Christina Applegate has revealed that she is now largely confined to her bed due to multiple sclerosis, five years after her diagnosis. The 54-year-old actor, known for her role in Married With Children, told People magazine that movement causes pain, leaving her spending most days in bed.
Despite her condition, Applegate still takes her 15-year-old daughter, Sadie, to school, calling it her “favourite thing to do”. She said: “It’s the only time we have together by ourselves. I tell myself, ‘Just get her there safely and get home so you can get back into bed.’”
Applegate’s memoir, You With the Sad Eyes, details her childhood in Los Angeles, including her mother Nancy Priddy’s heroin addiction and abusive partners. Applegate said: “My life isn’t wrapped up with a bow… People’s lives… fucking suck sometimes. So I’m being as honest and raw as I possibly can.” She added the book is not inspirational, “but it can inspire”.
Applegate has previously spoken about the impact of MS on her daughter, saying she sees Sadie’s reaction when she cannot move or walk. In 2008, she underwent a bilateral mastectomy after a breast cancer diagnosis. She now focuses on voice acting and hosts the podcast MeSsy about MS with fellow actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
