Christina Applegate Says She Lives 'Kind of in Hell' Since MS Diagnosis in Sit-Down Interview

Christina Applegate is opening up about her life since her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. In a preview of her upcoming sit-down with Robin Roberts, the 52-year-old actress reflects on how much her life has changed since she began her years-long battle with MS.

"I live kind of in hell," she admits. "I'm not out a lot, so this is a little difficult just for my system." 

Applegate responds to questions about her experience at the 2023 Emmy Awards, where she received a standing ovation after walking out on stage with a cane to receive the night's first award. The Dead to Me star shares that "of course" she was feeling the love, and that she felt "really grateful" for the support. 

"I actually kind of blacked out," she recalls. "People said, 'Oh, you were so funny!' And I'm like, 'I don't even know what I said. I don't even know what I was doing.' I got so freaked out that I didn't even know what was happening any more -- and I felt really beloved and it was really a beautiful thing." 

With her signature humor still in tact, she adds, "I'm just gonna say, that audience stood up for everybody." 

Applegate was joined by Sopranos star Jamie-Lynn Sigler -- who was previously diagnosed with MS more than 20 years ago -- for the Good Morning America sit-down. Roberts shared that more from the conversation will air on Tuesday, promising new details about how the actresses are supporting each other through this journey. 

Meanwhile, the duo also spoke to People about how their friendship and shared experience led to a new podcast, MeSsy, which is debuting on March 19. 

"We would talk on the phone for two hours, and we'd be laughing and crying and we were like, 'This is helping us. Let's record this. Let's do it,'" Applegate tells the outlet.

Sigler adds, "the way that Christina disarms me and allows me to talk about the hard stuff, I needed desperately."

Applegate first went public with her diagnosis in August 2021. The then-49-year-old actress shared the news on Twitter, writing, "Hi friends. A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition. It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a**hole blocks it."

After coming forward about her MS, Applegate -- who began in the entertainment industry as a baby -- was met with an outpouring of support, including from her The Sweetest Thing co-star, Selma Blair, who was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, as well as Josh Gad, Sean Maguire and many others.

According to the Mayo Clinic, multiple sclerosis is "a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system)." Other celebrities who have also gone public with their MS battles aside from the Dead to Me actress and Blair include Jack Osbourne and Montel Williams. 

In the year after revealing her diagnosis, the actress completed work on Dead to Me and got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- which was her first event since being diagnosed.

The Married with Children alum appeared at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards and the 2023 SAG Awards, which she previously predicted to the Los Angeles Times would mark her last award show as an actor. 

"It's my last awards show as an actor probably, so it's kind of a big deal," Applegate told the L.A. Times. "Right now, I couldn't imagine getting up at 5:00 a.m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set; I don't have that in me at this moment."

That doesn't mean she's totally stepping out of the spotlight. As for what's next, Applegate said she was considering a future in production and development. "Doing a s**t ton of voice-overs to make some cash to make sure that my daughter's fed and we're homed," she added of her upcoming plans. 

Despite that prediction, the actress appeared at the 2023 Emmy Awards.

Applegate was the first presenter for the 75th annual ceremony -- where she was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Jen Harding in Dead to Me -- and was overcome with emotion by the crowd's raucous cheering as the theme song from Married With Children played over her entrance. She thanked the crowd before using her signature biting wit to tell the audience to pipe down so they could stay on schedule. 

"Thank you so much, oh my god. You're totally shaming me with a disability by standing up, it's fine," she said, causing the audience to burst out into laughter. "Body not by Ozempic." 

It wasn't the first time Applegate, who is mom to 13-year-old daughter Sadie with husband Martyn LeNoble, has battled a health issue. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, and had a double mastectomy later that same year. Applegate's foundation, Right Action for Women, offers free MRIs for high-risk women.

RELATED CONTENT: