Selma Blair ‘Thrilled’ by Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis, Shares Journey

Los Angeles, CA – Selma Blair opened up about her journey with multiple sclerosis (MS) during the PHM Healthfront 2025 on April 30, explaining why she felt a sense of relief upon receiving her diagnosis in 2018.

The actress, now 52, kept her diagnosis private for several months before going public. Blair described the moment she received her diagnosis as a weight lifted off her shoulders, saying, ‘I was thrilled. It’s so funny. I felt like people thought it had to be some tragic thing, but I was like, ‘No, you don’t understand.’ I was feeling tragic inside before.’

Throughout her life leading up to the diagnosis, Blair struggled with unexplained symptoms, often questioning why she felt different from others. ‘How do they do that? How do they feel that way?’ she recalled. ‘I just did not understand how I was so different from people, but yet totally kind of fine-ish.’

After years of battling unanswered questions, Blair felt relief and validation after finally receiving a diagnosis that explained her experiences. She noted that understanding the nature of MS helped her articulate her struggles, saying, ‘I finally just felt seen. This validates this vision here, this validates this or this or this.’

MS is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system, where the immune system incorrectly attacks the protective covering of nerves. The condition can fluctuate, leading to periods of relapse and remission.

Blair expressed that it took her a long time to come to terms with her reality while feeling ‘gaslit’ by her symptoms. ‘So my whole life felt kind of like gaslighting, even though no one was doing it intentionally,’ she said.

At the event, Blair shared that she has been feeling well and is experiencing remission. ‘I am doing amazingly well. I’ve been feeling great for about a year,’ she told PEOPLE.

Her experience with MS has inspired her to raise awareness about chronic illnesses and the importance of accepting one’s health challenges. ‘Sometimes if we’re lucky enough, we’re still here at the end of these years to get better,’ she said.

Blair’s story highlights the importance of awareness and understanding in the fight against multiple sclerosis, showing that a diagnosis can sometimes bring hope and clarity.