Julia Louis-Dreyfus is “grateful to be alive” following her recovery from breast cancer

She said: “I’m grateful to be alive. I’m grateful for my heroic husband and our lovely young boys, or young men, I should say, who are our boys. And my friends and family. I’m grateful I have the life I have.”

The 57-year-old actress also extended her gratitude to her ‘Veep’ co-stars and crew, after the hit HBO comedy took time off air whilst she underwent her treatment.

Julia - who has since returned to work - added: “I am very grateful to my Veep crew - all of them, cast, writers, crew, everybody above and below the line - who have waited out this period of time. But I’m feeling good and feeling quite ready and delighted to focus on funny things as opposed to things that aren’t quite so funny.

“It’s just a joy to do what you want to do and have success with it. That’s happened to me in my life and it doesn’t happen to everybody. I’m well aware I’ve had a great deal of good fortune.”

And it isn’t just acting that Julia has thrown herself into since being given the all clear either, as she’s partnered with registered Federal PAC Local Majority to put together a PSA to urge people to vote in the upcoming US midterm elections.

In the message, the star touches on the issue of affordable health care, something which now hits close to home.

She told People magazine: “It is not lost on me how dire my circumstances would be if I did not have really strong insurance through my union. And the idea of not being covered when you’re in a crisis, from a health care point of view, is an unconscionable thing to me.

“I can’t say it’s a club I ever really wanted to be a part of, but now that I am part of it, I’m delighted to help those who need help. I guess you could say that’s a huge silver lining to all of this horribleness - being able to help others who are in the same spot. And that is quite gratifying.”