Learning about multiple sclerosis can sometimes be challenging; without much representation in popular media and public discussions, it can be difficult to find out more information about the disease and how it affects people. In spite of that, many public figures use their platform to speak out about their experiences to advocate and educate the public on the topic of multiple sclerosis. In fact, two celebrities—Selma Blair and Jamie-Lynn Sigler—have done much to put MS in the public eye.
Selma Blair is an American actress who’s known for her roles in Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, as well as many others. Blair was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018, and later revealed it to the public through an Instagram post. To give some insight into her life with MS, on March 16th, 2021, Blair released a documentary. This documentary, called Introducing, Selma Blair, is about Blair living with MS after her diagnosis. Blair talks about her diagnosis in the documentary, and the film also follows her experience with various treatments. In the documentary, Blair explained that she released this documentary with the intention of giving hope to others who struggle, whether it is due to a chronic illness or not.
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, an actress famous for playing Meadow Soprano in the series The Sopranos, has discussed the impact that MS has had on her life. In the past, she was not as open with her experiences due to the stigma in workplaces associated with the disease. With support from her loved ones, she was eventually able to share it with the public in 2016. Sigler has advocated in many ways, such as becoming an ambassador with Biogen and blogging for the campaign called “Reimagine MySelf,” which helps people who have MS with making lifestyle changes that suit them. She has been outspoken about her experiences, discussing topics ranging from being a mother to pursuing new ventures in her acting career.
In addition, Sigler has advocated by doing interviews where she has given tips about how people with MS can benefit from including self-care in their lives, both in regards to mental wellness and physical health. These efforts are very important to her, who was diagnosed at 20 years old and has lived with MS for almost two decades. Those new experiences did not just bring her a new point of view, but they also brought obstacles that she had to face. She was uncertain as a young adult, but she was able to adapt to her circumstances by staying resilient despite her struggles. Now, she hopes to help people in similar situations to do the same while educating the general public.
Both Blair and Sigler have learned throughout their lives living with MS, and have chosen to educate others about their condition. While Blair starred in a whole documentary about her journey with MS, Sigler blogs about her life with MS, bringing awareness to those who may be uninformed about Multiple Sclerosis. Through the different ways of educating people about their condition, both Blair and Sigler are trying—and succeeding—in destigmatizing the talk around MS.
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