Five years ago, Selma Blair underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) amid her multiple sclerosis battle, but she shared that she’s still “getting back on track.”
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In an interview with Us Weekly , published Wednesday, the actress opens up about her MS diagnosis and the financial stressors of being disabled. Blair covers the first issue of the magazine under the helm of former People and The Messenger Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford, marking a relaunch for the magazine with a cover shot by photographer Hype Williams.
After undergoing HSCT, Blair admits she didn’t expect the long recovery time. “I imagined that I would do the stem cell [treatment] and come out looking like Christie Brinkley and feeling amazing,” she said. “I put every egg in that basket. I did not allow for how long recovery really took. I’ve had to fake it till I make it. I aged so much after the chemo and then menopause. That’s something no one talks about. But I’m getting back on track.”
Blair says she’s still in remission and gets MRIs “a couple of times a year,” as well as other treatments. “I know a lot of people can’t afford it, but for me, [it] really alleviated the MS progression incredibly. It saved my life,” she explained. Blair also does IVIG — a therapy that uses antibodies from healthy donors — which she says “keeps me from getting sick. If I get sick, all bets are off. That’s how I maintain the wellness people see.”
“Some are [considered] experimental but nothing is so left-field — I’m not rich enough to go to Sweden or Germany to do all these wild things,” she added before elaborating that despite being privileged in her abilities to undergo expensive treatment, there were times when she wouldn’t be able to work and get insurance.
She explained, “Being able to have a place to live and a refrigerator and life, I don’t take any of that for granted. People perceive you as rich and famous but there were many years I’d have to take off work that deeply impacted [me]. If I don’t [get] my SAG insurance, then I don’t get my blood products. I don’t think people get how expensive it is to be disabled. Some days are really hard, and I wonder about working — I’m a single mom supporting my kid and want a great life for us. But I know I’m privileged and others struggle so much more.” Blair has also been previously open about feeling like she never hit her stride with acting given she had to step away after being diagnosed with MS.
Living with a disability such as hers, Blair noted, “There are so many different things that go into chronic illness or chronic treatment and things that change when medicine is wearing off. Or why I need my dog to tell me to take my medicine. I’m willing to be more open than the average bear.”
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“I don’t think people with private lives with disabilities should need to open up to every curious mind. I’ll take the hit for people,” she added.
Blair publicly revealed her MS diagnosis in 2018 and has been in remission since 2021. However, she previously shared that she went undiagnosed for 40 years .
When comparing where she is now versus then, Blair said she would advise her previous self that “It’s going to take years to feel better, but it’s OK. You’re being lovingly guided and things will come in their time. You just have to keep showing up. One day you’ll feel better — and you’ll do an interview talking about how far you’ve come.”
Despite having to step away from acting amid her MS, Blair shared that she’s “open for business” and would love to be on “ The White Lotus and work with Mike White and have that rebirth like Jennifer Coolidge.” She noted she’s also be interested in doing a period piece like Downton Abbey or a Joan of Arc Mad Max .
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