Christina Applegate has returned to the public eye after spending nearly four months in the hospital, sharing a new Instagram video that gave fans their first clear glimpse of her in months. The 54-year-old actor, known for Married…with Children, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Bad Moms, has been open about the challenges she has faced since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021. The neurological condition has significantly affected her mobility and caused ongoing pain. Applegate was filming the final season of Dead to Me when she received her diagnosis, eventually returning to complete the series despite the growing impact of MS. In February, she spoke candidly about her reality while promoting her memoir, You with the Sad Eyes, explaining that her life was not a neatly packaged story of overcoming illness. She has also said that she spends much of her time in bed because movement can be painful.

Her latest update came after she announced in April that she was focusing on her health. After finally returning home in August, Applegate shared a glimpse of the welcome-home decorations her 15-year-old daughter, Sadie Grace, had prepared for her. On September 21, however, she stepped in front of the camera herself. Wearing jeans, a printed black hoodie and a gold crescent moon necklace, Applegate showed off brightly colored blonde hair while joking about a new dark spot on her cheek. She thanked stylist Dave Stanwell for “brightening up” her cloudy day and sent love to her followers. Fans quickly responded with supportive messages, while celebrities including Henry Winkler, Octavia Spencer, Andy Cohen and Ken Jeong also showed their support. Her appearance marked a welcome return after months away from the spotlight.