Christina Applegate is opening up about her thoughts on death and how it has shaped her outlook in life. The actress, who was diagnosed with MS in 2021, has already made arrangements when the time comes, and shared that she has already secured three burial plots as she continues to navigate personal challenges and reflects on what matters most.
Christina Applegate Thinks About Death Daily
On March 19, the 54-year-old actress was on NPR’s “Wild Card with Rachel Martin” podcast, wherein she talked about living with multiple sclerosis. When asked how often she thinks about death, Applegate answered, “Every day.”
“‘Cause it’s looming. I mean, it looms for all of us,” she continued. Applegate says that even though death will come for all of us, it might be different for someone like her, who is living with a condition that currently has no cure. “For people who have a disease like this, you never know, you know?” she said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, MS is an autoimmune disease wherein the protective covering of the nerves is attacked. It may cause weakness, numbness, lack of coordination, and even cognitive issues.
The Actress Has Purchased Three Burial Plots
With the possibility of death always on her mind, Applegate said that she has already bought three burial plots for her family. She didn’t specify where the location is, but said it was a “pretty” place, and she jumped at the chance to purchase the plots when she found out they were available.
Applegate candidly talked about the place, saying that she needed to choose a type of tree that would be planted there. “They’re going to plant a tree there ’cause it’s really sunny. And I want my visitors to not, you know, be sweating,” she told the host.
As for why she decided to purchase the plots, she said that it’s one less thing her family has to deal with in the future.
Christina Applegate Shares One Of Her Fears
Despite death being on her mind daily, Applegate said that she’s not “comfortable” thinking about it. The thought of leaving her child behind is devastating, and that makes her “scared” of death.
“I’m really afraid of it because of her,” referring to her 15-year-old daughter Sadie, whom she shares with husband Martyn LeNoble. The actress became emotional as she said, “I can’t even talk about, like, I don’t know what her life’s going to be like, and you don’t know when it’s going to be – could be, like, anytime.”
In February, as The Blast previously reported, the actress shared an update about her health and said she mostly spent her days in bed. However, she still makes the effort to bring her daughter to school because that’s the only time they can be alone by themselves. Applegate described it as her “favorite thing to do.”
Inside The Actress’ MS Battle
Applegate shared her multiple sclerosis diagnosis with the public in August 2021, writing on X that she had been diagnosed with MS a few months prior. “It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some a-shole blocks it,” she wrote.
Following her revelation, Applegate attended events walking with the help of a cane. She was one of the presenters at the 2024 Emmy Awards, wherein she poked fun at herself by telling the audience who gave her a standing ovation, “Oh my God, you’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up.”
Applegate started a podcast called “MeSsy” with fellow actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who is also living with MS. In one of the episodes, the actress detailed her struggles with the disease, sharing that at one point, she was screaming in bed because of pain.
Christina Applegate Stepped Away From Acting
Applegate was in the middle of filming the third season of the Netflix series “Dead to Me” when she was diagnosed with MS. Production was paused so she could seek treatment, and she eventually returned to finish shooting. However, season 3, which premiered in 2022, was the show’s last.
Afterward, Applegate took a step back from her acting career due to MS. In a Vanity Fair interview in 2023, she acknowledged that “Dead to Me” may have been her final acting work because of the nature of her disease. “This is a progressive disease. I don’t know if I’m going to get worse,” she stated.
Despite stepping away from on-screen roles, Applegate has worked on other projects, including voice-over work, podcasting, and writing. Her No. 1 New York Times bestselling memoir, “You With the Sad Eyes,” was released on March 3.