An Inspiring MS Warrior
- Christina Applegate just earned her third nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. We’ll have to wait for the 75th annual awards ceremony in September to see if she’s won, but Applegate is counting her blessings regardless of the outcome: “I am humbled and grateful.”
- The performance that earned Applegate’s nomination was her portrayal of Jen Harding in the last season of the hit Netflix dramedy “Dead To Me” a show she finished filming after receiving her MS diagnosis.
- MS, or Multiple Sclerosis, is a disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord where the immune system attacks the protective layer of nerve fibers called myelin which, in turn, can cause communication issues between your brain and the rest of your body. The disease does not have a cure, but medicines and other treatments can help control the condition and ease its symptoms.
- If you’re an MS warrior looking for more inspiring stories like Applegate’s, check out SurvivorNet's Multiple Sclerosis page for moving content and films about other MS warriors.
Applegate’s portrayal of Jen Harding in the last season of the hit Netflix dramedy has earned her three nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series the latest being an Emmy nomination.
Read MoreChristina Applegate’s MS Battle
A ride that, unfortunately, has been marked by her ongoing battle with a disease of the brain and spinal cord called MS, or multiple sclerosis.In fact, she first started noticing symptoms of the disease while filming a dancing sequence for season one of the show. She was have trouble balancing, but she didn’t think much of it and decided to simply work harder.
"I wish I had paid attention," she told The New York Times. "But who was I to know?"
'Don't Stop Me Now' Is Inspiration for Anybody With Multiple Sclerosis
More symptoms arrived over the years like the decline of her tennis playing and a numbness and tingling sensation in her extremities. Eventually, Applegate was diagnosed with MS a disabling disease where the immune system attacks the protective layer of nerve fibers called myelin which, in turn, can cause communication issues between your brain and the rest of your body. The disease does not have a cure, but medicines and other treatments can help control the condition and ease its symptoms.
The diagnosis arrived just as she was filming the last season of “Dead to Me.” Production consequently shut down for nearly half a year while Applegate, who previously beat breast cancer, started treatment.
"There was the sense of, 'Well, let's get her some medicine so she can get better,'" Applegate explained. "And there is no better. But it was good for me. I needed to process my loss of my life, my loss of that part of me. So I needed that time."
SurvivorNetTV Presents: Defying All Odds A World-Renowned Doctor's Incredible Journey Through MS
But, being the warrior she is, Applegate was determined to finish out the series. She’s said it was “such an incredible struggle,” but she’s proud she was able to close out her character’s story.
"I had an obligation to Liz [Feldman] and to Linda [Cardellini], to our story," she said of the show's director and co-star respectively. "The powers that be were like, 'Let's just stop. We don't need to finish it. Let's put a few episodes together.' I said, 'No. We're going to do it, but we're going to do it on my terms.'"
Thank you @Variety This is quite an honor. Xo https://t.co/4fYRJPb4oS
christina applegate (@1capplegate) May 23, 2023
And fans and critics alike are raving at her performance. Nicole Vassell, a writer for the The Independent, says other programs should learn from the way Applegate's "physical changes [were] seamlessly incorporated into the show."
"I don't know if I can continue to act," Applegate said after recently receiving the TV Fest Legacy Award at Variety's TV FYC Fest. "But I'm so happy I ended with a show like ‘Dead To Me.’
"In coming out of the words of Judy in the last episode, 'I've had a lot of fun.' So thank you."
It’s unclear if we’ll ever have the privilege of seeing Applegate in another movie or series, but her efforts to raise awareness for MS like her acting resume has left a lasting mark. Her realness when talking about the disease has likely helped many other MS warriors who struggle with symptoms.
"There are just certain things that people take for granted in their lives that I took for granted,” Applegate said. “Going down the stairs, carrying things you can't do that anymore. It f*cking sucks. I can still drive my car short distances. I can bring up food to my kid. Up, never down."
If you’re an MS warrior looking for more inspiring stories like Applegate’s, check out SurvivorNet's Multiple Sclerosis page for moving content and films about other MS warriors.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.