CNN
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Christina Applegate talks about living with multiple sclerosis, and how ending her popular “Dead to Me” show was important to her.
The actress, 50, spoke with The New York Times For an article published on Tuesday, ahead of the premiere of the third and final season of her series on Netflix later this month. Applegate thought what it was like Receive an MS diagnosis During the summer of 2021 during filming. At that time, production was halted for about five months as I began treatment for an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
“There was a feeling, ‘Okay, let’s get her some medicine so she’ll get better,'” Applegate said. But it was good for me. I needed to process the loss of my life, the loss of that part of me. So I needed that time.”
The artist also noted that after that time, it wasn’t like she “came on the other side of her, like, ‘Woohoo, I’m totally fine.'” “Accept? No, I will never accept this. I’m angry.”
She also remembered how she started having issues with balance and mobility early on during production on the first season of “Dead to Me,” which premiered in May 2019.
“I wish I had noticed,” she said. “But who would I have known?”
During the production outage, Netflix considered shutting down the show indefinitely in light of its health news. But Applegate felt “obligated” to Liz Feldman, the “Dead to Me” author, and Linda Cardellini, her friend and curator, as well as the story.
“Powers that were like, ‘Let’s just stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s put some episodes together. I said no. We’ll do it, but we’ll do it on my terms.”
And while Applegate said ending the series was the hardest thing she’s ever done, the crew and Cardellini, in particular, supported her throughout.
“She was my hero, my warrior, my voice,” Applegate said of Cardellini. “It was like having a mama bear.”
But Cardellini told The Times that she “only wanted the best for the person I loved and cared about and it was an honor to work with.”
That was in keeping with her feelings on Applegate since their first meeting for the show. “I had an immediate feeling that we were going to protect each other,” Cardellini said. “Jane and Judy [their characters in “Dead to Me”] We support each other, love each other, and help each other through things. Linda and Christina, same thing.”
In addition to making sure the final season ends, it was also important for Applegate to do publicity for Dead to Me ahead of the third season premiere on Netflix on November 17.
“This is the first time anyone has ever seen me as I am,” she said. “I am 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I am fully aware of it all.”
As for what viewers got out of the final season, “Samantha Who?” The star is somewhat optimistic.
“If people hate her, if people like her, and if all they can focus on is, ‘Oh, look at the bench,’ it’s not up to me,” she said. “I’m sure people will be, like, ‘I can’t get over it. ”
“Well, don’t skip it, then,” she added. “But I hope people can get past it and enjoy the ride and say goodbye to these two girls.”
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