Which celebrities have had coronavirus? From Prince Charles to Khloe Kardashian

Royalty, sports stars, actors and politicians have all been affected by the disease

Emily Cope
Friday 29 January 2021 06:55 GMT
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With more than 100 million cases of coronavirus worldwide, celebrities and civilians alike have been trying  to stay safe amid the pandemic.

The virus has now been active for over a year, with the UK’s first case of coronavirus diagnosed on 31 January 2020 and the first lockdown coming into place on 23 March 2020.

A vaccine has since been discovered - with three approved for use on the NHS - giving many hope that an eventual end is in sight, but those in the public eye who have been afflicted with coronavirus continue to urge fans and followers to self-isolate and stay safe.

Here we take a look at the high profile figures who have spoken out about their experiences with Covid-19.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Hanks and Wilson, both 63, became the first celebrities to openly confirm they had contracted coronavirus, announcing that they had tested positive on 12 March while in Australia.

In an Instagram post, Hanks wrote: "Hello folks. @ritawilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us.

"We have Covid-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else. There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness."

They later posted to say they had both recovered and returned home.

Idris Elba

The Luther star took to his social media accounts on 16 March to confirm that he had contracted coronavirus.

"This morning I tested positive for Covid 19," wrote Elba on Twitter. "I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. 

"Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. No panic."

Prince Charles

Clarence House confirmed that the 71-year-old heir to the throne had been diagnosed in a statement released on 25 March.

In a video message a few days later, the Duke of Cornwall - who completed his isolation at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire - praised the "remarkable NHS".

“As we are all learning, this is a strange, frustrating and often distressing experience when the presence of family and friends is no longer possible and the normal structures of life are suddenly removed,” he said.

"At such an unprecedented and anxious time in all our lives, my wife and I are thinking particularly of all those who have lost their loved ones in such very difficult and abnormal circumstances, and of those having to endure sickness, isolation and loneliness."

Pink

On 3 April Pink announced via Twitter that she had tested positive two weeks previously and had since recovered.

"This illness is serious and real," wrote the singer. "People need to know that the illness affects the young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor, and we must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities."

Because of her experience, Pink donated £725,000 to coronavirus relief funds in an effort to "support the healthcare professionals who are battling on the frontlines every day."

Khloe Kardashian

The eldest Kardashian sister was diagnosed with coronavirus while Keeping Up With The Kardashians  in October.

"I just found out that I do have corona," she revealed in the latest series. “It's going to be fine but it was really bad for a couple of days, vomiting and shaking, and hot and then cold. I suffer from migraines but this was the craziest headache... Let me tell you, that s--- is real.”

Hugh Grant

The British actor, 60, revealed in an interview with Stephen Colbert that he contracted Covid-19 in February 2020 and tested positive for the antibodies in October.

"I'm rather proud of them," he joked.

Grant also described experiencing “very strange” symptoms, adding: "I kept breaking into a terrible sweat. It was like a poncho of sweat. Embarrassing, really.

"And then my eyeballs felt about three sizes too big and a feeling as though some enormous man was sitting on chest."

Neil Patrick Harris

In September Neil Patrick Harris revealed that he’d tested positive for coronavirus, along with husband David Burtka and their nine-year-old twins, Gideon and Harper.

"It happened very early [in the pandemic], like late March, early April," he revealed on Today. "We were doing our best before, and I thought I had the flu, and I didn't want to be paranoid about it. And then I lost my sense of taste and smell, which was a big indicator, so we holed up."

Dwayne Johnson

The actor and former WWE wrestler told fans in September that he, his wife, Lauren Hashian, and his young daughters had all contracted coronavirus. 

Although Johnson said they were "no longer contagious," he called the diagnoses “one of the most challenging and difficult” things they’ve ever had to experience.

Madonna

The 61-year-old Queen of Pop did not explicitly state that she had coronavirus, however she did reveal in an Instagram video that she tested positive for coronavirus antibodies - which the CDC [Centres for Disease Control and Prevention] describes as sickness-fighting proteins that "show if you had a previous infection with the virus."

