Selma Blair shared that she is “truly relapse-free” from multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms after a seven-year battle.
“I am doing amazingly well. I’ve been feeling great for about a year,” Blair, 52, told People in an interview published on Friday, April 25.
The Cruel Intentions actress was diagnosed with MS in 2018, but exclusively shared the wonderful news with Us Weekly in February that she is in remission.
Blair offered another positive update on her health while attending the Daily Front Row’s 9th Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards on Thursday, where she noted that she is ”feeling really well” these days.
“I am finally well enough to really, genuinely [live life] … I always try and feel my best, but now that I actually have stamina and energy and getting out and going out isn’t so scary,” she said.
Looking ahead to the future, Blair said her goals are now “much more career-oriented” — aside from continuing support for others with chronic illnesses.
“Now I still am advocating for people with chronic illness and getting better, and what that looks like when you haven’t made your wishes. How do we give ourselves a new life force?” she said.
Blair exclusively revealed to Us Weekly in February that her health had improved enough that she was training with boxing trainer, Freddie Roach. The 64-year-old trainer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 27 but has continued working with accomplished boxers such as Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya.
“I want to be in good shape, good emotionally, redo some balance and learn how to use my arms in tandem with the rest of me that’s getting stronger,” she told Us about her training. “So, it’s really about stamina and trying to increase being awake for all the things I have to do.
The Legally Blonde star credited 13-year-old son Arthur — whom she shares with ex Jason Bleick — with inspiring her to step into the boxing ring.
“He’s so tough,” Blair told Us. “We’ve always been so close and wrestled, because I was kind of like Mom and Dad — and then Dad was like Mom and Dad when he was with him. He really was tough on me. Seeing how strong he is, how good he is at things, it was inspiring. Like, I used to be like that. I want to take this seriously. I wanna work with the people that have defied all that, that have been the best in their game.”
Blair subsequently revealed to Us that she was also feeling more optimistic about returning to acting after spending the last few years focused on her health.
“I am building stamina and because I have some real-time being relapse-free, I am feeling more confident to be back on set,” Blair explained to Us while promoting her partnership with EMD Serono for Express4MS in February. “I didn’t think that was something I would even want to do.”
Dancing With The Stars viewers followed Blair’s recovery when she competed on season 31 in 2022. While Blair withdrew for medical reasons in Week 5, she performed a stirring final waltz that dazzled both DWTS judges and fans.
Read the full article here
