Everything Christina Applegate has said about MS, from weight gain to filming Dead to Me

Seasoned actress Christina Applegate has graced our screens for 50 years now, starting off as a child star and making her TV debut at just three months old in the soap Days of Our Lives. Throughout her career, the Emmy Award winner has landed starring roles in shows such as Married… With Children, Jesse, and Dead to Me, as well as movies like Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead and the Anchorman series.

The 50-year-old actress has literally been acting her entire life, and fans are excited to see her reprise her role as Jen Harding in Dead to Me season 3. The Netflix Original returns for its third and final season this Thursday, November 17.

Sadly, Applegate has been battling multiple sclerosis (MS), an immune disease that can come with life-threatening complications. The actress has been very candid about her struggle with MS, including how it affected her role on Dead to Me. Below we’ve gathered her most vulnerable and powerful quotes about her journey.

Christina Applegate announced MS diagnosis in August 2021

Applegate shocked fans in August 2021 when taking to social media to share her diagnosis. As reported by Us Weekly, she said it had been a “tough road,” asking for privacy now that she came out with the news. Read her whole statement here:

"“Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. 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****e blocks it. 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.”"

When Dead to Me season 3 filming paused

During an interview with Variety, Applegate recalled finding out about her MS diagnosis while on the set of Dead to Me season 3. They ended up having to take a pause on filming so she could seek treatment, and they almost scrapped the final season altogether to put Appleagate’s health first. But she was adamant about finishing.

"“I haven’t watched it, and I don’t think I will, because it’s too hard for me, Applegate said of the final season. “But I couldn’t have done it without this need to tell our story. They were gonna pull the plug, you know? Because it was like torture — and they felt like they were torturing me, too. But I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no: We have to finish this story. It’s too important to our hearts; too important to our souls. And we have to give this gift, not only to ourselves — there are people that love these characters, and we’ve got to let them have their closure too.’ So, if that meant me having to take a break in the middle of the day so I could go sleep — or me just leaving because I couldn’t do anymore — then that’s what we had to do.”"

How Christina Applegate got through filming Dead to Me with MS

As determined as Applegate was to finish filming Dead to Me season 3, the process did not come without complications. The actress has problems standing and walking because of MS, and because the show did not write her diagnosis into the storyline, they had to get creative. In the same Variety interview, she explained:

"“I was in a wheelchair, but I’d also have my cane. So they would push me to set, and I’d hit everyone with my cane! And I’d go, ‘Corner! Corner!’ And then you’d hear someone from the other side of the set go, ‘Corner!’ We made fun of it. But 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. There was a ballet and a dance that was going on to make sure that I didn’t fall. The only thing we did change is blocking. They’d go, ‘What do you think, can you walk from here to here?’ And I’d be like, ‘Nope!’ And they were like, ‘OK! Then we’ll have you already seated.’ That’s how it all went down.”"

Christina Applegate talked weight gain from MS

Earlier this month, Applegate spoke with The New York Times about her battle with MS and the upcoming season of Dead to Me, noting that she’s going to look different in the new episodes than she has before. The autoimmune disease has caused her to gain weight, with her candidly sharing: “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.”

Dead to Me might be Christina Applegate’s last acting role

Though Applegate has remained strong since her diagnosis, she admits it’s been very hard. So much so, she recognizes that she might not act anymore now that Dead to Me has wrapped. When asked about her next acting plans, she told Variety: 

"“I don’t know. I’m pretty convinced that [Dead to Me] was it, you know? But who knows — I’m probably gonna get real bored of being in my room. I’d like to develop stuff, I’d like to produce stuff. I’ve got a lot of ideas in my mind, and I just need to get them executed.”"

Christina Applegate on Walk of Fame star and why she was barefoot

Ahead of the premiere of Dead to Me season 3, Applegate was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It’s about time! Her Dead to Me co-star Linda Cardellini and the show’s creator Liz Feldman were present for the ceremony, as were her Married… With Children cast mates Katey Sagal and David Faustino. Applegate made a wonderful speech where she broke down in tears and thanked her loved ones for their support. See the video:

Many fans noticed Applegate posed barefoot while sitting down next to her star, and she’s already explained why she opted to take off her shoes for the photos. On Twitter, the actress wrote alongside a photo of her feet standing by the star: “Barefoot For some with MS the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance. So today I was me. Barefoot.”

Christina Applegate’s loved ones and fans across the globe continue to rally with her as she fights through her ongoing battle with MS. Whether or not Dead to Me season 3 does end up being her final acting role, we’re excited to see what everyone thinks of the new installment. All 10 episodes will be released on November 17 at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET.