“Married With Children” alum Christina Applegate says she’s through with awards shows after the February 26 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, saying that her battle with multiple sclerosis has to take priority in her life.
Applegate made the revelation during an interview The Los Angeles Times published on Tuesday, saying that the upcoming SAG Awards were likely to be her last because she couldn’t imagine putting more energy into continuing to act in her current condition.
“It’s my last awards show as an actor probably, so it’s kind of a big deal,” Applegate, 51, explained to the outlet. “Right now, I couldn’t imagine getting up at 5 a.m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set; I don’t have that in me at this moment.”
Applegate revealed her diagnosis in 2021, but pushed on to complete the third and final season of her Netflix show “Dead to Me” — an effort she said was successful in part because of the support and friendship of co-star Linda Cardellini.
“I cry when I talk about Linda because I love her so much. The next person who gets to work with her, I hope they realize how incredibly lucky they are, because not only is she an incredible human but she’s a divine artist and is right there, present for you, no matter what,” Applegate said.
The “Anchorman” star said that the whole Netflix production crew was there for her as well, allowing her to take time off to process her diagnosis and begin treatment while helping her to work around obstacles the disease presented in real-time.
“I was a wreck every day, but most of that wreck would take place in my trailer by myself. But there were times I’d break down on set and be like, ‘I can’t, we have to take a break, I need a half-hour,’ and everyone was so loving that it was okay,” she said.
Applegate recently revealed that in the 18 months since her diagnosis, she has gained nearly 40 pounds and been forced to rely on a cane to walk. She even attended her own Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony barefoot, explaining that MS can cause instability and discomfort, especially when wearing shoes.
“I’m never going to accept this. I’m pissed,” she said at the time.