• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Christina Applegate shares subtle signs she wishes she paid attention to before MS diagnosis

Home> Celebrity

Updated 09:42 5 Jun 2024 GMT+1Published 07:29 2 Nov 2022 GMT

Christina Applegate shares subtle signs she wishes she paid attention to before MS diagnosis

The star opened up after completing the final season of Netflix's Dead To Me

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

Dead To Me star Christina Applegate has opened up about the small signs and symptoms she wishes she'd paid better attention to prior to being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

The 50-year-old actor learned the truth behind her health issues in the summer of 2021, when she was just getting started on the third and final season of Netflix's Dead To Me.

Advert

Applegate opened up ahead of the release of the final series, which arrives on Netflix on 17 November and will for the first time allow viewers to see the actor 'the way [she is]'.

She explained: “I put on 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am very aware of all of that.”

It was while filming the first season a few years prior that she first noticed changes in her body, such as feeling unbalanced and being less strong than she was previously.

Applegate was diagnosed while filming Dead To Me. Credit Netflix
Applegate was diagnosed while filming Dead To Me. Credit Netflix

Advert

She initially believed she just needed to work harder, but in a recent interview with The New York Times she explained: "I wish I had paid attention. But who was I to know?”

Over time, Applegate began experiencing numbness and tingling in her extremities - symptoms which, according to the NHS, are common for the disease.

Following her diagnosis, production on Dead To Me stopped for five months so Applegate could start receiving treatment.

“There was the sense of, ‘Well, let’s get her some medicine so she can get better,’” Applegate said. Unfortunately however, she pointed out there 'is no better'.

Advert

Multiple sclerosis is a lifelong condition which can cause serious disability. Though it is possible to treat symptoms in many cases, the NHS explains average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people diagnosed.

Regardless of the fact there was no cure, Applegate said the break and the treatment was 'good' for her, explaining: "I needed to process my loss of my life, my loss of that part of me. So I needed that time.”

Dead To Me paused production while Applegate received treatment.
ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo

"Although it’s not like I came on the other side of it, like, ‘Woohoo, I’m totally fine,’” she added. “Acceptance? No. I’m never going to accept this. I’m p*ssed.”

Advert

Though Applegate herself doesn't think she'll be able to watch the final season, she hopes viewers will be able to look past her diagnosis to the characters in the show.

"If people hate it, if people love it, if all they can concentrate on is, ‘Ooh, look at the cripple,’ that’s not up to me,” she said. “I’m sure that people are going to be, like, ‘I can’t get past it.’

“Fine, don’t get past it, then. But hopefully people can get past it and just enjoy the ride and say goodbye to these two girls.”

Featured Image Credit: dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo/Netflix

Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Health, Netflix, Christina Applegate

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 11 hours ago

    Everything happening in Diddy trial's second week as Cassie finishes her testimony

    The trial continues in Manhattan

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Emma Stone had the perfect response to reporter who used her real name as they reunite at Cannes

    Many fans were unaware that Emma is not the actress' real name

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Chrissy Teigen says she 'let f**king beast alcohol back into her life' after two years sober in extremely honest post

    Teigen said: "To let a lot of you down, oh I feel it deeply."

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Cassie's husband speaks out following her testimony at Diddy trial and explains his feelings while listening to the allegations

    Alex Fine tied the knot with Cassie in 2019

    Celebrity
  • Christina Applegate details 'subtle' first symptom she noticed as she labels MS 'worst thing she's ever gone through'
  • Christina Applegate shares heartbreakingly honest admission about living with MS after revealing early symptoms
  • Christina Applegate reveals the tiny MS symptom she experienced that gave away condition years before diagnosis
  • Christina Applegate shares first MS symptom she experienced during filming for Netflix's Dead to Me