Christina Applegate's stylist praises her after helping her prepare for her stunning appearance at the 2024 Emmy Awards on Monday night.
The 52-year-old Dead To Me star brought the audience to their feet when she took the stage in a beautiful red velvet dress.
The actress had host Anthony Anderson on her arm and brought a cane to steady herself as she copes with the physical symptoms of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021.
In-demand celebrity stylist Adir Abergel helped Christina achieve her glamorous look at the awards show and gushed to People on Tuesday that he was amazed at how his client “still gives so much despite her current health issues.”
Abergel shared how he worked with fashion designer Christian Siriano, who designed Christina's elegant outfit, to prepare her for her big entrance.
Christina Applegate's hairstylist Adir Abergel praised People on Tuesday after he helped her prepare for her stunning appearance at the 2024 Emmy Awards on Monday night
The 52-year-old Dead To Me star brought the audience to their feet when she took the stage in a beautiful red velvet dress; seen with host Anthony Anderson
“Preparing for major events can be overwhelming. “I focused on being present and enjoyed every moment together,” said the stylist, who was also accompanied by Christina's makeup artist Simone Siegl and her stylist Lindsay Flores at the prep session.
He noted that he perfected Christina's hair at her home before the ceremony, but also accompanied her backstage to make final tweaks.
'We had fun!' he said of the evening. “Christina and I have been friends for a long time and she is someone I love very much.”
Abergel added, “It was very important to me to show up for her that night.”
He explained that Siriano's timeless dress inspired him to turn to another classic style icon to create the “sleek and shiny Veronica Lake-inspired hair moment.”
Like the 1940s movie star, Christina wore her long blonde locks swept to the side and dramatically cascading over her shoulder, although Abergel didn't create as dramatic a peek-a-boo effect as Lake is known for.
Despite the significance of Christina's appearance at the awards show, she and her style team managed to keep the session relaxed.
“We were chilling, laughing and watching Real Housewives Of New York,” Abergel revealed. “It was like meeting my best friend.”
He went on to describe Christina as “iconic.”
“I just think of the immense contributions she has given us over the years and how much she still gives!” he gushed. “Her career, her work ethic, inspire me deeply.”
He took to Instagram to share some photos of Christina at home in her adorable look before heading to the Emmys.
“My dear friend, the beautiful Christina Applegate for the Emmys today. “It was definitely a day to remember…” he captioned the photos, adding a black heart emoji at the end.
He said he styled her at home before the show with designer Christian Siriano, makeup artist Simone Siegl and her stylist Lindsay Flores. 'We had fun!' he said; seen on January 14th
“I just think of the immense contributions she has given us over the years and how much she still gives!” he gushed. “Her career, her work ethic, inspire me deeply.”
Christian Siriano also shared a behind-the-scenes look at a glamorous photo shoot Christina did on the outside of the house. “Oh Christina, you are divine and I will dress you any day of the week!” “What a woman,” he gushed
Christina and her daughter Sadie LeNoble posed for a playfully dark photo shoot outside their home before heading to the Emmys
Christian Siriano also shared a behind-the-scenes look at a glamorous photo shoot Christina did on the outside of the house.
“Oh Christina, you are divine and I will dress you any day of the week!” “What a woman,” he gushed in his caption.
“Let me tell you that MS is a terrible disease and this beauty is so strong and simply inspiring,” he wrote in another post, expressing amazement at her determination.
Christina's appearance on Monday night marked a triumphant return to public life for the actress, as she hasn't been seen on the red carpet of an awards show since the SAG Awards in February last year, although she has made smaller public appearances since then.
In an interview with Vanity Fair in May last year, Christina said that she had retired from acting.
“I probably won't work in front of the camera again,” she said, attributing the decision to the physical problems caused by her MS, but leaving open the possibility of continuing to work as a voice actress.
However, it's unclear whether her return to the stage at the Emmys might signal a change of heart.
Christina was diagnosed with MS in August 2021 while filming the third and final season of her Netflix series Dead To Me, which also stars Linda Cardellini and James Marsden.
In an interview with Vanity Fair in May last year, Christina said that she had retired from acting. “I probably won’t work in front of the camera again,” she said, but left open the possibility of voice acting
In 2021, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis while filming Dead To Me. Her limited mobility and medication caused her to gain 20 pounds, and she now uses a cane to walk
She stated that this illness made it difficult for her to walk without a cane and that the mobility limitations contributed to her gaining 20 pounds shortly after the illness flared, although medications she was taking also influenced the weight gain.
During her acclaimed Emmy performance, Christina joked about her standing ovation.
'Thank you. “Oh my God, you're completely shaming my disability by standing up,” she joked, adding, “It's fine.”
She laughed again as she joked, “Body not by Ozempic.”
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (known as MS) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the body, causing nerve damage in the brain and spinal cord.
It is an incurable, lifelong disease. For some, symptoms may be mild, but for others they may be more severe and cause severe disability.
MS affects 2.3 million people worldwide – around one million in the US and 100,000 in the UK.
It occurs more than twice as often in women as in men. A person is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30.
The condition is more commonly diagnosed in people of European descent.
The cause is not clear. There may be genes associated with it, but it is not directly hereditary. Smoking and low vitamin D levels are also linked to MS.
Symptoms include fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, bladder problems, numbness or tingling, muscle stiffness and cramps, balance and coordination problems, and problems with thinking, learning, and planning.
Most sufferers experience episodes of symptoms that go away and come back, while for some the symptoms get progressively worse over time.
Symptoms can be treated with medication and therapy.
The disease shortens the average life expectancy by around five to ten years.