Lisa Faulkner says she had 'lots of therapy to deal with guilt following her mum's death from cancer aged 44 because they clashed when she was a teen'

Published: 10:50 EDT, 23 October 2026 | Updated: 11:06 EDT, 23 October 2026 Lisa Faulkner has revealed she had 'lots of therapy' to come to terms with her mum's death from cancer, after they clashed during her teenage years.The actress was just 16 when her mother Julie passed away from a battle with cancer at the age of 44.Lisa shared that she and her mum had a fraught relationship when she was diagnosed with the disease, and said she had 'no idea' how ill she really was.The star was diagnosed with breast cancer herself earlier this year, but revealed this week she has been given the all clear.Lisa said: 'I just remember my mum saying, my mum and dad must have sat us down and said that she started with an ulcer in her tongue and it ended up being cancer, and they really shielded us from the gravity of it. 'I remember going to see her, she had radiotherapy and we weren't allowed to go near her. So things have changed now because I was so worried that when I had radiotherapy that I couldn't be near Billie or anyone. Lisa Faulkner has revealed she had 'lots of therapy' to come to terms with her mum's death from cancer, after they clashed during her teenage yearsSpeaking on the Full Disclosure podcast, Lisa also told host James O'Brien: 'I had no idea she was going to die and I had no idea how ill she was. They were protecting me from that.''My sister was two years younger than me. So she was 14, I was 16. I know I was horrible. I know that me and my mum, though I had a very idyllic childhood, we clashed. She was a fireball...'My godmother tells me now, that we were really similar, and my mum found it really frustrating, so I was like ''why are you ill?'' I want to go out. I've suddenly discovered pubs and boys and it was the late '80s and life was brilliant and so it was, my mum getting ill was a real hindrance.'I had to do a lot of therapy, because I felt like I blamed myself for being really unkind.'I think that's why she hid it from me and going through something not half as bad as my mum. 'You know, I really feel like I was blushed with it, I've been very lucky, but seeing how Billie who's older than I was, but in ways quite younger than I was, she dealt with it very similarly.'She'd be really quite cold and aloof with me. And I know exactly, I know exactly why.'At that age, you are the star in your own film. You don't need anybody else to be the star in your film, especially your sick mother.' The actress was just 16 when her mother Julie passed away from a battle with cancer at the age of 44During the interview, Lisa also confirmed she's 'out of the other end' of her own battle with breast cancer.She added: 'I am out the other end. It's a weird thing because though I am out the other end, you're left with this anxiety that you'd never had before. 'It's really been strange and I thought I would be ''oh it's just a blip and I'll be fine,'' but it's taken me much longer, than I thought it would, but I am better and I am well and I am so grateful to our health service who are amazing. Really amazing.'Lisa was also supported by her husband John Torode during her cancer battle, and has lauded the former MasterChef star for supporting her during her health struggles.She wrote on Instagram: 'I couldn’t have got through these past few months without you by my side.' Lisa also shares adopted daughter Billie, 20, with her ex-husband Chris Coghill.