Christina Applegate says she ‘probably won’t work on camera again’
‘Dead to Me’ star is calling time on her career on screen
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Christina Applegate believes that her time as an actor on screen has likely come to an end.
Applegate has acted in film and TV since she was a child, first gaining popularity in Married... with Children from 1987 to 1997.
Most recently, the actor concluded a three-season run on the acclaimed Netflix dark comedy, Dead to Me.
However, in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Applegate stated that the role, in which she played an acerbic widow named Jen, would “probably” be her last in front of a camera following her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2021.
Speaking about her screen partner, Linda Cardellini, Applegate recalled how they “were in love with each other” from their first day on set, and her gratitude to be able to work with someone whose acting talents matched her own.
“It’s rare that you have an equal playing field and you get to play ping-pong instead of tennis. There’s a difference,” Applegate, 51, noted. “Ping-pong is so much more fun when the other person is just as good as you are.
“I’m probably not going to work on camera again, but 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.”
Applegate learned she had MS, a condition that disrupts the communication between the brain and the body, in 2021. As a result, the actor finds it difficult to walk unaided and has increased sensory sensitivities.
Cardellini played Judy in Dead to Me, a woman also dealing with grief who befriends Jen at a counselling group.
Both actors have spoken highly about one another and have established a close friendship off-screen.
Cardellini was a guest when Applegate was recognised with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November, as well as Applegate’s Married... with Children co-star Katey Segal.
Elsewhere, Applegate claimed that staff at ABC were “not sympathetic human beings” when she was diagnosed with cancer during the filming of Samantha Who? in the 2000s.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments