(CNN) — Christina Applegate talks about her life with multiple sclerosis and how important it was for her to finish her acclaimed series “Dead to Me”.
The 50-year-old actress spoke to The New York Times for an article published Tuesday, ahead of the premiere of the third and final season of her Netflix series later this month.
Applegate reflected on what it was like to receive her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the summer of 2021, while filming. At the time, production was halted for approximately five months while she began treatment for autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
Christina Applegate, seen here in January 2020, opens up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis ahead of the final season premiere of “Dead to Me.” Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
“There was a feeling of, ‘Well, let’s give her some medicine to get her better,'” Applegate said. “And there’s nothing better. 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 performer also noted that after that time, it wasn’t like “I got to the other side of him, like, ‘Woohoo, I’m totally fine.’ Acceptance? No. I’m never going to accept this. I’m mad.”
He also recalled how he began to experience balance and mobility problems already during the production of the first season of “Dead to Me”, which premiered in May 2019.
“I wish I had paid attention,” he said. “But how was she to know?”
Upon the hiatus in production, Netflix had considered ending the show indefinitely in light of his health news. But Applegate felt she “had an obligation” to both Liz Feldman, the creator of “Dead to Me,” and Linda Cardellini, her friend and her co-star, as well as the story.
“From above they were like, ‘We’re going to stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s do a few more episodes.’
And while Applegate said finishing the series was the hardest thing she’s ever done, the team and Cardellini especially stood by and supported her every step of the way.
“She was my champion, my warrior, my voice,” Applegate said of Cardellini. “It was like having a mama bear.”
But Cardellini told the newspaper that “I only wanted the best for the person I love and care about and with whom I have the honor of working.” And that she matched her feelings towards Applegate from their first meeting for the series.
“I had an immediate feeling that we were going to take care of each other,” Cardellini said. “Jen and Judy [sus personajes en “Dead to Me”] they support each other, they love each other, they help each other with things. Linda and Christina, same thing.”
In addition to making sure to finish the final season, it was also important for Applegate to publicize “Dead to Me” before the third season premieres on Netflix on November 17.
“It’s the first time someone is going to see me as I am,” he said. “I’ve put on 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I’m very aware of all of that.”
As for what viewers take away from the final season, the “Samantha Who?” She is hopeful, up to a point.
“If people hate it, if people love it, if all they can focus on is, ‘Ooh, look at the cripple,’ that’s not up to me,” he said. “I’m sure people are going to say, ‘I can’t get over this.
“Fine, then don’t get over it,” he added. “But I hope people can get over it and just enjoy the ride and say goodbye to these two girls.”
(CNN) — Christina Applegate talks about her life with multiple sclerosis and how important it was for her to finish her acclaimed series “Dead to Me”.
The 50-year-old actress spoke to The New York Times for an article published Tuesday, ahead of the premiere of the third and final season of her Netflix series later this month.
Applegate reflected on what it was like to receive her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the summer of 2021, while filming. At the time, production was halted for approximately five months while she began treatment for autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system.
Christina Applegate, seen here in January 2020, opens up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis ahead of the final season premiere of “Dead to Me.” Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images
“There was a feeling of, ‘Well, let’s give her some medicine to get her better,'” Applegate said. “And there’s nothing better. 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 performer also noted that after that time, it wasn’t like “I got to the other side of him, like, ‘Woohoo, I’m totally fine.’ Acceptance? No. I’m never going to accept this. I’m mad.”
He also recalled how he began to experience balance and mobility problems already during the production of the first season of “Dead to Me”, which premiered in May 2019.
“I wish I had paid attention,” he said. “But how was she to know?”
Upon the hiatus in production, Netflix had considered ending the show indefinitely in light of his health news. But Applegate felt she “had an obligation” to both Liz Feldman, the creator of “Dead to Me,” and Linda Cardellini, her friend and her co-star, as well as the story.
“From above they were like, ‘We’re going to stop. We don’t need to finish it. Let’s do a few more episodes.’
And while Applegate said finishing the series was the hardest thing she’s ever done, the team and Cardellini especially stood by and supported her every step of the way.
“She was my champion, my warrior, my voice,” Applegate said of Cardellini. “It was like having a mama bear.”
But Cardellini told the newspaper that “I only wanted the best for the person I love and care about and with whom I have the honor of working.” And that she matched her feelings towards Applegate from their first meeting for the series.
“I had an immediate feeling that we were going to take care of each other,” Cardellini said. “Jen and Judy [sus personajes en “Dead to Me”] they support each other, they love each other, they help each other with things. Linda and Christina, same thing.”
In addition to making sure to finish the final season, it was also important for Applegate to publicize “Dead to Me” before the third season premieres on Netflix on November 17.
“It’s the first time someone is going to see me as I am,” he said. “I’ve put on 40 pounds; I can’t walk without a cane. I want people to know that I’m very aware of all of that.”
As for what viewers take away from the final season, the “Samantha Who?” She is hopeful, up to a point.
“If people hate it, if people love it, if all they can focus on is, ‘Ooh, look at the cripple,’ that’s not up to me,” he said. “I’m sure people are going to say, ‘I can’t get over this.
“Fine, then don’t get over it,” he added. “But I hope people can get over it and just enjoy the ride and say goodbye to these two girls.”
