A Wimbledon actress who suffers from a complex condition in which her body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue has vowed not to let it get in the way of her career.

Helena Mitchell suffers from a condition called Lupus which causes inflammation of joints, skin and other organs.

Currently playing Snow White in the Christmas pantomime at The Elgiva theatre in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, she said: “ I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason - and yes, at the time it may seem awful. and it may be difficult to understand why this has happened to you, but eventually you'll realise and something amazing will happen that wouldn't have been able to happen otherwise.

“ Listen to your body and be kind to yourself, because great things take time, so don’t beat yourself up if the lupus or whatever condition you have momentarily stops you! Just think there is a reason for this happening and it’s not quite my time yet.”

Helena was diagnosed in April with SLE lupus and in August with both SLE and Discoid Lupus.

Doctors don't know what triggers the condition, but it can include a reaction to a viral infection, strong medication, or sunlight.

Helena added: “ It’s super-difficult being an actress because of the tough competition and constant rejection, so for me I don’t really see how lupus makes it any harder as it was super hard before anyway, so I have to just keep carrying on.

“ I just keep thinking of how lucky we are to have born into a country like this where we have freedom to follow our dreams and do what we love, without any questions, so I just always think I don’t want to waste that opportunity that I have been given of being able to do something I love.”

Helena praised the help she had received from a LUPUS UK support group for 16-25 years.

For more information about the condition visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lupus/