Christina Applegate recalls long battle with anorexia in her twenties

Christina Applegate has spoken about the eating disorder that plagued her 20s during the most recent episode of her podcast MeSsy with co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Applegate, 52, said she has made the choice to open up about her battle with anorexia because “that demon in my head is coming back really loud and it’s scary to me.”

“I’ve never discussed it in public ever, my battle with an eating disorder so it’s a big deal,” she began.

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The actor said her eating disorder began during her time on hit TV show Married… with Children. Applegate said it was her idea to model her character Kelly Bundy on so-called “rock sluts” and the revealing outfits they would wear.

“Then I played Kelly Bundy and it was my choice to wear those outfits,” she explained.

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“I was amazed by this rock culture and rock sluts and I thought it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I kinda shot myself in the foot because then I had to wear those outfits, and then I wanted my bones to be sticking out so I didn’t eat.”

She said the situation became so bad producers of the show had to intervene.

“And it was very scary to everyone on set because they would be like, ‘Christina doesn’t eat,'” she said. “They had talked to me about it.”

Applegate said she is suffering from poor body image since her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis having gained weight during treatment.

“I don’t look in mirrors,” she said. “I have writing all over my mirrors so I don’t look at them because I will fall on the ground and cry. That is today. That is the girl who gained 45 pounds when she got diagnosed with MS.”

Applegate said she felt judged for her body during her appearance at the 2023 Emmys.

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“No one tells you you look great when you have gained a lot of weight. I had to make jokes at the Emmys because I was like, ‘I know what you’re thinking,'” she said.

“I could see what they were thinking,” she told co-hosts and Sopranos star Singer who has also previously about her own eating disorder.

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“I was so humiliated. Jamie, I was so humiliated,” Applegate said. “That’s the demon, it’s scaring me because I don’t want my daughter to see me not eat. And I want her to see me talk about these things. I’ve been really clear about not talking about this stuff with her, and I’m trying not to put myself down.”

Applegate said she was able to begin to heal from her eating disorder when a friend confronted her in a clothing store and Applegate later saw herself in a mirror and could only “see bones”.

She said she struggled with restricting eating during filming of Dead to Me however never became as restrictive as during her 20s, adding that it was turning 30 that helped her turn the corner.

“It was like all of that sort of happened, when I could stand in my own presence and my own strength and not be obsessed with something that was on the outside,” she said.

“Like I said, my demon is talking, but man, do I love myself. As a person, I’m good mom, I’m not perfect, but I know who I am.”

If you or someone you know is in need of support for eating disorder or body image issues contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673).