Since August 2018, actress Selma Blair was diagnosed with mulitple sclerosis, in which she thought she was suffering from minor illnesses for years. With the next few years, Blair battles MS that include difficulties in walking and foggy memory.
During this journey, Blair agreed to be the main subject in Introducing, Selma Blair in hopes of opening people’s eyes towards multiple sclerosis. The documentary follows her personal life, her struggles, and ways to seek treatment—particularly with stem cells.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Director Rachel Fleit’s deeply intimate and powerful feature of one woman’s journey of personal acceptance and resilience Introducing, Selma Blair, follows the singular actress as she reckons with the next chapter of her life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. The film explores complex issues ranging from dissecting deep-rooted myths about beauty, and the collective fear around disability and mortality. Compete with her trademark wit and humor, the film follows Blair as she reconciles a journey of monumental transition.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo Trailer Has Master Tidier Return to Netflix
Selma Blair and director Rachel Fleit joined a panel discussion for Introducing, Selma Blair at this week’s Television Critics Association event. LRM Online was in attendance.
“It was my hope to be able to share that time of looking to HSCT and that process what I was going through as a mom and just someone getting a big diagnosis. So I was incredibly open to it,” Blair remarked about doing this documentary. “But it wasn’t until we found Rachel really that then it was a serious thing. And then I was all in.”
Fleit added, “The thing that’s so remarkable about Selma’s experience is that it just feels so universal. Whether it’s MS or I have Alopecia, or if someone else has a chronic illness or disability, or just walking around in the world feeling uncomfortable in their skin. I think she really has been an inspiration to show us, first of all, it’s one day at a time. And second, we just must embrace ourselves. That’s all we can do.”
To survive with MS, Blair uses her personal signature humor to live life day-to-day.
“There are so many different ways to tell a story. I do like humor and sometimes very inappropriate,” she laughs. “And I ask everyone’s forgiveness as I go on this journey in life. Oh, I’m sure I’ll be canceled many times.”
The good news for the Cruel Intentions and Hellboy actress is that her autoimmune disease is in remission.
“My prognosis is great,” she said. “I’m in remission. Stem cell put me in remission.”
Introducing, Selma Blair plays in select theaters on October 15. Then it streams on Discovery+ starting October 21.
Watch the trailer below. Let us know what you think.
Source: Discovery+, TCA 2021
