Selma Blair, a celebrated actress, has openly shared her experiences with multiple sclerosis (MS), offering a powerful perspective on living with and overcoming the challenges of this chronic condition. Reflecting on her journey since her diagnosis, Blair’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and hope for herself and others facing similar health battles.
In a candid interview on TODAY in February 2024, Blair expressed her gratitude for her current state of remission. “A few years ago, I didn’t think I’d be here,” she admitted, highlighting the profound impact of her MS diagnosis on her life. Since receiving the diagnosis, Blair has dedicated herself to navigating life with MS and embracing a “new normal.” Despite the ongoing adjustments, she conveyed a sense of well-being, stating, “I’m doing great. I’m doing really great.”
Blair’s journey to diagnosis was marked by years of unexplained symptoms. As she revealed to US Weekly in July 2024, understanding her condition brought clarity to her past struggles. “Once I knew I had MS — which I’d had for a while — [things] made so much more sense,” she explained. Prior to her diagnosis, Blair coped with debilitating spasms, sometimes turning to alcohol as a way to manage her discomfort. She grappled with feelings of being “broken inside,” even questioning if her symptoms were real before finally receiving medical confirmation of her illness.
Now in remission, Blair’s outlook is markedly brighter. “I’m so much happier,” she affirmed. While acknowledging that life still presents challenges and setbacks, she contrasts her current joy with her past experiences. “I was a sad person. I wanted joy and good things but I was living a lie because I didn’t know I was sick.” Blair’s path to well-being included sobriety, which she embraced in 2016, followed by her public MS diagnosis announcement in 2018 at the age of 52. MS, she explained, is a condition affecting the central nervous system, disrupting nerve signals between the brain and body. By 2021, Blair shared the hopeful news of her remission, indicating no new lesion formation.
However, remission, while a significant milestone, is not a complete absence of challenges. Blair openly acknowledges that her recovery has been a process requiring patience and adaptation. “I did not allow for how long recovery really took,” she confessed, emphasizing the need to “fake it till I make it” at times. She also spoke about the physical changes she experienced, noting, “I aged so much after the chemo and then menopause. That’s something no one talks about. But I’m getting back on track.” Despite these ongoing effects, Blair’s message remains resoundingly positive: “I’m still here.”
Selma Blair’s Recent Updates on Living with MS
Even in remission, Selma Blair continues to experience daily realities of MS. In a January 2024 Instagram video, she shared, “(I hurt) all the time,” a sentiment relatable to many living with chronic pain. Her openness is intentional, aiming to offer solidarity and hope to others facing disabilities. Blair’s candor extends to discussing the persistent symptoms she manages despite being in remission.
In a November 2023 interview on “Meet the Press,” Blair told Kristen Welker about her daily experiences, stating she is “doing better every day” but still confronts “pain every day.” She also elaborated on dystonia, a movement disorder she experiences as a symptom of MS. “I have dystonia, also, that really doesn’t always flare up for entire conversations, but it’s almost like someone with a stutter maybe, or a type of Tourette’s,” she explained. Dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions, leading to movements that can be repetitive or twisting, as defined by the Mayo Clinic.
Blair’s symptoms can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. “So there can be a lot of discrimination and confusion I think with people thinking I’m putting something on,” she said, underscoring the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding invisible illnesses like MS. “But the real fact is I really am in pain all the time.” Her public discussions are a deliberate effort to combat this stigma. As she noted on TODAY, “You don’t ever want to be thought of as less than or incapable so it really took a load off to be able to share with friends quietly.” Sharing her diagnosis publicly was a step towards broader understanding. “I found that people really were so grateful and there really was a need for people to be able to get more information without stigma.”
Blair describes a constant stiffness in her body that persists despite various therapies. “There’s no amount of Botox I could get in my back and muscles or massage or anything that’ll reach it,” she shared. Paradoxically, while experiencing internal pain, she also describes a lack of sensation on her skin, saying, “I don’t feel it when someone touches me.” Adding to her health challenges, Blair revealed another diagnosis: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can be linked to MS, further contributing to her physical struggles. “Ehlers Danlos will make you really stiff because I’ll pull my muscles too easily … so I get some injuries,” Blair explained.
Treatments and Therapies for Selma Blair’s MS
Selma Blair has undergone significant treatments for her MS, including hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). This procedure involved harvesting stem cells from her bone marrow followed by chemotherapy to reset her immune system. Despite initial reservations about chemotherapy, Blair followed her doctor’s recommendations. “And we did it, and I immediately felt better. I never felt better than when I was on chemo,” she told Welker in 2023, highlighting the unexpected positive effects of the treatment.
