Selma Blair’s battle with multiple sclerosis in her own words
Working on her diagnosis. In the years that followed Selma Blair discovered she had multiple sclerosis, the actress opened up about navigating her new normal.
The michigan native rose to fame starring in popular films including Cruel intentions, legally blonde And After. During her remarkable Hollywood career, she announced in October 2018 that she had been diagnosed with MS.
“Two days ago I was in this wardrobe. And I am in the deepest gratitude. It’s so profound that I decided to share it,” Blair wrote at the time in an October 2018 Instagram post. “The brilliant client #Allisaswanson is not only designing the pieces #harperglass will wear on this new #Netflix show, but she gently tucks my legs into my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my jackets and offers her shoulder to support myself. I have #multiplesclerosis.”
She continued at the time: “I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and willpower, and the understanding producers at Netflix, I have a job. A beautiful job. I am handicapped. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side asks for directions via a broken GPS. But we do it. And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do, but I’ll do my best.”
Over the years, Blair – who shares son Arthur with ex Jason Bleick – has been outspoken about her health issues and even starred in a documentary about her diagnosis, Introducing: Selma Blair.
“It’s going to be a long time before we’re dead, and I’ve spent so long trying to kill myself, or numb myself, or figure out – or figure out how to stay alive by being half dead,” American crime story alum said in the documentary, which premiered in March 2021. “And now I just want to help other people feel better.”
As Blair navigated her MS battle, she decided to sign up for cancer Dancing with the stars season 31.
“Once I was really there Sasha [Farber, my DWTS partner] and really realized, ‘Oh, he can help me in general,’” she said We weekly in September 2022 ahead of the Disney+ premiere. “[I’m] so excited for camaraderie, for support [from] people. I didn’t realize how much I missed that and… there was fear and nerves [because] I have no experience with dancing, with steps I can maybe pose like a dancer for two seconds.
She added: “I once decided [to join the show] and convinced my team that I could do this [and] that it wouldn’t be too dangerous for me to be able to do this [because] we do these things that we want to find joy in and then I’m all for it.
Before her official DWTS debut, Blair attended the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in September 2022. As she walked onto the stage with her cane to present the final award of the night, Outstanding Drama Series, she received a standing ovation from the audience.
Scroll below to watch it all again Sweetest thing star has said about her health issues over the years: