Elizabeth Hurley’s Health Journey: Advocacy, Balance & the Power of Self-Care

At 60 years old—and still an icon in fashion, film, and activism—Elizabeth Hurley is not just aging gracefully. She’s fighting loudly. In October 2025, she marked 30 years as the Global Ambassador for the Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Campaign, lighting the Empire State Building pink, reflecting on decades of advocacy, and renewing her call to women worldwide: “Breast care is self-care.”

But behind the glamour and activism lies a deeply personal mission: the memory of a grandmother who died of breast cancer in silence, the commitment to early detection, and the resolve to use her platform to transform whispered fear into empowered conversations.

N E E D T O K N O W

Elizabeth Hurley has been a vocal advocate for breast cancer awareness for over 30 years, inspired by her grandmother’s death from the disease.
Although she has not publicly faced a major documented illness herself, Hurley has endured injuries (notably an ankle injury) and consistently emphasizes proactive health, screening, and balance.
Her role as Global Ambassador for the Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign spans decades; 2025 marks her 30th year.
She maintains her health through walking, diet, minimal alcohol, emotional self-care, and gardening.
Hurley has become the “breast cancer bully” among her friends and family — persistently urging self-checks, mammograms, and speaking openly about the disease.
Her romantic life, motherhood of Damian, and career in modeling and acting have intertwined with her health advocacy, serving as motivations and constraints.

Early 1990s — Family Legacy & Silence

Hurley’s connection to breast health began long before she became a public figure in the cause. Her grandmother died of breast cancer, but never spoke of her diagnosis — embarrassed, fearful, and silent about her condition.

That silence haunted her. “I found her lump at home, but she didn’t see a doctor for about a year,” Hurley has said in interviews, describing how her grandmother delayed action.

1995 — Joining the Fight

In 1995, cosmetics icon Evelyn Lauder invited Hurley to become Global Ambassador for the Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Campaign. Hurley later recalled telling Lauder: “Of course, but what is it?” — because breast cancer was barely spoken about publicly at the time.

From that moment, she became a visible face — advocating for awareness, encouraging mammograms, and helping bring the pink ribbon movement into global consciousness.

Ongoing — Advocacy & Awareness

Over the subsequent decades, Hurley has used her celebrity to push conversations forward. In the 2023 People interview, she described herself as the “breast cancer bully,” constantly encouraging friends, family, and followers to self-check and schedule screenings.

Her activism isn’t just symbolic. It’s rooted in real stories: In one case, a friend of hers saw a campaign post, self-checked, discovered a lump, and got early diagnosis and treatment — all because of Hurley’s message.

2020s — Injury, Adaptation & Self-Care

Hurley has not faced a public cancer battle herself, but she has endured health challenges. In a 2022 interview with Women’s Health, she revealed she tore ligaments in her ankle during filming and had to adapt: “For the last two weeks of the movie, I had to do all my scenes sitting down, and I had a wheelchair.”

She even acknowledged that she would need surgery someday, which may temporarily sideline her from some activities.

She’s also talked in earlier interviews about holistic routines — long hikes, home exercise, stretching, baths, and emotional balance as core elements of wellness.

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2025 — 30 Years, New Love & Renewed Vision

In 2025, Hurley celebrated three decades of advocacy. Lighting the Empire State Building pink was more than symbolic — it was a statement of endurance, hope, and continuity.

This year’s campaign, she said, intentionally seeks younger women: “We’re really interested in talking to younger women… encouraging them to be really aware of their own breasts, so they can see changes.”

She’s also riding a wave of personal renewal. In 2025, she publicly confirmed a romance with country music legend Billy Ray Cyrus, calling herself “very happy.”

Hurley also posted a nude birthday photo to mark turning 60 — a bold, beautiful statement about age, confidence, and owning your body.

Motherhood & Single Parenting

In 2002, Hurley gave birth to her only child, Damian Charles Hurley. Though her son’s father was producer Steve Bing, the two never married, and Hurley for many years raised Damian largely as a single mother.

She has said the bond between them was forged in those early years: “I was a single mother with a single child for a lot of his upbringing … we only had each other sometimes, and it was the best time.”

Health-wise, Hurley’s awareness of fragility and mortality likely shaped the urgency she brought to advocacy — wanting to help ensure that mothers, daughters, and women of all ages feel empowered to act, rather than wait.

Past Relationships & Support

Her high-profile past included a romantic partnership with Hugh Grant in the 1980s and ’90s, a short-lived marriage to Indian businessman Arun Nayar, and a high-profile engagement to cricket legend Shane Warne, who died in 2022.

Her relationship history has sometimes sparked tabloid attention, but Hurley has often maintained that her central identity and priority is her work and her son, and that health and self-respect guide her choices.

Her mentor and “American daddy,” Leonard Lauder, passed away in 2025, prompting a heartfelt tribute from Hurley. She shared:

“I’m devastated to hear about the passing of my beloved friend and mentor … I called him my American Daddy.”

He had been a supporter in her life and in her role with Estée Lauder, making his loss both personal and symbolic.

Love at 60

In what many view as a surprising but joyful development, Hurley confirmed her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus in 2025. At the Breast Cancer “Hot Pink” event, she told RTL TV: “We are very happy, we both love country music … we’re happy together.”

Though the relationship is long-distance (Hurley splits time between England and the U.S.), they plan to reunite and spend time together.

The romance has become part of her narrative — a reminder that health, love, and life can expand and renew even in new chapters.

Modeling & Film Stardom

Hurley first gained recognition as a model, and eventually broke into acting with roles in Austin Powers and Bedazzled, which solidified her global name recognition. Her iconic “safety pin dress” moment is still referenced in fashion history.

She launched Elizabeth Hurley Beach, her swimwear line, leveraging both her sense of style and brand credibility.

She also starred in TV (e.g. The Royals) and has often balanced fashion, endorsements, and acting with her advocacy work.

Health, Injury & Adaptation

While Hurley has not announced a cancer diagnosis of her own, her ankle injury in recent years forced her to slow down, adapt, and reconsider how she works. In Women’s Health, she rewrote her nightly scenes, used a wheelchair during filming, and acknowledged surgery was looming.

That experience taught her humility and a new understanding of mobility limitations — something she now cites when pushing for empathy and awareness for people living with chronic conditions or disabilities.

Even in her busy public life, she maintains routines of walking, gardening, baths, and self-care rituals. In earlier interviews, she noted she “never goes to the gym” formally but stays active via hiking, stretching, and home movement.

She sticks to minimal alcohol and says she only indulges on rare occasions:

“They definitely advise us not to carry any excess weight … I eat healthily … I only drink alcohol as an absolute treat now.”

Through all of this, health has been both constraint and catalyst — a grounding voice reminding her that she can’t pour from an empty cup.

Hurley’s public health role is significant not just because she’s famous, but because breast cancer remains a global challenge:

Incidence & Awareness: In many parts of the world, breast cancer is still stigmatized or under-discussed. Hurley uses her platform especially in countries like India, China, and communities less familiar with self-check culture.
Diversity & Disparities: In recent years, Hurley has amplified research into how breast cancer disproportionately affects Black and marginalized women. Her 2023 interview noted that Estée Lauder’s charitable fund committed $15 million to studying these gaps.
Screening & Early Detection: She emphasizes monthly self-checks, mammogram awareness, and not delaying medical visits.
Emotional & Psychological Wellness: Hurley talks openly about the emotional weight of advocacy — October remains a bittersweet month. She has acknowledged the importance of self-care in parallel with physical health.

Hurley’s sustained visibility matters: she helps normalize breast health conversations, reduce stigma, and press global attention on research funding and equitable care.

Latest Updates

In October 2025, Hurley celebrated 30 years with Estée Lauder’s breast cancer campaign, using high-visibility acts like lighting the Empire State Building to signal hope.
That same month, she reflected on her grandmother’s silence and the progress public awareness has made over decades.
In 2025, she and Billy Ray Cyrus confirmed their relationship — a new romance in Hurley’s narrative at 60.
She posted a birthday nude photo to celebrate turning 60, tying it to her campaigns and her identity as a woman unafraid to claim her body and voice.
As estrogen, aging, and self-image conversations surge on social media, her consistent message — “Breast care is self-care” — continues to provoke engagement.
In 2024 and 2023, she made statements about the disparities in treatment access, lamenting how “certain treatments aren’t available to women because they may not afford it.”

Elizabeth Hurley’s health story is not a conventional “illness and comeback” arc — it’s a narrative of awareness, responsibility, and legacy. She didn’t wait for a cancer diagnosis to become an advocate; she transformed personal grief into decades of public service.

Through every red-carpet photo, bikini post, or media interview, there lies a quiet insistence: your body is worth knowing, your health is worth defending, your voice is worth hearing.

For women everywhere — navigating screenings, trauma, aging, anxiety — Hurley’s journey reminds us: self-care is not selfish. It’s survival.