Following HSCT, Blair continues with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy every two weeks. She describes IVIG as a four-hour blood transfusion that “keeps me from getting sick,” as she told US Weekly. In addition to these treatments, Blair relies on support systems including a home nurse and a service dog to manage daily life with MS. Regular MRIs are also part of her ongoing care, monitoring her condition alongside her therapies. Blair acknowledges the financial implications of such treatments, stating, “I know a lot of people can’t afford it, but for me, [it] really alleviated the MS progression incredibly. It saved my life.”
Beyond conventional treatments, Blair has explored other therapies, including Botox injections, not for cosmetic purposes, but for muscle strengthening in her back. “I’ve had 100 Botox injections in my back to strengthen muscles, and that’s made me not bother with getting Botox in my face. When you have to deal with so much for your health you forget about what you look like,” she explained, illustrating her focus on health and function over appearance.
The Timeline of Selma Blair’s MS Diagnosis
Selma Blair publicly revealed her MS diagnosis in October 2018, sharing that she received the diagnosis in August of the same year. However, she believes she had been living with MS symptoms for at least 15 years prior. In her initial Instagram announcement, Blair embraced her condition with openness and determination. “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,” she wrote, setting a tone of acceptance and proactivity.
Since her public announcement, Blair has become a prominent advocate for MS awareness, participating in a documentary about her life with MS and consistently sharing updates across social media and in interviews. She has spoken about the impact of MS on parenting, recalling on TODAY in February 2025, “Since I had (my son, Arthur,), I’d been afflicted with MS and I didn’t know. I was diagnosed later. So, my fatigue was always the main issue.” She described seeking advice from other parents on managing fatigue, a universal challenge amplified by MS.
Blair’s advocacy extends to adaptive fashion. Partnering with designer Isaac Mizrahi, she launched an adaptive clothing line, inspired by her own experiences and needs. Discussing this venture on TODAY in October 2023, Blair shared her improved well-being: “I’m doing so much better, so much better. I still have symptoms and dystonia and things that people might read as a little more extreme. It’s just kind of a part of who I am, but my spirit is really good, and life has been great.” She credited a stylist’s inclusive approach to dressing her with sparking her interest in adaptive fashion, recognizing the need for clothing that accommodates chronic illness without compromising style or dignity. “We’re taught you don’t look capable if you’re carrying around a chronic disease,” Blair observed, highlighting the societal perceptions she aims to challenge through her work.
Understanding Selma Blair’s MS Symptoms
In a March 2023 interview with TODAY.com, Selma Blair offered further insights into her daily life in remission, emphasizing her proactive approach. “I don’t live in fear of this condition at all,” she stated, underscoring her resilience. She detailed the ongoing MS symptoms she manages, including fatigue, speech difficulties, and challenges with movement and balance. “(but) I do not have the absolute weakness that I had for a long time, and if I focus on something really truly and I’m awake, I can correct it. But often, it just takes a lot of energy,” she explained, illustrating the cognitive effort required to manage her symptoms.
One persistent symptom Blair describes is gait normalization. “Getting up, you would think I have a very difficult time walking the first few steps, but then I start to get in the rhythm and then if I’m uninterrupted for a while, I can absolutely walk smoothly. And then as soon as I sit down again, it starts all over when I start moving again. So that is pretty standard all the time,” she detailed, providing a vivid picture of the fluctuating nature of her mobility. Fatigue exacerbates her symptoms. “I don’t know where my body always is in space when I’m tired. When I’m tired, I become very spastic, and my speech is dystonic,” she said.
Blair also shared coping mechanisms, such as squatting to relieve discomfort. “I can sit on the ground in a squat position and a lot can be relieved. That is also another reason why I personally enjoy my service dog. It makes me look like I’m not a middle-aged woman having a breakdown in the street squatting as passersby are there, and I’m crying,” she explained, also mentioning medication to manage involuntary crying. Sunlight is another trigger for Blair, exacerbating her speech difficulties. “It’s like hiccups. I become very weak in the sun. That is something (that happens) whether I’m in a flare or not. That is an autoimmune issue. The sun causes inflammation.” Even in remission, she experiences “pseudo flares,” triggered by factors like sun exposure, indicating the ongoing impact of her autoimmune condition. Appetite changes are another daily challenge. “I only can digest food once I’m relaxed or else I’m kind of dry heaving. I just have a faster running nervous system than some,” she said.
Blair acknowledges her privileged access to excellent medical care and expresses a desire for greater accessibility for all MS patients. “A lot of people aren’t getting the help and attention that they could,” she stated, advocating for equitable healthcare. Ultimately, Selma Blair’s openness about her MS journey is driven by a desire to connect with and support others. “When I’m talking about one of my issues that’s meant to cover a broader theme, not anyone else’s disability, but a broader theme of what it can do to feel supported in your community,” she concluded, emphasizing the importance of community and shared experience in navigating health challenges.
