Sarah Michelle Gellar has praised Shannen Doherty for the "bravery" she has displayed throughout her battle with cancer.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Shannen, 45, was diagnosed with the disease in March 2015 and has openly documented her journey fighting the illness on social media, which has included having a mastectomy and chemotherapy which caused her hair to fall out.

Her close friend Sarah has credited the former 'Charmed' star as an "incredible" woman for being fearless through "the hardest time" of her life.

Speaking about the star to ET Online, the 39-year-old actress gushed: "Shannen's incredible. What she's done for other women going through it is so brave, and that's what real bravery is - to be able to go through the hardest time of your life and show people it's OK to be scared, and it's OK to be vulnerable, and you can do it."

And the former 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' star is amazed her close pal is still willing to take part in "really hard" dance classes with her, regardless of her debilitating condition.

The golden-haired beauty - who has daughter Charlotte, seven, and four-year-old son Rocky with her husband Freddie Prinze Junior - said: "The fact that she gets up and goes to those dance classes? The last thing I want to do is go to these really hard dance classes and sweat that hard and work that hard.

"I have to remind myself that if she's getting up there and doing it, then it's important that I do it, too."