Christina Applegate made a powerful return to the 2023 Emmy Awards.
The actress, who is nominated for lead actress in a comedy series for her role in “Dead to Me,” wore a Christian Siriano cranberry velvet dress to the ceremony as well as the cane she carries due to her diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, which affects balance. She combined the look with Dr. Martens Jadon II Boot Hardware Buttero Platforms.
“Thank you so much,” Applegate said as she took the stage, where she stood at the podium on the arm of host Anthony Anderson and burst into tears at the audience's enthusiastic reception. “Oh my God, you are completely embarrassing me with my disability” by standing up. It's OK…Body not from Ozempic!” She added: “We don't have to applaud every time I do something.”
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Designer Siriano shared on Instagram: “This incredible woman #christinaapplegate in Siriano silk velvet for the #Emmys tonight. Let me tell you, MS is a terrible disease and this beauty is so powerful and simply inspiring. She's nominated tonight and she so deserves it.” I love you! Styled by @iamlindsayflores Photo @johnshearer. In another post, Siriano wrote, “Oh Christina, you are divine and I will dress you any day of the week! What a woman. #christinaapplegate #emmys”
Applegate, 52, was diagnosed with MS in August 2021 while filming the third and final season of Dead to Me.
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Applegate's last red carpet appearance was at the 2023 SAG Awards in February.
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The star was joined by her favorite Plus One teen daughter, Sadie Grace LeNoble, and the duo wore coordinating mother-daughter ensembles: Applegate in a floor-length velvet tuxedo dress with oversized lapels and LeNoble in a classic black double-breasted suit. Mother and daughter were twins in Dr. Martens shoes.
Applegate accessorized her elegant look with a cane decorated with stickers that spelled out the letters “FU MS.”
LeNoble also accompanied Applegate to the Emmys, again wearing a sharp black suit and pairing her mother's shoes with her own pair of Dr. Martens.
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In an interview with Vanity Fair last May, the “Married with Children” alum shared that she has no plans to return to the screen, pointing out that her physical abilities have become more limited.
“I probably won't work in front of the camera again,” Applegate said, raving about the experience of working with Linda Cardellini on Netflix's “Dead to Me,” whose third and final season premieres in November 2022.
“Ting pong is so much more fun when the other person is as good as you,” she noted. “I'm so glad I dated someone who is by far the greatest actress I've ever worked with in my life, if not the greatest person I've ever known.”
Check out PEOPLE's full coverage of the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast live on Fox from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.