Savoy Kicks Rare Cancer in 'The Knick' of Time

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Aug 01, 2014, 11:00 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Actress Suzanne Savoy has made a complete recovery from stage 4 colorectal cancer just in time to shoot Steven Soderbergh's gilded-age medical thriller, The Knick. She recurs throughout the season and will return for season two.

"Barely two years ago, I was told I had a very rare form of cancer with really no existing protocol for treatment," explains Savoy. "The textbooks gave me next to zero chance of survival. I looked for the best, most forward-thinking doctors I could find in New York and Houston. They saved my life."

Actress Suzanne Savoy (photographed by Bonnie Black) is known for her portrayal of strong, individualistic characters. (PRNewsFoto/Clear Talent Group)

Her diagnosis came days before shooting House of Cards opposite Kevin Spacey, as Democratic National Chairwoman Patricia Whittaker. "I was in a decent amount of pain—nobody knew except the wardrobe guy. But based on what Frank Underwood has to say about Whittaker, she's all about strength of character. So I sucked it up and made use of it." Within days, she was receiving large doses of chemo and radiation. "I thought for sure House of Cards was going to be my swan song."

A year later, just as doctors handed her a clean bill of health, Soderbergh tapped her to play the wealthy matriarch in his TV shocker, The Knick. Savoy was more than happy to step into corsets and fabulous gowns for the highly-anticipated cable series. The Knick premieres August 8th at 10pm on Cinemax and stars Clive Owen. Also upcoming: Suzanne Savoy guest stars in the fall series premiere of Shondaland's How to Get Away With Murder, penned by Grey's Anatomy's Peter Nowalk and starring Viola Davis. "Another strong, no-nonsense character," says Savoy. "It's ironic that I get to play these women with great intestinal fortitude."