For years, Christina Applegate sensed that something wasn’t quite right with her body.
Like so many people, she dismissed the early symptoms—chalked them up to stress, fatigue, or aging. But what seemed like minor issues would eventually point to a diagnosis that would change the course of her life.
Behind the scenes of her Netflix series Dead to Me, Applegate was silently enduring a growing battle. In 2021, she decided to share what she had been keeping private for far too long: she was living with multiple sclerosis.
What had she overlooked? And how did she manage to carry on under such pressure? The answers reveal not only her strength but also the often invisible reality of chronic illness.
Now 53, Applegate is known for her comedic talent and heartfelt performances in shows like Married… with Children and Dead to Me. When she publicly disclosed her diagnosis in 2021, it had only been a few months since she’d learned the truth herself. Yet her health challenges had been quietly unfolding for years.
Filming the final season of Dead to Me proved especially demanding. Multiple sclerosis—a disease that attacks the central nervous system—was beginning to take a noticeable toll. Applegate later revealed that she had been experiencing unexplained symptoms for nearly seven years before doctors finally diagnosed her.
In an intimate conversation with longtime friend and fellow MS warrior Jamie-Lynn Sigler, aired on Good Morning America, the two actresses reflected on their respective journeys. Applegate shared, “I think I’d been living with it for maybe six or seven years. During the first season of Dead to Me, I noticed my leg would randomly give out. I thought I was just tired, or maybe dehydrated.”
She continued, “There were long stretches when nothing would happen, so I brushed it off. But eventually, the symptoms became impossible to ignore.”
In an interview with Robin Roberts, Applegate emotionally recalled how her condition escalated in early 2021. “It started as tingling in my toes,” she said. “By summer, when we started filming, I couldn’t walk long distances anymore—I needed a wheelchair just to get to set.”
Despite the increasing pain and mobility issues, Applegate pushed through. “The pain was constant,” she admitted. “But I got used to it.”
Speaking to The New York Times, Applegate opened up about the emotional impact of the diagnosis and how she managed to keep working while coming to terms with her new reality. Once her treatment began, production on Dead to Me slowed, but it never stopped. “There was a lot of hope around treatment—that I’d get better—but MS doesn’t have a cure,” she explained. “I needed space to grieve the loss of the life I had before.”
Still, she felt a deep commitment to completing the show. There were moments when production staff considered pausing indefinitely, but Applegate remained determined. “I owed it to Liz [Feldman] and Linda [Cardellini], and to the story we were telling,” she said. “If people focus only on my illness instead of the story, that’s out of my control. I just hope they can look beyond that and enjoy the journey these characters are on.”
In a separate 2022 interview with Kelly Clarkson, Applegate reflected on how acting had long served as an outlet for her to manage personal pain. “I think I’ve been dealing with grief and trauma my entire life,” she said. “Acting gave me a way to escape. But Dead to Me was different. It gave me a space to express that grief instead of hiding it.”
She went on to say, “It was me breaking down—not just my character. And even though the world got to see it, it became a cathartic, healing process for me.”
Applegate’s openness about her experience—her struggles, triumphs, and everything in between—has deeply resonated with fans. She’s used her platform not only to share her own truth but also to shine a light on what it means to live with a chronic illness.
Conclusion
Christina Applegate’s experience with multiple sclerosis is a powerful reminder of resilience in the face of adversity. Her decision to speak openly about her diagnosis—and to continue her work despite the challenges—reflects an extraordinary inner strength.
By being transparent about her struggles, Applegate has elevated awareness of MS and given countless others permission to be vulnerable in their own journeys. Her story is not just about illness—it’s about determination, honesty, and the courage to keep going when life changes in ways we never expected. Her impact will be felt far beyond the screen, offering comfort and hope to those facing their own battles.