Antonio Banderas

On his 60th birthday back in August, the Spanish actor revealed he was recovering from a positive Covid-19 diagnosis.

Banderas wrote on Instagram that he was “feeling pretty good, just a little more tired than normal." 

He went on to add that he's been making the most of the isolation, reading, writing, resting and making plans to commemorate his birthday.

Boris Johnson

Johnson's coronavirus diagnosis was confirmed on 27 March, with the prime minister admitted to hospital for tests on 5 April after continuing to display symptoms. He was also temporarily taken to intensive care at St Thomas' hospital.

The following day, Downing Street said he was in "good spirits" after a "comfortable" night.

Hours after Johnson’s announcement, health secretary Matt Hancock also revealed that he had tested positive.

Gloria Estefan

On 1 December, Estefan revealed she had Covid-19, revealing she believed she caught it after being approached by a fan at her restaurant in Miami.

The singer opened up about her experience in a recent Instagram video, telling fans: “In the past few weeks, I have been one of the victims of Covid. The reason I’m sharing this is because I want you to know how highly contagious this is.

"I wear my mask everywhere. I went to a restaurant outdoors with some family – three, four of us. Everybody was negative and we wore masks all the way to the table and when we left.”

Estefan added: “the only thing [she] can imagine happened” is someone “came up to me when I was eating and tapped me on the shoulder, they were very close, they had no mask and they were telling me beautiful things, but that’s the only thing that I have done outside of my enclosure here”.

Ellen Degeneres

Degeneres, 63, shut down production on her eponymous talk show on 10 December after confirming she had contracted the virus.

The talk show host later posted a message on Twitter saying she's "feeling fine right now" and that she's following "all proper CDC guidelines."

Sharon Osbourne

Osbourne, 68, revealed in December that she was briefly hospitalised after testing positive for coronavirus.

“I’m now recuperating at a location away from Ozzy (who has tested negative). Everyone please stay safe and healthy,” added the presenter.

Jeremy Clarkson

The Top Gear host revealed he tested positive for coronavirus over Christmas and feared he would die "in a lonely plastic tent" because he’s “60  and fat, and because I’ve smoked half a million cigarettes and had double pneumonia.”

The 60-year-old wrote in his column for The Sunday Times: "Four days before Christmas, I woke in the night to find my sheets were soggy. And that I had a constant dry cough."

After his coronavirus test came back positive, "the doctor was very clear – I’d feel under the weather for between five and 14 days and then I’d either get better or I’d have to go to hospital."

He has since recovered.

Bryan Cranston

In July Cranston announced he had tested positive for coronavirus “a little while ago."

The Breaking Bad star posted a video on Instagram saying he felt "very lucky" to have suffered “very mild symptoms.”

The video also showed him going into hospital to allow medics to take a blood sample for analysis.

"Hopefully the plasma donation can help some other people," he added. “I count my blessings and urge you to keep wearing the damn mask, keep washing your hands, and stay socially distant. We can prevail - but ONLY if we follow the rules together”

Novak Djokovic

The world number one tennis player apologised after he, his wife and fellow players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all revealed they had coronavirus after playing at Djokovic's Adria Tour competition.

In a post on Twitter, Djokovic said it had been "too soon" to stage the tournament, which took place in June across Belgrade, Serbia and Zadar, Croatia.

He said the tournament had been organised with "a pure heart", "good intentions" and a belief that they had "met all health protocols".

"I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm," added Djokovic. "We were wrong and it was too soon."

Tiffany Haddish

Comedian Haddish revealed she had tested positive for coronavirus during an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci in late August.

She said she got tested twice, once when someone on the film she was working on contracted coronavirus, and another after someone else she knew tested positive. Her second test came up positive. 

"That was three months ago," she added. "I've been tested 12 times now because I've been working and everything."

Dynamo

Magician Dynamo, who has Crohn’s disease and arthritis, revealed he had suffered "severe symptoms" of Covid-19 after testing positive in April.

In a video message he warned: “This illness can effect anyone, it doesn't discriminate and it can present itself in many different ways. We're all genuinely at risk.”

