Christina Applegate joined the Ozempic fashion mockery in Hollywood at the Emmys on Monday.
The Emmy-winning actress, who was greeted with a standing ovation, presented the award for supporting actress in a comedy series at the 75th Emmy Awards and made some self-deprecating jokes before reminiscing about her past roles.
“My God, you're embarrassing me for my disability by standing up,” said Applegate, nominated for lead actress in a comedy series. “It's okay… The body is not Ozempic's.”
“Some of you may know me as Kelly Bundy from 'Married With Children,'” she continued, joking that the audience didn't need to applaud every time she does something. “Or Samantha from 'Samantha Who' or probably, maybe my last job: Jen Harding from 'Dead to Me'.”
“But very few of you probably know me from [my] debut – I'm going to cry more than I've been crying – Baby Burt Grizzell on 'Days of Our Lives'. “It was really a breakup.”
The actress said she was honored to have played funny, flawed and complex characters throughout her decades-long career.
The dark comedy “Dead to Me” concluded its third and final season on Netflix, but in the midst of filming the show's final season in 2021, Applegate began experiencing pain and tremors in her legs. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Applegate walked to the Emmys lectern on Monday with the help of a cane and was escorted by host Anthony Anderson.
“It has been a strange journey. But I have received a lot of support from people I know who also have this condition.” Applegate wrote in a tweet. in 2021. “It has been a difficult road. But as we all know, the journey continues.” He added in a later post: “I now ask for privacy. While I'm going through this.”
Multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, affects the nervous system and often causes progressive physical and cognitive decline. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, more than 2.3 million people have a diagnosis of MS worldwide. Nearly one million people over the age of 18 live with an MS diagnosis in the U.S., the nonprofit adds.
After a break in filming to absorb the news and begin treatment, Applegate insisted on returning to complete the series. The actress, who has been working practically since she was born, had to rely on others like never before, letting the production know what she could and could not do. “They were incredible,” she told The Times of the team, led by creator and showrunner Liz Feldman, whom she calls “Jen and Judy combined into one human being, in the most perfect and beautiful way possible.”
Applegate noted that he has never worked harder at a job. “I was wrecked every day, but most of that wreckage was just in my trailer. But there were times when I broke down on set and said, 'I can't, we have to take a break, I need half an hour,' and everyone was so loving that it was okay.”
Applegate has been nominated for an Emmy eight times and won an Emmy in 2003 for a guest role on “Friends” playing Rachel Green's sister.
Times contributor Lisa Rosen contributed to this report.
