“I was lost and sad and could hardly ever smile”: Selma Blair Was Scared of Getting Fired While Working in Hellboy

In a recent interview for the cover story in May 2023 of British Vogue, Selma Blair revealed that in 2004,  while working on the American superhero film, Hellboy, she had to hide her multiple sclerosis symptoms. This decision was made in order to protect her career and prevent producers from considering her as an “insurance risk”.

At the time, Blair was not even aware that ‌multiple sclerosis was to blame for her symptoms. In the 2004 film, which was written and directed by Oscar winner, Guillermo del Toro, Blair played firestarter, Liz Sherman.

For the unversed, Selma Blair finally received a diagnosis of MS in 2018 after years of suffering. The 50-year-old actress recalled in a recent interview with British Vogue feeling afraid that her ailments, which she didn’t know at the time were connected to MS, might “remove me from the workforce.” 

Blair revealed that she had undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant ‌in August 2021. A hematopoietic stem-cell transplant was performed on the actress, using stem cells that were derived from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood.

Selma Blair Had a ‘Fear’ of Being an ‘Insurance Risk’

The actress, Selma Blair, who is known for roles in Cruel Intentions, and Legally Blonde, has become one of the most well-known faces in the world with a disability after disclosing her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2018.

Even though she has acknowledged it can be “overwhelming,” it means she has gotten good at getting around MS’ limitations. 

However, Blair discussed her fear of having her ailments “remove me from the workforce” in a recent interview. At the time, she was unaware that those symptoms were connected to MS.

“Sets were excruciating sometimes with the exhaustion and the tics. I took Benzos and Klonopin [a medication used to prevent seizures and anxiety disorders]. I didn’t abuse those things, just alcohol. But I was lost and sad and could hardly ever smile. Hence my roles, I imagine.”

Blair further claimed that being “found out” was her greatest fear. Medical professionals repeatedly misdiagnosed her, despite all of the symptoms.

She continued,

“I remember [feeling] very, very sick on ‘Hellboy,’ and was diagnosed with cat scratch fever and possible leukemia in Prague. I couldn’t tell anybody.”

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A Brief About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS), also known as MS, develops when the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, is attacked by the body’s immune system. This causes damage to myelin, a fatty substance that acts as a protective layer for nerve fibers. This makes it more challenging for messages to reach the central nervous system.

The National Health Service lists a number of MS symptoms, including weakness, exhaustion, trouble seeing and walking, chronic pain, and muscle spasms.

According to the NHS, the exact cause of MS is unknown, but it may be a result of genetics, along with other risk factors like s*x, race, age, smoking, and particular infections.

So how can it be treated?

Although there is no known treatment for MS, there are measures that can be taken to lessen the frequency and severity of relapses as well as slow the development of the disease’s long-term disability. Doctors may prescribe physical therapy or give patients steroid injections to reduce inflammation during an MS symptom flare-up. The use of protein injections is one such preventative strategy.  

Moreover, treatment plans may include input from a range of specialists, including speech therapists, neurologists, and physiologists.

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Source- British Vogue