
Selma Blair has opened up about her health battles during Dancing With The Stars training, after fainting shortly before she was due to start rehearsing.
The Cruel Intentions actress, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2018, is currently taking part on DWTS season 31, competing for the coveted mirrorball trophy.
She has been paired up with Sasha Farber, who revealed how hard the 50-year-old has been working behind the scenes and pushing though her condition – with her service dog Scout in tow.
In a new chat, the professional dancer recalled the moment that she had informed him that she had fainted but was doing okay, and would still be making their rehearsal.
He revealed that he had urged her to take the day off to recuperate, but she wanted to get back on the dancefloor, after which they practiced for five hours.
‘The thing is, I pass out a lot,’ Selma clarified. ‘It’s part of the reason I have Scout. It doesn’t mean I lose consciousness [or] it’s a whole ambulance experience, it’s something that I lose my vision, gravity pulls me down and I’m very disoriented and gone for a spell. He’s there to also catch me, make the ground a little closer with his back.’
The Hollywood icon explained that she keeps her eyes closed to help her feel more ‘centered’ and calm down some symptoms to help her compete tasks at home.
Sasha has decided to incorporate this into tonight’s rumba routine but with a slight twist, as the Legally Blonde star will actually be blindfolded for her entire performance.
Not an easy task for anyone…
‘When she wants to feel comfortable, she closes her eyes. So, I figured let’s give this a go. Let’s blindfold her for the whole dance and see. … Take away her vision so we would enhance the feel of the message from the brain,’ he continued to Entertainment Tonight.
‘I do find that I shut my eyes and it makes me center a lot more,’ Selma shared. ‘I was doing it before in life, just the way I would approach things would really raise my nervous system.’
Selma has been praised by many over her intricate routines so far, and had us all – including pal Sarah Michelle Gellar – in tears last week.
‘It’s been so heartening to see what I think this can do for a lot of people that move or present differently and think they can’t do things,’ she added of the reaction. ‘It’s such a blessing to be able to learn some fluidity with dance. It really does help me learn to breathe.’
Dancing With The Stars airs tonight at 8pm on Disney+.