Hollywood actress Selma Blair, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), urged Christina Applegate to get tested for the disease, when she first started having symptoms.
Having lived with MS for decades before being diagnosed, the Hollywood star was determined to prevent Applegate from experiencing the same hurdles.
Applegate recalled when Blair urged her to get tested for the disease after she started exhibiting symptoms. Blair told Applegate that her doctors had taken decades to test her for MS even though she had repeatedly asked them to do so. The actress insisted that Applegate get tested for MS, which eventually led to Applegate going public with her diagnosis in 2021. Applegate acknowledged Blair’s encouragement, saying it would help her live a better life.
In a recent interview with British Vogue, Blair revealed how she hid her MS symptoms before her diagnosis. Despite her growing profile in Hollywood, she felt “lost and sad” behind the scenes and struggled with “self-hatred” because she feared that her symptoms would hinder her work. Blair’s turning point came when her autoimmune system suffered significantly, causing her to lose most of her hair and energy. She shared that she had to calculate how many naps she could take between auditions. Eventually, Blair quit acting and spent her days in bed, seeing doctors and healers, crying or binge drinking until she finally received her diagnosis.
Blair chronicled her day-to-day experiences with the disease in the documentary “Introducing, Selma Blair,” released in 2021. She received worldwide praise for transforming her cane into a fashionable accessory. Although she retired from acting, Blair told British Vogue she had not ruled out a return to the big screen. While she hasn’t actively searched for acting roles, she said it was still possible for her.
Blair and Applegate have become vocal advocates for people with MS. Blair’s experience has helped raise awareness of the disease and the challenges faced by those living with it.
