Actress Selma Blair, 53, joined “TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle” on Monday, Jan. 26, to discuss how she’s stepping back into acting after being diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018. Blair courageously revealed her diagnosis in an Instagram post in October of that year, explaining how “overwhelming” her condition is.
As the “Legally Blonde” star explained to hosts Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones how she has finally regained her strength, her adorable support dog, Scout, patiently lay by her feet.
When discussing her comeback, Blair explained how she hasn’t suffered from an MS relapse for several years. According to Cleveland Clinic, her specific form of MS “occurs when you have flare-ups of symptoms followed by periods of partial or complete recovery.”
Selma Blair on Healing From Her MS
Before getting to the depth of how her MS has affected her life, the “Hellboy” actress began with a joke. “I’m doing well. I mean, if you give me a chance to complain, that’s my love language. But I won’t do that!” she said with laughter.
Blair continued, “I’m relapse-free for a couple years. It took a long time to kind of break through and start healing, but I am on that, so I’m trying to get as much done and wake up as much as I can. I’m still tired a lot.”
“The Sweetest Thing” star went on to say that after her diagnosis, she “absolutely thought I would not act again because, you know, I have some glitches with speech movement, but that can all be worked out… a lot of people have things. But I didn’t have the energy.”
Selma Blair Has 3 Upcoming Movies
GettyBlair said that forcing herself to do what she loves was a big way she was able to heal and overcome a lot of her MS symptoms. “I move fine now — that was difficult,” she said. “And lights, and being with people. There’s so many things. But going on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and doing things, and kind of an immersion therapy. You know, you just kind of have to work through it.”
She continued by saying she feels “lucky” that she’s “had this relapse-free time to get strong again,” adding that although she “wanted to try” to get back into acting before now, it was very “hard” to do so.
When the TODAY hosts asked Blair how stepping back on set will be for her upcoming three films, “There There,” “Stay Forte” and “Silent,” the actress gave credit to those around her, noting that center stage is her sweet spot.
“It’s a very comfortable place for me,” she shared. “You know that once you’re there, the people really do have your back.”