If her grandmother’s silence can be broken, so can ours. If her campaigns can spark a friend to check her breasts in a bathroom, so can ours. And if a 60-year-old actress can still be vibrant, in love, committed, and driving social change, so can we reach into our own lives and stand a little taller.

Because health isn’t just about illness. It’s about intention, connection, and the chance to live on our terms.

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(This article is based on interviews and reporting from PEOPLE, Hello, Wikipedia, Page Six, The Sun, Instyle Sky News, Telegraph, Women's Health, and other sources up through 2025.)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Elizabeth Hurley doing now in 2025?

She is celebrating her 30th year of breast cancer advocacy, starring in The Inheritance on Channel 4, designing for her swimwear brand, and deepening her relationship with Billy Ray Cyrus.

2. Is Elizabeth Hurley dating anyone currently?

Yes. As of 2025, she is in a confirmed relationship with country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. They went public in the spring with a photo on Instagram, and have since made appearances together and spoken about their strong bond.

3. How old is Elizabeth Hurley today?

She turned 60 in June 2025.

4. What is Elizabeth Hurley’s skincare and fitness routine?

Her skincare is built on consistency and simplicity — she’s long used Estée Lauder’s Advanced Night Repair serum and moisturizers, and emphasizes hydration and sun avoidance.

On fitness: she does not go to a gym, instead staying active through gardening, walking, yard work, movement in her surroundings, and using tools in her garden to stay mobile.

5. Did Elizabeth Hurley undergo any plastic surgery?

She has publicly warned against overdoing cosmetic procedures and has said she uses minimal injectables (e.g. Botox in her forehead) but does not support extensive surgical alteration.

6. What was Elizabeth Hurley wearing at her latest red carpet appearance?

She wore a sparkling silver mesh gown with cutouts, ankle-strap silver heels, dramatic eyes, and a nude lip when attending an event alongside Billy Ray Cyrus.

7. Is Elizabeth Hurley returning to acting or producing new films / TV shows?

Yes. In 2025 she returned to television with The Inheritance, a dramatic reality show in which she plays “The Deceased” benefactor.

Additionally, she continues producing and acting: she starred in Strictly Confidential (2024), a film written and directed by her son Damian, in which she is both producer and lead actress.

8. How does Elizabeth Hurley maintain her youthful looks?

She credits a mix of skincare discipline, movement, diet, rest, and acceptance. As she said in October 2025:

“Trying to keep the healthiest body you can … might make us feel better, it might save our lives.”

She also guards her mental health, values rest, avoids excessive procedures, and emphasizes acceptance of aging.

9. Did Elizabeth Hurley make any recent statements about her ex Hugh Grant or other past relationships?

In recent interviews, she has not focused on Hugh Grant specifically; instead she alluded to her past in broad strokes and emphasized the growth she’s had since then. In Hello! she revisited the story of her iconic Versace safety pin dress worn with Grant — though by now it lives in a museum, she said she’d love to try it on again.

10. What are Elizabeth Hurley’s upcoming projects in Hollywood or fashion?

Fashion: Her swimwear label is launching a crochet collection aimed at women who prefer more coverage but still want sensual designs.
TV / film: She is starring in The Inheritance, and has expressed desire to work on projects with people like Taylor Sheridan or in gritty roles.
She and Damian are developing a new TV series together, per Hello! interview.

11. How is Elizabeth Hurley’s health? Has she revealed any health-related updates?

She has not disclosed any severe diagnosis. Her most notable health issue is the ankle ligament tear, which forced her to adapt filming and may require future intervention.

Her public focus remains on preventive health (especially breast cancer) and holistic wellness.

12. What is Elizabeth Hurley’s relationship with her son Damian like?

They share a close and collaborative bond. She describes raising him almost solo as forging a deeper connection.

They’ve worked together: Strictly Confidential was directed and written by Damian, with her starring.
She also told Hello! she trusts him implicitly on set and they are developing a TV series together.

13. Did Elizabeth Hurley post anything viral on Instagram recently?

Yes. In 2025 she posted a nude birthday photo to mark turning 60, sparking wide attention and commentary.

She also shared her tip for flattering bikini photos — “ban overhead sunlight” — which drew engagement and praise.

14. Is Elizabeth Hurley involved in any recent charity or environmental campaigns?

Her primary and consistent charity focus is breast cancer awareness. In 2025, she again led the campaign with Estée Lauder, focused on younger women, lighting NYC landmarks pink, and pushing research funding.

No publicly confirmed new environmental campaigns surfaced in the reviewed sources as of now.