Jim Parsons

The Big Bang Theory actor revealed to Jimmy Fallon that he and his spouse, Todd, had contracted the virus "early on" in March.

"We didn't know what it was. We thought we had colds, and then it seemed less likely," said Parsons on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

"Finally, we lost our sense of smell and taste, utterly. It defied the descriptions for me. I didn't realise how completely taste and smell could be gone. And when you're in quarantine and there's nothing to do but eat, oh my God, that was brutal." 

Paul Chuckle

One half of children's TV icons, The Chuckle Brothers, the actor, 72, revealed his diagnosis back in March

In a video message posted on Twitter, Chuckle - whose real name is Paul Elliott - said: "Hi guys, just checking in to let you know I'm still around.

"I have been laid up with Covid-19 for a good few days, just mild, but it was there and it's not nice, I promise you, so please, please stay inside."

The comedy legend is back in good health, as per his Twitter page, selling “two metre you” facemasks.

Lena Dunham

Actress, writer and director, Dunham, came down with Covid-19 in mid-March and detailed her experience via her Instagram account.

The Girls creator suffered pain alongside an “impossible, crushing fatigue.”

The star said her symptoms remained long after testing negative for the virus, and suffered with swollen hands and feet, severe fatigue and a constant migraines.

Kevin Hart

Actor and comedian Hart told fans at Dave Chapelle’s An Intimate Socially Distanced Affair live show that he tested positive in March, around the same time as Tom Hanks.

Speaking to the audience, Hart explained: “The problem is that I had it around the same time as Tom Hanks, and I couldn’t say anything because he’s more famous than I am.”

Brian Cox

The Scottish actor, 74, caught Covid-19 early on in the pandemic, though he didn’t realise until a routine blood test a few months later.

Speaking to James Corden during The Late Late Show, Cox said he experienced fatigue and “sneezing attacks” which he attributed to jet lag at the time.

He said: “The problem, or the delight is, I never felt anything."

Kanye West

The award-winning rapper revealed that he had been infected with Covid-19 in an interview with Forbes.

Speaking to Grazia magazine his wife, Kim Kardashian West, said: “Kanye had it way at the beginning, when nobody really knew what was going on.

“It was so scary and unknown. I had my four babies and no one else in the house to help.”

The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star also revealed that she had had to change West’s bedsheets wearing gloves and protective facial gear, and had to help him out of bed “when he wasn’t feeling good”.

Usain Bolt

The world's fastest man had to quarantine at his home in Jamaica after testing positive for Covid-19, just days after celebrating his 34th birthday party.

"The Covid test was positive, but Usain is not showing any symptoms," Bolt's agent Ricky Simms told CNN in an email.

Olga Kurylenko

The Bond girl revealed she had tested positive for coronavirus in a message posted on Instagram on 15 March, urging fans to take the illness seriously.

The Ukrainian-born French actress, who starred in Quantum Of Solace, said: "Locked up at home after having tested positive for coronavirus.

"I've actually been ill for almost a week now. Fever and fatigue are my main symptoms. Take care of yourself and do take this seriously!"

Donna Air

The TV presenter, 40, revealed she had coronavirus on social media on 31 March, and had suffered from "mild flu-like symptoms."

Aware of "what a privilege it is to be able access tests privately", Air donated testing kits to the NHS and friends who are health workers.

Fiona Phillips

Former GMTV host Fiona Phillips tweeted on 20 March to say she had coronavirus symptoms, including a sore throat and dry cough, but that she was "fine" and "not suffering".

In the tweet, Phillips said: "I am in bed with #coronvirusuk It's not a very pleasant bedfellow, but nothing more than sore throat, dry cough, headache and tiredness. As long as it stays that way....DON'T panic! [sic]"

Larry King

Sadly 87-year-old Larry King lost his life earlier this month after testing positive for coronavirus in December.

The talk show host was taken to hospital in January and died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. Although his wife later confirmed he died from sepsis, and not as a result of Covid-19.

A statement posted online by his Ora Media company said: “With profound sadness, Ora Media announces the sad death of our co-founder, host and friend Larry King.”

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