Lord Julian Fellowes, English actor, novelist and screenwriter best known for creating the television series Downton Abbey, has lived with essential tremor for the past 10 years. He is credited for escalating awareness of ET by writing it into the Downton Abbey storyline. In this podcast, he talks about how having ET changed his career.
Talking Essential Tremor with Lord Julian Fellowes
Posted on August 10, 2021
Categories: Podcasts
Very cheering listening to Lord Fellowes. He does not seem to have the condition in his vocal cords, however, as I do, which is very hard to manage. But thanks for this!
Thank you for the conversation with Lord Fellows. It was very interesting and good to hear his personal experience. I, too, have ET but am in early stages. I was diagnosed when I was 70 and ET has not affected my quality of life. I am very open about my tremors and not at all depressed. Thanks again.
My name is Mauricio Almeida, currently i live in Colombia south América. I had have ET for 17 years.
i am subscribe to your news letter, that is the reason i just heard the Podcast done to Lord Julian Fellowes.
This was a very good one that helpped me with me understand more about ET
I was diagnosed with ET about the same age as Lord Fellowes. I appreciate how he handles telling people about his illness. Just getting “out there” is hard but so important to our world… I’m not limited, I’m just a bit inconvenienced. So much to be grateful for
I was diagnosed with ET about the same age as Lord Fellowes. I appreciate how he handles telling people about his illness. Just getting “out there” is hard but so important to our world… I’m not limited, I’m just a bit inconvenienced. So much to be grateful for.
Thanks to Julian Fellows and everyone at ETF. l had to laugh when he mentioned about throwing his glass of wine in his face as that has happened to me in similar circumstances.
l agree its a bit debilitating, but its not life threatening and we júst have to get on with it, though l miss not being able to paint and draw anymore as that was my hobby.
I have lived with ET since I was about 12 and I am now 70. For most of my life, I tried my best to hide my condition – and thankfully it was not that bad, so it was fairly easy. But when I reached about 60, it gradually became worse and now affects my voice, my head and sometimes my entire body. As Lord Fellowes indicated, some days are good and some days are not-so-good. I have tried several of the medications, each one has unpleasant side effects, and I build up a tolerance such that the med becomes less and less effective over time. BUT, I strongly agree with what he said: You could have something so much worse… so just take it one day at a time and learn to tolerate and live with it!!! I prefer that attitude , rather than dwelling on the negatives. I have recently taken up watercolor painting – and I have completed some really nice paintings – in spite of the shaking!!!
Fellow Kathy here. I just wanted to say I’m delighted to read your positive comment. It gives me hope. I’ve had it most of my life, too, but it’s much worse in my sixties.
To ETF and Mr Fellowes – thank you for this hopeful, inspiring interview.