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Actor Christina Applegate recently opened up to The New York Times and discussed her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis and the wrapping up of the final season of her Netflix series Dead to Me.
Applegate was diagnosed with MS in the summer of 2021, during the production of the final season of the show. The show paused for five months so that Applegate could begin treatment.
She revealed that although it was one of the hardest things she'd ever done, she felt the need to push through and complete the series "on [her] terms."
Applegate told the Times:
"I had an obligation...The powers that be were like, 'Let's just stop.'"
"'We don't need to finish it. Let's just put a few episodes together.'"
"I said, 'No. We're going to do it, but we're going to do it on my terms.'"
Applegate also shared the pause in production was a needed break for her to process the changes in her life.
But it was not the solution or cure some may have thought she would need to improve.
"There was the sense of, 'Well, let's get her some medicine so she can get better."
"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. "
"Although it's not like I came on the other side of it, like, 'Woohoo, I'm totally fine.'"
"No. I'm never going to accept this. I'm pissed."
Applegate shared her collection of designer walking sticks to Twitter with the caption:
"I have a very important ceremony coming up. This will be my first time out since being diagnosed with MS."
"Walking sticks are now a part of my new normal."
\u201cI have a very important ceremony coming up. This will be my first time out since diagnosed with MS. Walking sticks are now part of my new normal. Thank you @neowalksticks for these beauties. Stay tuned to see which ones make the cut for a week of stuff.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1666888057
Replies of support soon filled Twitter.
\u201c@mssociety @1capplegate Thank you for inspiration! Your fellow warriors are rooting for you!\u201d— National MS Society (@National MS Society) 1667409741
\u201c@mssociety @1capplegate @1capplegate, thank you for opinion up. For almost 14 years I\u2019ve been losing mobility, to the point I must wear a brace to prevent falls. They suspect me and I have several friends and family that have this disease. Talking about it can be hard but it really helps others learn\u201d— National MS Society (@National MS Society) 1667409741
\u201c@mssociety @1capplegate \ud83d\udcaa\ud83e\udde1\u201d— National MS Society (@National MS Society) 1667409741
\u201c@mssociety @1capplegate As more actors & crew members are diagnosed with autoimmune illnesses, could be an industry disruption. Yes, time is money, locations/temperatures are money; but adjustments made = all of us are seen. Thank you Christina & #Netflix for continuing onward\u201d— National MS Society (@National MS Society) 1667409741
\u201c@1capplegate @neowalksticks I was unaware you were diagnosed with MS. 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\u2019re an amazing talent and I look forward to see whatever you do next.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1666888057
\u201c@TMZ I wish her the best. Struggling with health problems I completely understand. I don\u2019t have MS but constantly going to the doc & takings meds is no fun\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1667397073
\u201c@TMZ I applaud her honesty and courage. Sending her strength and I can\u2019t wait for the next season of #deadtome ! \ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\ud83d\udc4f\ud83c\udffb\u201d— TMZ (@TMZ) 1667397073
\u201c\u201cAnd there is no better..I needed to process my loss of life, my loss of that part of me..I needed that time.\u201d \u201cAcceptance? No. I\u2019m never going to accept this. I\u2019m pissed\u201d 15 years ago I was officially diagnosed with MS. @1capplegate put my feelings into words. We got this girl\ud83e\udde1\u201d— Patty Ucciardino (@Patty Ucciardino) 1667387534
\u201c@TODAYshow No matter what Christina you are a beautiful human being and your true fans are here for you and will understand. Never be ashamed of what cards in life God has felt you. We still love you and will stand by you. Do not be afraid.\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1667353205
\u201c@PageSix I hope she understands that we love her. That's all. We love her. We don't care how she looks, we love who she has been to us for decades. WE LOVE YOU!\u201d— Page Six (@Page Six) 1667437265
Upon returning to the set to finish wrapping the show, Applegate shared that her mobility had greatly declined. She had difficulty getting up the steps to her trailer, and her body would give out while filming.
Of the final season she said:
"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 finished:
"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."