensures she receives different medications to help her manage more easily.
Andria says his care was invaluable while she was filming It’s A Sin as the special injections he prescribed – and him always being on the end of a phone – made it easier to navigate the set in her wheelchair.
Andria said: “Without his care and dedication everything would be more difficult for me.
“As an actress, I need to be as well as I can be to make sure I’m in a position where I can learn my lines. Without him, it would all be so much harder.
“I’d be struggling more with pain and memory issues because of the conditions I have.
“I found it quite embarrassing when I forgot my lines on set for It’s A Sin, but the cast and crew didn’t mind at all.”
Andria has chosen to nominate Dr Nash because she wants his specialism to get more recognition as many people won’t be aware of rheumatologists and what they do.
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She added that Dr Nash will likely be bemused by his nomination because he doesn’t think what he does is anything special.
But to Andria and other patients, he is their superhero.
