On November 14, Christina Applegate achieved her childhood dream of earning the star she always "effing wanted" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Earlier this month, Applegate opened up about her MS diagnosis, revealing that her Netflix series Dead to Me production shut down for five months. Upon its return, Applegate needed a wheelchair on the set and sometimes needed to be propped up to finish shooting scenes.
The Walk of Fame ceremony marked Applegate's first public appearance since her diagnosis. Applegate's Married...with Children TV mom Katey Sagal helped physically support her during her speech. Applegate attended the event barefoot for comfort and with designer walking stick in hand.
She began her speech:
"I can't stand for too long, so I'm going to thank the people I really need to thank."
Applegate also joked that Sagal was "just gonna be here," and laughed that it was "so Katey to steal [my] thunder."
She continued to thank her 11-year-old daughter Sadie, who she referred to as "the most important person in the world" and husband Martyn Noble.
She said:
"Thank you for standing beside me during all this."
Applegate then joked to the audience:
"Oh, by the way, I have a disease. Did you notice?"
"I'm not even wearing shoes."
"Anyhoo, you're supposed to laugh at this."
Applegate, who suggested that moving forward she's going to focus on her health instead of acting, turned to her fellow Married... with Children stars Sagal and David Faustino who played her brother Bud.
"I like that I started with you two..."
And to Dead to Me co-star Linda Cardellini and showrunner Liz Feldman she said:
"...and ended with you two. And I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. You are my people."
You can watch part of her speech below.
\u201c\u2b50 Actor Christina Applegate gave an emotional speech as she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame\u201d— Reuters (@Reuters) 1668527100
Sagal also took the podium to share her thoughts on Applegate's journey:
"You know, sweetheart, some of us come into this life requiring broad shoulders because what's coming at us needs support to bear it. Broad enough to hold what shows up."
"I've seen you - the highs, the love and enormous success, coupled with extreme challenges."
"But you came in with those shoulders, and you bear the weight and you bend and you don't break."
"I continue to love you, laugh with you and to learn from you...You are not alone."
"We're all here. We love you."
Applegate later posted an image of her star (and her bare feet) to Twitter with the caption:
"Barefoot. For some with MS the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance."
"So today I was me. Barefoot."
\u201cBarefoot. For some with MS the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance. So today I was me. Barefoot\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
Fans on Twitter excitedly congratulated Applegate on her star and also thanked her for her bravery and for sharing her story.
\u201c@1capplegate I LOVE AND GOT YOU, CHRISTINA \ud83e\udd79\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Congratulations on receiving your Hollywood Star \u2b50\ufe0f. You are so deserving. I am so proud of your accomplishments. I hope you realize just how much we, your fans, love you. \ud83d\udc95 You are in my daily prayers. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude42\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate you are incredible \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate You are loved, barefoot or shod.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate We love you and you deserve this star so much\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate I am SO happy for you! You create, you inspire and everyone who watched felt the Love you had in your heart for your daughter, family and friends. Everyone is rooting for you and I\u2019m praying to Saint Padre Pio for your health and happiness\u2665\ufe0f\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Christina, I've been a huge fan of yours since I was a little girl. You are one of the funniest ladies to grace the screen and you inspire me every day. Congratulations to you on this amazing achievement. Sl\u00e1inte from Dublin, Ireland \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate I've been following your career since my earlier childhood and I've loved everything you've done until now. On bad days, when I need cheering up, I watch The Sweetest Thing and after laughing tears, I'm fine again.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Thank you for bringing attention to this. The struggle to find footwear that feel stable and comfortable when you have MS is real. I miss having a variety of "cute" shoes but my trusty Sketchers slip ons make a huge difference in my ability to get around comfortably.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Congrats on your star Christina. And thank you for the many years of laughter you have given us. None of us know's what's around the corner healthwise. You are an inspiration. All our love and best wishes go out to you from across the pond. X\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate You were absolutely incredible yesterday! And looked just as wonderful as ever! What an emotional and amazing moment in time. You deserve this star now more than ever, for the actor and person you are. You did this all with grace, humor, and humility.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Congratulations and thank you for always making me laugh\u2026 such a deserved honor for a very talented person. Keep smiling and remember that being barefoot often helps us stay grounded with the earth. Big love and admiration for you \u2764\ufe0f MS or not you are a Real Deal \ud83d\udcfa \ud83c\udfa5 \ud83e\udd17\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
\u201c@1capplegate Congratulations Christina, so well deserved and however you did it yesterday it was you and it was real. Enjoy celebrating!! Can't wait for Friday - I already know its been worth the wait \ud83e\udd7a\ud83d\udc97\ud83d\udc97\n#Deadtome\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
Even fellow walk-of-famer Mark Hamill got in on the action.
\u201c@MarkHamill I think we should be best friends.\u201d— christina applegate (@christina applegate) 1668495908
Applegate told Variety of her new star:
"This is something that is going to be there forever."
"And it's something my daughter can go see when I'm gone."
The final season of Dead to Me airs Friday on Netflix.
