Since rising to fame following her viral Britain’s Got Talent audition, singer Susan Boyle, who celebrates her 64th birthday today (April 1), has been open about her health issues over the years.
Susan first captured the heart of the nation during the third series of BGT in 2009. Her audition, where she sang I Dreamed A Dream from Les Misérables, saw the then-48-year-old hopeful become an overnight success.
After finishing in second place, losing out to dance troupe Diversity, Susan’s health has been on a bumpy ride. Here, we take a look at how she’s overcome many hurdles…
Susan Boyle told she had ‘brain damage’
During a 2013 interview with the Observer for The Guardian, Susan revealed that she was “relieved” after she had been diagnosed with Asperger’s after she received “the wrong diagnosis when I was a kid”.
“I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what’s wrong and I feel relieved and a bit more relaxed about myself,” she explained.
I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label.
While growing up in her hometown of Blackburn, West Lothian, Susan was bullied at school for being “different”. She was called “Susie Simple” by her classmates.
As a result, she wanted to seek a diagnosis from a specialist. “Nobody told me to. I thought I had a more serious illness and couldn’t function properly,” she added.
According to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Asperger’s is “a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder”. The website explains: “It is a developmental disorder. Young people with Asperger’s Syndrome may have a hard time relating to others socially, repetitive behavior patterns, and a narrow range of interests.”
Susan’s depression
In the same interview, Susan revealed that she had suffered from depression and mood swings. She acknowledged that she relies on others for support, explaining that she has “a great team” behind her.
During an appearance on Lorraine in 2019, Susan issued a health update and said she had been feeling “a lot better”.
“I’ve had my moments when I’ve needed help, and I’ve reached out and got the help I needed, and I can only thank them for my recovery,” she told Lorraine Kelly.
Susan suffered a ‘major’ stroke
After rising to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, Susan returned to the show in 2023 for a special performance of I Dreamed A Dream with the Les Misérables cast.
Following her performance, Susan revealed the performance felt extra special after announcing she had previously suffered a stroke a year prior.
“Tonight I had the privilege of returning to Britain’s Got Talent and performing with the wonderful cast of Les Miserables. This evening was even more special for me as in April of 2022 I had a stroke,” she wrote on Facebook.
“For the past year I have worked so hard to get my speech and singing back, with the sole aim of being able to sing on stage again & tonight my hard work & perseverance paid off, singing the song that started it all, I Dreamed A Dream.”
In 2024, Susan told STV that she had to “fight her way back” after the “major stroke”.
“It’s taken me three years and it’s been hard – I’m not going to pretend otherwise – but it’s made me determined to keep going,” she said.
‘It’s the bane of my life’
In 2016, Susan revealed she had lost two stone after she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. As a result, she was told to change her diet.
“I needed to stop eating sweeties and cakes. It’s the bane of my life,” she told the Mirror.
During the pandemic, Susan told The Sun she took lockdown seriously after her diabetes left her at high risk.
“I have diabetes, so I have tried to stay indoors as much as possible. Catching Covid would not have been a good outcome,” she said.
Read more: Britain’s Got Talent star Chantel Bellew dies aged 34 as loved ones share emotional statement
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