Christina Applegate is opening up about the hurtful remarks she’s received over the years regarding her appearance, which started when she was just 27. The “Dead to Me” star recently reflected on the cosmetic procedure she underwent at that age and the infuriating story behind it during an episode of her podcast “MeSsy,” co-hosted with her friend, actor Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
Applegate, now 52, shared her struggles with insecurities about her aging and appearance, which stem from an incident in the late 1990s. At the time, she was wrapping up her role as Kelly Bundy on “Married with Children.” During a podcast episode, she recounted how a producer commented on the bags under her eyes, which were hereditary. The producer suggested she get them surgically removed to improve lighting on set, and Applegate obliged.
“The only plastic surgery I’ve ever had was to remove the bags under my eyes,” Applegate revealed. “I went under, and I had them removed, at 27.” This experience has continued to affect her self-esteem, planting seeds of doubt and shame about her appearance.
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Applegate also recounted an incident in her 40s when a director criticized her looks while she was redoing audio for a movie. She struggled with re-recording lines because she thought her face looked saggy in a paused frame. The director then revealed that the studio had spent a significant amount of money to “fix” her appearance, making her feel even more self-conscious. Despite the director’s later apology and their continued friendship, the experience left a lasting impact on her.
In 2023, Applegate faced additional criticism when an online troll commented on her face, claiming it looked like it had been worked on by a “bad plastic surgeon.”
Currently, Applegate is dealing with more pressing health issues, having announced in 2021 that she has multiple sclerosis (MS). This condition has affected her speech, vision, and mobility, leading to bouts of depression. She expressed a desire to undergo further plastic surgery to enhance her appearance but has been turned down by several doctors due to potential complications related to MS.
“What you see is what you get now, man,” Applegate said on her podcast. “I don’t know what else to do.”
Applegate’s openness about her struggles with self-esteem and her health serves as a powerful reminder of the pressures faced by those in the public eye and the importance of self-acceptance.
