WATCH: Selma Blair lays bare her life with MS in devastating new documentary trailer

She’s known for her roles in cult classics such as Legally Blonde, Cruel Intentions and The Sweetest Thing, but Selma Blair will take on a very different starring role with her new project. Sharing the first look at the new self-titled documentary on social media last night, the actress captioned it “don’t tell me how it ends”.

Staying true to her characteristic witty, sarcastic self, the trailer opens with a clip of Blair walking down the stairs as her voice rings out in the background and she can be heard saying, “I always thought I was on a reality show. Like I was in a documentary, but only God would see it… and disapprove.”

Documenting her experience with the condition since she was first diagnosed back in October 2018, Blair has relied on humour to help her through, but the trailer gives viewers an intimate look into what life with MS is really like and it’s refreshingly sincere. Capturing her effervescent spirit in the face of hardship, it doesn’t gloss over the hard parts either and the result is a “powerful feature of one woman’s journey of personal acceptance and resilience”. 

Released yesterday, the clip has already amassed over 1 million Instagram views with friends and fans alike lavishing praise on Blair for her “disarming honesty”. Goodfellas actress Debi Mazar thanked her for “being a warrior”, while Will and Grace star Debra Messing described the project as “such a gift to the world.” “You are a hero. Keep fighting. You’ve got this,” she commented under the video. 

Admitting that she considers this to be her “first real starring ‘role’”, Blair connected with director Rachel Fleit – who coincidentally also has an autoimmune disorder – ultimately agreeing to let her shadow her throughout the journey.

Asked about what prompted her to bare all for the documentary, Blair told Vanity Fair, “I had the conviction of thinking I had something to share. You keep opening windows or closing doors and finding tools. I hope my little life gives someone who needs it some hope or a laugh or more awareness of ourselves. I hope the film shows that MS varies. That people’s strengths and weaknesses vary. All the emotions of life make healing variable too. For all of us.”

As for Fleit’s hopes for the project? “My objective was to show a different way of being in the world, but also to show a woman who fully embraces herself. That, to me, is the most inspiring thing – because it kind of just feels like that’s all we’ve got. We’re born into this body, and this is the one we have. What are we going to do?”, she pondered.

The trailer for Selma’s documentary comes just days after fellow actress Christina Applegate announced that she’s also recently been diagnosed with MS too. Speaking about her diagnosis publicly for the first time, the Dead to Me star tweeted to say that “it’s been a tough road” so far. 

“A few months ago I was diagnosed with MS. It’s been a strange journey. But I have been so supported by people that I know who also have this condition,” she wrote online. “It’s been a tough road. But as we all know, the road keeps going. Unless some asshole blocks it.”

https://twitter.com/SelmaBlair/status/1425124838784393222

Thanking people for their continued words of encouragement, Applegate finished by asking the public for privacy as she goes through the next steps of her journey. Blair also offered her own personal message of support to Christina, tweeting to say, “Loving you always. Always here. As are our kids. Beating us up with love.”

Introducing, Selma Blair will be available to watch on Discovery+ later this year from October 21.

Feature image via @selmablair