Christina Applegate’s Triumphant Return to the Emmys After MS Diagnosis
Christina Applegate captivated the audience at the 75th Annual Emmy Awards on Monday night in Los Angeles, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight one year after publicly sharing her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. The Dead to Me star brought her signature charm and grace to the Microsoft Theater stage while nominated for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, wearing a show-stopping cranberry velvet gown designed by Christian Siriano. With the help of host Anthony Anderson, Applegate delivered a poignant speech addressing her health journey and resilience in the face of adversity after receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
“Thank you so much,” Applegate said as she held tightly to Anderson’s arm for balance, visibly emotional from the enthusiastic reception. “Oh my God, you’re totally outing my disability by standing up. It’s fine…Body not by Ozempic!” She added charmingly, “We don’t have to applaud every time I do something.” The actress paired her custom Siriano gown with black platform Dr. Martens boots featuring buttero leather, keeping comfort and personality at the forefront while highlighting her enviable street style. She finished the look by accessorizing with a bejeweled black cane embellished with stickers reading “F U MS” in a fearless display of reclaiming her narrative.
Siriano shared his excitement over dressing Applegate for the occasion on Instagram, raving, “This incredible woman #christinaapplegate tonight in Siriano silk velvet for the #emmys. Let me tell you MS is a nasty disease and this beauty is so strong and just inspiring. Tonight she is nominated and so deserves this. Love you!” He later added, “Oh Christina you are divine and I will dress you any day of the week! What a woman. #christinaapplegate #emmys”
The designer’s heartfelt posts echoed the industry’s immense support and praise for Applegate as she navigates life with an unpredictable, incurable disease. The 50-year-old was joined on the red carpet by her beloved daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble, with whom she twinned in coordinating black suits and Dr. Martens shoes, a testament to their unbreakable mother-daughter bond.
In a vulnerable interview with Vanity Fair this past May, Applegate confessed that she will likely retire from on-camera acting roles due to her declining mobility and energy levels. “I’m probably not going to work on-camera again,” she shared while reflecting gratefully on her over 40-year career. “I’m so glad that I went out with someone who is by far the greatest actress I’ve ever worked with in my entire life, if not the greatest human I’ve ever known.”
She was referring to frequent co-star and close friend Linda Cardellini, with whom she shares an endearing chemistry on Dead to Me that resonated with fans across three seasons. Applegate has undeniably left her mark on Hollywood with iconic roles from Married… with Children to Anchorman, while currently reminding audiences that disability and chronic illness do not define one’s capacity for success. She continues to be outspoken about breaking stigmas associated with asking for accommodations or using mobility aids, like her statement-making cane. It’s this authenticity and willingness to advance the conversation that cements Applegate’s place as a cultural pioneer.
As she crystallized while accepting her standing ovation, “We don’t have to applaud every time I do something.” Rather, her exceptional presence and advocacy prompt admiration regardless of her circumstances – a message she moves gracefully through the world reinforcing. Christina Applegate’s brilliance has always spoken for itself.
