Christina Applegate recently shared a deeply personal moment from the set of Dead to Me, revealing that one of her early symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) was missed during filming.

In a candid conversation on her MeSsy podcast, the 53-year-old actress opened up about a fall she experienced while shooting a running sequence for the show, marking an unintended sign of her diagnosis.

The Fall That Went Unnoticed

Applegate, who was speaking with co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler and guest Liz Feldman, recalled the incident during a segment of the podcast.

She explained that the fall occurred while filming a scene in a field for the Netflix series.

“I remember falling that day,” she said, adding, “Hi, first sign of MS! So, not to bring everybody down, but there it was.”

At the time, neither Applegate nor those around her recognized the significance of the fall in relation to her MS.

The Realization Came Later

It wasn’t until after Applegate was diagnosed with MS in August 2021 that she made the connection to her fall on set.

Liz Feldman, the show’s creator, reflected on noticing Applegate’s physical challenges, especially while filming the pilot episode.

She remembered moments when Applegate seemed off-balance, attributing it to the exhaustion of long hours on set.

“We’d been shooting probably 14 or 15 hours… it seemed completely reasonable that anybody would be collapsing,” Feldman noted.

Support from the Crew During a Challenging Time

As filming continued through the third season, Applegate was already grappling with the early stages of MS, though her diagnosis was still fresh.

Feldman recalled how she could sense something was wrong, seeing that Applegate was not only physically struggling but also emotionally affected.

“I could just sense A, that she was scared, and B, that something was wrong,” Feldman said, emphasizing how challenging it was to witness.

Despite the difficult circumstances, Feldman and the show’s team showed immense compassion, with the production crew even pausing filming for a week to allow Applegate to rest and recover.

“That would not happen anywhere else,” Applegate remarked.

“My gratitude towards you guys being humans… is astounding.”

She praised the crew’s empathy and said the supportive environment was not the typical reaction in the industry.

Dead to Me and Applegate’s Journey

Dead to Me was a groundbreaking show that allowed Applegate to channel her own struggles into her character, Jen Harding.

Alongside co-star Linda Cardellini, the show tackled heavy themes like grief and loss.

Applegate’s performance earned her two Primetime Emmy nominations.

Reflecting on her experience, she shared how the role gave her a unique opportunity to process her MS diagnosis.

“The beauty of Dead to Me is that… I didn’t have to be on all the time… I could fall apart in a scene,” Applegate said. “It was cathartic in a beautiful way.”

Applegate’s journey with MS has been shared with the public, but it’s her resilience, and the support from those around her, that continues to shine through both in her professional life and personal battles.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn