Kristin Davis isn’t keeping quiet about her experience with shingles, and she’s in good company. At GSK’s “Shingles, actually” campaign event in New York City on October 7, she was joined by Viola Davis, India Hicks and other advocates and public figures to share their experiences with the condition, which affects about 1 million people in the US each year. What’s more, about one in three people in the United States will get it in their lifetime, a statistic that has stuck with the Sex and the City alum. It’s part of the reason she’s speaking out—and taking a more proactive approach to her health.
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, which stays dormant in the body and can reactivate years later. The condition is known for its painful rash, which most often appears on the torso or face. For Davis, it started on one side of her forehead, where her skin felt so sensitive she could barely touch it. When spots appeared, her doctor confirmed it was shingles—and an ophthalmologist made it very clear that filming would have to wait.
Ahead, Davis shares the first signs of shingles she noticed, the advice she’d give her past self and what the past decade has taught her about aging and beauty.
You first shared your shingles story last year. What reactions did you get, and why are you continuing the conversation now?
“So many people reached out. My friends all knew I’d had it, because it was quite the drama, probably a whole month of it. But casual acquaintances and people I’d run into at school told me they went and talked to their doctor about it, and I thought, ‘Yay.’ If I can help anyone prevent shingles, I’ll be very happy.
That’s why I love GSK and this new shingles-awareness campaign. I had so little information when I got it. I didn’t recognize what I had, I didn’t know there was a way to prevent it and I didn’t know I was at greater risk because I was over 50. Talking about this honestly helps everyone, and everyone can talk to their doctor and pharmacist about their own risk and prevention. I wish I had.”
How did it show up, and how did it affect your life and work?
“It was such a drama. I was flying back from L.A. after seeing my kids for the weekend. We were still filming the final season, about a week from wrapping, so I was tired, but I’m used to that. When I got in the car after landing, I told my driver my forehead really hurt. He asked if I needed aspirin, and I said no, it’s my skin. It felt like fiberglass in my skin. I could barely touch it.
I told my makeup artist the next day. There was nothing visible yet, and because it was only one half of my forehead, it didn’t seem like a reaction to a product. Then I got shooting pain from the top of my head down, which I’d never had. I worried it was a stroke or a migraine, so I started Googling.
Then a little pink spot appeared in the center of that side of my forehead. My makeup artist, Matin, said, ‘Oh no, I hope that’s not shingles.’ I thought, shingles? That’s crazy. It had never crossed my mind that I was at risk.
Once the spots showed up, I flew home and saw my doctor, who confirmed it and told me to start an antiviral right away and see an ophthalmologist, because the nerve was heading toward my eye. The ophthalmologist told me to lie down and not go to work. I said, ‘You don’t understand, I have to film.’ He said, ‘No, you don’t understand. You don’t want to lose vision in that eye.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t.’
So I called our executive producer, a dear friend we’ve had for 30 years, and told him I couldn’t work. He said not to worry, they’d change the schedule, and that I needed to rest.”
It’s interesting how often the warning comes from someone you don’t expect.
“I know. That’s why we need to spread awareness. If you don’t happen to have someone in your circle who’s had it, you’re just kind of clueless.”
What lessons from the experience stuck with you?
“Learning about prevention and the realities of getting older. In my mind I want to think, ‘I’m healthy, I’m doing great,’ and that’s true. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be aware of your risk factors as you age. There’s so much we can do to prevent illness and get ahead of things. I wish I could go back and talk to my doctor about shingles, but I missed that one, and I don’t want to miss others that could be even more dangerous.
I used to be someone who said, ‘I’m super healthy, I don’t need to go.’ But the truth is, as you get older there are a lot of things you’re at risk for and a lot of ways to be healthier. So why not get the testing? I’ve gotten more proactive about screening my own health and my genetic predispositions. Knowledge is power. I feel more confident about what I know about my own body than I did before the shingles. When we’re young we take it all for granted, like youth itself, but as you get older you can’t. So it’s important to talk really honestly about getting older.”
How has your relationship with aging and beauty changed over the past decade?
“There’s so much joy to be had in this era of our lives. In this last decade, I’ve accepted it all more. I realized I don’t have to compare myself to my 30-year-old self, because that doesn’t benefit anybody. I feel more calm and at peace. I’m happy to be alive, happy to be healthy and happy to be there for my kids and my friends. Life is fun, so let’s focus on joy and learning. Viola was talking earlier about letting things go and being at peace with herself, and it’s inspiring to hear other women talk about that. Let’s have more of it.”
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
