WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Just Shared That She Has Multiple Sclerosis And Has Been Keeping It A Secret For More Than A Decade

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WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Just Shared That She Has Multiple Sclerosis And Has Been Keeping It A Secret For More Than A Decade

"I was very, very uncomfortable and no one knew. I said nothing. And I paid the price for that."

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by Alex Gurley

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Emma Caulfield is opening up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis — after keeping it a secret for over a decade.

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David Livingston / Getty Images

The WandaVision star was initially diagnosed back in 2010 but said she chose not to tell anyone for fear of its impact on her career.

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Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty Images

Emma explained that she had "zero health problems" before she began experiencing symptoms, although her father also dealt with MS during his life.

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

"I woke up one morning and the left side of my face felt like there were a million ants crawling on it. That feeling when you’ve sat in a position too long? …The feeling’s gone and it’s coming back like a rush of blood," Emma shared in a new interview with Vanity Fair.

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Tiffany Rose / Getty Images for EON Mist Sanitizer and GBK

She said that her face then began to feel "extremely dull" and, at the recommendation of her acupuncturist, she met with a neurologist to get an MRI.

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Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

The doctor ended up calling her while she was in the middle of a film shoot to tell her that she had MS, which she says "was like an out-of-body experience."

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Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Multiple sclerosis is a disease impacting the brain and spinal cord, where the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Eventually, the disease can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.

"I’m like, 'No, that’s not possible.' I’m like, 'What are you talking about?' He was very matter of fact about it...It was literally a kind of nightmare," she said. "Then I was like, 'I’ve got to go to work now.' What do I do?"

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Gareth Cattermole / Getty Images

She says she eventually made the decision to keep pushing forward with her life and career — while keeping everything a secret from most people in her life.

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

"I was like, 'I’m not going to live my life like I have something horrible. I’m going to do what I need to do to take care of myself. But I’m not going to live in fear,'" Emma explained.

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Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images

She added that she "knew in [her] bones" that if she began to talk about her diagnosis, she was "just going to stop working."

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

"I worked all through it. I’ve worked through it every single time I felt tired," she said, noting that she shot WandaVision in the blazing heat, despite the temperatures causing her condition to flare.

David Livingston / Getty Images

"The heat was unbearable. And I was feeling every inch of that. I got really weak. I just went into survival mode and I remember having to be outside," she said.

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Greg Doherty / Getty Images

Emma continued, "It was just unfortunate timing really. But I was very, very uncomfortable and no one knew. I said nothing. And I paid the price for that."

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

Now, Emma says she's ready to share her diagnosis with the world because her young daughter, who has a greater chance of getting MS, changed her perspective.

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

"I'm not actually doing everything I can for her because I have my mouth shut. If I have a platform at all, I should be using it. Even if it affects my ability to get work," Emma said.

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Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney

She continued, "It’s better for me to at least be vocal about this and be out there to try to help the MS Foundation and other groups who are doing research."

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Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

As of now, Emma says she's doing okay and hopes that her honesty can offer "some solace or encouragement to somebody" else who has MS.

View this photo on Instagram

@emmacaulfieldofficial / Via instagram.com

"It's a weird thing to say when you’re given a diagnosis like that, but truthfully, my attitude is not crumbling under the fear of 'what if' or 'what can,' or 'what has' for other people. I just have to keep going," she concluded.

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Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty Images

You can read all that Emma had to say here and learn more from the MS Foundation here.

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WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Just Shared That She Has Multiple Sclerosis And Has Been Keeping It A Secret For More Than A Decade

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WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Just Shared That She Has Multiple Sclerosis And Has Been Keeping It A Secret For More Than A Decade

Emma Caulfield is opening up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis — after keeping it a secret for over a decade.

The WandaVision star was initially diagnosed back in 2010 but said she chose not to tell anyone for fear of its impact on her career.

Emma explained that she had "zero health problems" before she began experiencing symptoms, although her father also dealt with MS during his life.

"I woke up one morning and the left side of my face felt like there were a million ants crawling on it. That feeling when you’ve sat in a position too long? …The feeling’s gone and it’s coming back like a rush of blood," Emma shared in a new interview with Vanity Fair.

She said that her face then began to feel "extremely dull" and, at the recommendation of her acupuncturist, she met with a neurologist to get an MRI.

The doctor ended up calling her while she was in the middle of a film shoot to tell her that she had MS, which she says "was like an out-of-body experience."

"I’m like, 'No, that’s not possible.' I’m like, 'What are you talking about?' He was very matter of fact about it...It was literally a kind of nightmare," she said. "Then I was like, 'I’ve got to go to work now.' What do I do?"

She says she eventually made the decision to keep pushing forward with her life and career — while keeping everything a secret from most people in her life.

"I was like, 'I’m not going to live my life like I have something horrible. I’m going to do what I need to do to take care of myself. But I’m not going to live in fear,'" Emma explained.

She added that she "knew in [her] bones" that if she began to talk about her diagnosis, she was "just going to stop working."

"I worked all through it. I’ve worked through it every single time I felt tired," she said, noting that she shot WandaVision in the blazing heat, despite the temperatures causing her condition to flare.

"The heat was unbearable. And I was feeling every inch of that. I got really weak. I just went into survival mode and I remember having to be outside," she said.

Emma continued, "It was just unfortunate timing really. But I was very, very uncomfortable and no one knew. I said nothing. And I paid the price for that."

Now, Emma says she's ready to share her diagnosis with the world because her young daughter, who has a greater chance of getting MS, changed her perspective.

"I'm not actually doing everything I can for her because I have my mouth shut. If I have a platform at all, I should be using it. Even if it affects my ability to get work," Emma said.

She continued, "It’s better for me to at least be vocal about this and be out there to try to help the MS Foundation and other groups who are doing research."

As of now, Emma says she's doing okay and hopes that her honesty can offer "some solace or encouragement to somebody" else who has MS.

"It's a weird thing to say when you’re given a diagnosis like that, but truthfully, my attitude is not crumbling under the fear of 'what if' or 'what can,' or 'what has' for other people. I just have to keep going," she concluded.

You can read all that Emma had to say here and learn more from the MS Foundation here.

Share This Article

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