Jennie Jacques
Jennie Jacques is an English actress who developed myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome after contacting Epstein-Barr virus in 2019.[1][2] Jacques is best known for playing the role of Judith in the TV series Vikings.[1][3]
ME/CFS[edit | edit source]
In 2019, Jennie Jacques was an fitness enthusiastic and competed in many grueling charity races and fitness events, in additional to her career as an accomplished actress, when she caught Epstein-Barr virus, which lead to her developing ME/CFS.[4] Jacques was hospitalized twice with severe Epstein-Barr virus and associated viral hepatitis, which led to her developing M.E. Jacques became housebound with severely ill with M.E. at one point, but has since improved.[4] In 2020, she wrote about using activity pacing with a heart rate monitor to help manage her symptoms.[5]
The first and the second year, for me, were the worst and I'm lucky to have seen some improvement in my third year. But my life is still limited and I am a shadow of my former self physically. There have been times when I couldn't even get outside in a wheelchair or to my front doorstep. Any exertion or 'efforts' to get well only pulled me backwards. Whether it's mild, moderate or severe, ME has the ability to turn a person's life upside down.[4] — Jennie Jacques, The Times, 2021
I miss exercise so much. And I really miss the swimming pool. But at the moment my 'energy envelope' simply does not allow for it without serious repercussions."[4] — Jennie Jacques, The Times, 2021
Jacques experiences "post-exertional malaise" — a flare-up of pain, flu-like symptoms and exhaustion — after even minimal activity. It's a telltale symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), the debilitating condition that leaves patients profoundly fatigued and experiencing pain, dizziness, stomach problems and brain fog.[4]
Charity work[edit | edit source]
Jacques, who has a younger sister who lives with seizures, has a long history of fundraising and advocacy for epilepsy charities.[4][6][7] In 2020, she became an ambassador for the ME/CFS charities Open Medicine Foundation and Action for ME.[1][8]
Talks and interviews[edit | edit source]
- 2014, Coventry actress Jennie Jacques returns to TV screens as 1950s cop - Coventry Telegraph
- 2014, Jennie Jacques exclusive interview - WPC 56 - Female First
- 2017, Jennie Jacques & Georgina Higgins talk openly - The London Economic
- 2021, Interview with OMF Ambassador and person with ME/CFS, Jennie Jacques - Open Medicine Foundation
- 2021, Jennie Jacques on living with ME: 'I am a shadow of my former self physically' - The Times
Articles and blog posts[edit | edit source]
- 2020, Purely Pacing - Jennie Jacques
Online presence[edit | edit source]
See also[edit | edit source]
Learn more[edit | edit source]
- Jennie Jacques - Open Medicine Foundation
- imdb
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Actress Jennie Jacques Becomes OMF's Newest Ambassador". Open Medicine Foundation. May 13, 2020.
- ↑ "Jennie Jacques: Movies, TV, and Bio". Amazon UK. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ↑ Mitchell, Molli (October 13, 2020). "Vikings cast: Who did Jennie Jacques play in Vikings?". Daily Express. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 O'Neill, Sean (August 18, 2021). "Jennie Jacques on living with ME: 'I am a shadow of my former self physically'". The Times. The Times. Retrieved January 1, 2022 – via Open Medicine Foundation.
- ↑ Jacques, Jennie (August 7, 2020). "Purely Pacing". jenniejacques.com.
- ↑ Gawne, Jackie. "Jennie Jacques - actress | Celebrity ambassadors and supporters | Who we are | About Us". Young Epilepsy. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ↑ "Viking actress Jennie Jacques discusses the impact of epilepsy". Epilepsy Society. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ↑ Action for ME (November 30, 2021). "Our new ambassador - Jennie Jacques". Action for ME. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
