In an emotional Instagram post on Saturday, Selma Blair revealed that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago. “I have #multiplesclerosis,” she wrote. “I am in an exacerbation. By the grace of the lord, and willpower and the understanding producers at Netflix, I have a job. A wonderful job. I am disabled. I fall sometimes. I drop things. My memory is foggy. And my left side is asking for directions from a broken GPS. But we are doing it. And I laugh and I don’t know exactly what I will do precisely but I will do my best.”
As reported by People, the Cruel Intentions and Hellboy actress decided to open up about her diagnosis while working on the new Netflix series Another Life, which is currently filming. The show’s costume designer was apparently catering to Blair’s specific physical needs as a result of her having MS:
“I was in this wardrobe fitting two days ago. And I am in the deepest gratitude. So profound, it is, I have decided to share. The brilliant costumer [Alisa Swanson] not only designs the pieces [Harper Glass] will wear on this new #Netflix show, but she carefully gets my legs in my pants, pulls my tops over my head, buttons my coats and offers her shoulder to steady myself.”
Aside from Swanson and the Another Life team at Netflix, Blair also thanked her friends Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze, Jaime King and others for their support for the past 15 years. She also used the post to reach out to those who might have MS, or anyone else who might need help with their disabilities. “You can’t get help unless you ask,” she said. “It can be overwhelming in the beginning. You want to sleep. You always want to sleep. So I don’t have answers. You see, I want to sleep. But I am a forthcoming person and I want my life to be full somehow. I want to play with my son again. I want to walk down the street and ride my horse. I have MS and I am ok.”
