Miranda Hart's illness: What she revealed about her health
Miranda Hart's illness is Lyme disease, which she unknowingly battled for over 30 years. The condition left her chronically fatigued and often bedbound until she received her diagnosis during the COVID-19 lockdown after decades of misdiagnosis and unanswered symptoms.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Miranda Hart unknowingly lived with Lyme disease for over 30 years, first experiencing flu-like symptoms as a teenager after a tick bite in Virginia, USA.
- The illness triggered chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), neurological issues, and viral reactivations, often leaving her bedbound and misdiagnosed with anxiety and agoraphobia.
- Miranda Hart's diagnosis came during the COVID-19 lockdown via a Zoom consultation, offering long-awaited clarity after decades of unanswered health questions.
- In her memoir I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You, she reveals emotional reactions to the diagnosis and reflects on losing her joy while filming her hit sitcom Miranda.
- Hart also addressed her weight gain caused by illness, emphasising self-compassion over appearance and encouraging others to focus on healing rather than shame.
Miranda Hart's profile summary
| Full name | Miranda Katherine Hart |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | December 14, 1972 |
| Age | 52 (as of July 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | Torquay, Devon, England |
| Current residence | London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 6'1" |
| Height in centimetres | 186 |
| Weight in pounds | 148 |
| Weight in kilograms | 67 |
| Hair colour | Dark brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Diana Margaret (née Luce) |
| Father | Captain David Hart |
| Siblings | One |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Richard William Fairs |
| School | Downe House School |
| University | University of the West of England, Academy of Live and Recorded Arts |
| Profession | Actress, comedian, writer |
| Net worth | $4 million |
| @realmirandahart | |
| @MirandaHartOfficial | |
| X (Twitter) | @mermhart |
A look at Miranda Hart's illness
Miranda Hart's illness is Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection she unknowingly battled for over 30 years. Misdiagnosed with anxiety and chronic fatigue, she endured debilitating symptoms like neurological issues, extreme exhaustion, and viral reactivations.
Her diagnosis finally came during the COVID-19 lockdown, offering long-awaited clarity and prompting her to share her story in her memoir I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You. The condition left her bedbound at times and deeply impacted her personal and professional life.
She wrote about getting her diagnosis from doctors during the pandemic, confirming she had been living with reactivated Lyme disease for over three decades:
I got off that Zoom call, pulled my laptop shut and sat there, still and aghast. So many emotions, I was shocked, but I also immediately felt a deep well of sadness and disappointment - for over three decades I'd KNOWN there was something wrong.
She continued:
I recalled all the times I'd told different doctors, 'I feel toxic and poisoned, or, it's like I have the flu every day, but I don't have a temperature.'
How did Miranda get Lyme disease?
Source: Getty Images
Miranda Hart believes she contracted Lyme disease as a teenager while living in Virginia, USA, around the age of 14 or 15. She recalls experiencing flu-like symptoms at the time, which marked the beginning of decades of unexplained health issues, including neurological symptoms, chronic fatigue, and immune dysfunction.
A tick bite caused the illness, as ticks are the most common source of Lyme disease transmission to humans. Because doctors didn't diagnose the infection early, it stayed active in Miranda's system, and other viruses and stressors repeatedly reactivated it over the years.
She disclosed during a November 2024 interview with This Morning Show:
I was about 14 or 15, living in America where my dad had been posted for work, and that's when everything changed. I came down with what felt like the flu, but I never fully recovered. From that point on, I just didn't feel well.
She continued:
Looking back now, I can trace it all to that moment. I had strange neurological symptoms—dizziness, double vision, general weirdness—and a constant sense that something wasn't quite right.
Miranda Hart's weight loss journey
Source: Getty Images
Miranda Hart has recently addressed public speculation about her weight with a mix of honesty and humour. In an Instagram video promoting her book, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You, she joked about losing "all the midlife weight" before admitting, "I'm not being entirely honest with you." She also wrote in the post:
I have found it incredibly hard not to feel shame from gaining weight over the last three years. Not because of striving for an aesthetic ideal, but because it doesn't represent me and who I naturally am. But life happens. Illness happens. And it's a great way to keep focusing on the greatest healer - self-compassion. Whether I lose it or not, I know I am loved. Peace out. Book available to pre-order ❤️❤️
FAQs
- What happened to Miranda Hart? In her memoir, I Haven't Been Entirely Honest With You, published in October 2024, Hart revealed that she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease, which led to her becoming bedbound and housebound with ME/CFS.
- What illness does Miranda Hart have in real life? Miranda Hart has Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. She unknowingly battled it for over 30 years before receiving a diagnosis during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- What chronic condition did Miranda Hart have? Miranda Hart was diagnosed with Lyme disease and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, causes extreme fatigue and neurological symptoms.
- What disorder does Miranda have? In addition to ME, Miranda also experienced chronic stress, viral reactivations (like shingles), and neurological symptoms linked to her undiagnosed Lyme disease.
- How did Miranda contract Lyme disease? She believes she contracted Lyme disease at age 14 while living in Virginia, USA, a known Lyme hotspot. After a severe flu-like illness, her symptoms persisted and worsened over the decades.
- How long does Lyme disease last? If treated early, Lyme disease can resolve within 10 to 21 days with antibiotics. However, in chronic cases like Miranda's, symptoms can persist for months or even years, especially if misdiagnosed or untreated.
- Why did Miranda Hart stop acting? Miranda stepped away from acting due to her declining health, particularly the fatigue and neurological effects of Lyme disease. She also felt she had outgrown her sitcom character and wanted to leave on a high note.
- Does Miranda have a partner in real life? Yes, Miranda Hart got married at age 51 to Richard Fairs, a building surveyor she met during lockdown when he came to inspect mould in her home.
Final word
Miranda Hart's illness is Lyme disease, which she unknowingly battled for over three decades. Misdiagnosed throughout much of her life, she experienced chronic fatigue and debilitating neurological symptoms. Her diagnosis came during the COVID-19 lockdown, providing long-awaited clarity. She now shares her story publicly, raising awareness of how invisible illnesses can impact one's life.
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