The actress was misdiagnosed for years and told how difficult it was until they got her disease right.
The actress selma blair revealed to British Vogue as part of her May 2023 cover interview that she had to hide her multiple sclerosis symptoms on film sets to maintain her career and not be considered an “insurance risk” by producers. Not that she knew Blair’s symptoms were related to multiple sclerosis at the time.
“The sets were sometimes unbearable due to exhaustion and tics”Blair said. “I took benzos and Klonopin [un medicamento que se usa para prevenir las convulsiones y los trastornos de ansiedad]. I did not abuse those things, only alcohol. But she was lost and sad and could hardly ever smile. Hence my papers, I imagine”.
“I was worried from the beginning of time that a blatant failure would take me out of the workforce,” Blair continued. “And usually it was my incoordination or getting stuck, too weak or sick, in my trailer, or at any time, really. Vomiting or bodily problems were terrifying, [y la] baldness or rashes“.
Blair said she was terrified of being “discovered”. Through all of her symptoms, health professionals continually misdiagnosed her.
“Memory [sentirme] really, really bad on ‘Hellboy’ and I was diagnosed with cat scratch fever and possible leukemia in Prague,” Blair added. “I couldn’t tell anyone. I couldn’t admit to alcoholism or [acceder] treatment on my insurance for fear of being considered an insurance risk. I broke down once I got back to Los Angeles.”
After finishing the production of “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” In 2008, Blair made it to television as the lead in the American remake of “Kat & Kim”. Her symptoms worsened to the point that she had to step away from the entertainment industry once the series finished filming.
“My autoimmune system was failing… I lost most of my hair and all my energy. I withdrew a bit [después del espectáculo]”Blair said. “It was a French exit and everyone else stayed at the party… My self-loathing was extreme. I couldn’t get by and couldn’t even try to find a job… It was a running joke. How far did the audition go? How many naps would fit on the side of the road before and after? [Cuando dejé de actuar] I spent my days in bed, crying, sometimes drinking to excess, sometimes reading and sleeping, seeing doctors and healers… I gave up almost until the diagnosis. I was always afraid of being considered incapable. Or mentally unstable. My mother taught me that this was death for a woman in terms of her career.
Blair’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis brought a sense of clarity after years of symptoms that were never properly diagnosed.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
