Actor almost killed by brain tumour feels lucky to have completed film

An actor who nearly died after a lime-sized brain tumour grew undetected for more than a decade and deformed his skull says he feels lucky to have survived to finish his latest film.

- by HANNAH COTTRELL

Craig Russell, 48, who lives in Falmouth with wife Kate, 40, and sons Teddy, 10, and Henry, seven, went to his GP after noticing in September 2022 that he was experiencing memory loss, migraines and brain fog.

Craig, known for roles in TV shows including Hollyoaks and Netflix’s Queen Cleopatra, was found to be going blind in his left eye and referred for CT and MRI scans.

These revealed a large, benign tumour the size of a squashed lime was growing in his brain and deforming his skull.

Doctors told him it could have been there for up to 15 years.

In March 2023 Craig underwent surgery to remove the mass which, he said, could have killed him or cost him his sight entirely.

The damaged area of his skull had to be removed rebuilt using a mixture of plastic and cement, held together by bolts and secured temporarily by 55 staples in his scalp.