Olivia Munn has bravely opened up about one of the darkest chapters of her life and surprisingly, it wasn’t her canc*r diagnosis.
While the actress spent two years undergoing multiple surgeries to beat aggressive breast canc*r, she now reveals it was actually postpartum depression that left her feeling more shattered. The 44-year-old star, who shares two children with comedian John Mulaney, says the emotional toll of postpartum anxiety was so severe, it eclipsed even the trauma of canc*r.
“It was more difficult than going through canc*r,” Munn told Self magazine.
“I didn’t even clock what was happening. Then it was like I fell off a cliff, and I was just falling and falling and falling and falling.”
Munn gave birth to her first child, Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney, in November 2021. While new motherhood is often portrayed as joyful, her experience took a terrifying turn just weeks in. She says she began suffering anxiety attacks that left her physically and emotionally paralyzed.
“My eyes pop open at 4 a.m. I’m gasping for air. I get tightness in my chest, and it stays like that all day long,” she recalled.
“It felt like the end of the world… like the scariest horror movie you can think of—that’s how my body felt.”
Even simple tasks became daunting. She often had to lean on Mulaney—literally—just to get from one room to another. “It was physical, almost like I had sprained my knee,” she said.
The trouble began, she believes, after she was unable to produce breast milk despite hiring three lactation coaches. The pressure and guilt spiraled. “I think that kicked off the anxiety,” she shared. “When you stop breastfeeding immediately, your hormones drop, and postpartum can come in like a tornado.”
Although she didn’t experience intrusive thoughts or negative feelings toward her baby, Munn said she was so deep in the “tunnel of darkness” that she couldn’t even consider medication. “I was just trying to survive,” she added.
After nearly a year of suffering, the postpartum symptoms finally lifted—but not before leaving scars deeper than any diagnosis.
Only months after beginning to feel like herself again, Munn was blindsided by a breast canc*r diagnosis in March 2023.
Despite having a clear mammogram just three months prior, a routine OB-GYN visit revealed a high-risk score of 37.3% using the Tyrer-Cuzick model. She was diagnosed with stage 1 luminal B canc*r in both breasts, an aggressive form that required urgent action.
Within 30 days, Munn underwent four major procedures, including a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She later entered medically induced menopause to help prevent a recurrence, dealing with intense side effects like exhaustion and hot flashes.
Still, she says nothing compared to the emotional weight of postpartum anxiety.
To protect her health and future, Munn and Mulaney turned to surrogacy for their second child, welcoming daughter Méi June Mulaney in 2024. Though it was a difficult decision, Munn says it was necessary—and emotional.
“It was devastating not to be able to carry her,” she admitted.
“I needed our surrogate to understand this wasn’t about putting work first. It was hard for me, but it was the safest choice.”
Now starring in Apple TV+’s new series Your Friends & Neighbors, Munn reflects on her journey with a sense of pride and strength.
“I haven’t really felt like I’ve been back in the body I knew before—but that’s okay. I’m proud of myself for what I went through. I found out I have more resilience than I ever imagined.”
Featured Image Credit: (Instagram//@oliviamunn)
