Actress Christina Applegate has recently shared an update on her devastating diagnosis, and what it means for the future of her career.
The Dead to Me star has suffered from a variety of tragic health issues over the last few years, but the latest is heartbreaking.
Scroll on for the full story.
Now, Applegate was thrust into the spotlight at the ripe age of fifteen…
She starred in the hit Fox sitcom Married with Children as Al and Peggy’s young daughter Kelly Bundy from 1987–1997.
She’s also well known for playing anchorwoman Veronica Corningstone.
In 2004 she took on the role in comedy films Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie.
Not to mention she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role as Jennifer Aniston’s sister, Amy Green, in Friends.
And has gone on to receive a variety of accolades, including a whopping 4 Golden Globe nominations and a Tony Award nomination for her talents on screen.
But most recently, Applegate is best known for her work on the Netflix hit show Dead To Me.
The first season made its debut in May 2019, and it was an instant hit with viewers.
So much so, it returned for its second season in May 2020.
Applegate stars as the widow Jen Harding, whose life becomes entangled with the altruistic Judy Hale (played by Linda Cardellini) at a grief support group.
Things begin to become complicated between the pair when an accidental murder binds them together.
The series was renewed for a third season in 2020, but due to the pandemic, filming was halted.
Production began again in early 2021, but it was soon delayed after Applegate got a devastating diagnosis.
It was a huge hit to the star.
What you might not know is Applegate has been through a lot over the last few years…
And has faced some terrifying health complications.
In August 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
A representative shared a statement on her behalf at the time, writing: “Christina Applegate was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer. Benefiting from early detection through a doctor-ordered MRI, the cancer is not life-threatening.”
They added: “Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery. No further statement will be issued at this time.”
Later that same month she underwent a double mastectomy, meaning she was now cancer-free.
When recalling the diagnosis and experience, Applegate said:
“I was just shaking and then also immediately, I had to go into ‘take-care-of-business-mode,’ which included a change to a more healthy diet.”
Recently, the fifty-year-old shared her latest battle, and it’s every fan’s hope that she does the same again.
One wrote: “I hope the progression is very, very slow. I hope your memories of doing shows such as Sweet Charity, which I loved, make you feel good all over. You’re an amazing talent and I look forward to see whatever you do next.”
While another added: “We all love you, Christina. You’ve been entertaining us for years. Courage comes in all forms. Keep being your authentic self.”
“Take good care. You’re in my prayers. I’m betting you’re a fighter, so hang tough. Love all your work over the years… you’ve brought such happiness and laughter to so many! Thank you!” a third commented.
Applegate revealed that she’s been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and has opened up about her latest health battle on Twitter.
She took to the social media site to tell fans that she’d been diagnosed with MS last year.
She admitted it’s been a “tough road” since her diagnosis, though she seemed positive as she acknowledged those supporting her.
“Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS,” she wrote back in 2021. “It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition.
“It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it.”
She then added to her original tweet with another, saying: “As one of my friends that has MS said ‘we wake up and take the indicated action’.
“And that’s what I do. So now I ask for privacy. As I go through this thing. Thank you xo.”
It’s clear the star is ready to continue on her journey in battling the disease and will do so with the support of thousands behind her.
MS has a wide range of symptoms, some of which may not appear as a cause for concern to the sufferer, or may cause misdiagnosis…
The condition itself affects the brain and spinal cord.
This, in turn, can lead to issues with vision, limbs, balance, and sensation.
And now, Applegate has shared what life has been like for her with the condition.
She recently reflected on her struggles filming the final season of Dead to Me, while also battling the disease.
“This is the first time anyone’s going to see me the way I am. 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,” she said in an interview with The New York Times.
Opening up about shooting the last season, she said: “I had an obligation.
“The powers that be were like, ‘Let’s just stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s put a few episodes together [with previously recorded footage].’ I said, ‘No. We’re going to do it, but we’re going to do it on my terms.'”
Applegate took a 5 month break from the show amid filming the final season, so she could begin treatment.
“I needed to process my loss of my life, my loss of that part of me. So I needed that time. Although it’s not like I came on the other side of it, like, ‘Woohoo, I’m totally fine.'”
She revealed that when she returned to work on set she had to use a wheelchair to get around, and in most scenes, she had to have assistance.
Applegate also added that it’s unlikely she’ll watch the last season as it’s too painful for her, but that she wanted to finish filming for Linda Cardellini and creator Liz Feldman.
“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.
“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,” she said.
She revealed to Variety, just how difficult it was to film whilst battling MS.
“You don’t see behind the scenes that if I’m standing in the doorway at the front door, usually Mitch [Cohn, from the show’s sound department] would be laying on the floor holding my legs,” she said.
She added that she often had to do “a ballet dance” to avoid falling over on set.
The final season of Dead to Me comes to Netflix on November 17.