Failure in the United States since the financial crisis of 2008. You are watching bbc news. Now it is time for bbc 100 women in conversation. She made her name and Court Classics in the 90s into thousands like Wool Intentions and legally blonde. Although she once described himself as not being a world famous bombshell, she has amassed millions of fans. In 2018, she announced she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. People with multiple sclerosis. People with disabilities and with chronic conditions. In composition to bbc 100 women, selma blair talked about her diagnosis in hollywood and beyond and the progress that women have made. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us on 100 women. How are you feeling today . Are you feeling today . Thank ou for are you feeling today . Thank you for asking are you feeling today . Thank you for asking and are you feeling today . Thank you for asking and its are you feeling today . Thank you for asking and its lovely | you for asking and its lovely to be here and ifeel really well i am at home and i have my dog. My son is in the other room, eating honey. My life is good. To room, eating honey. My life is mad. ,. , room, eating honey. My life is aood. ,. ,. ,. , ~. , good. To those who do not know the background good. To those who do not know the background of good. To those who do not know the background of your good. To those who do not know the background of your story, i the background of your story, you are diagnosed with ms four years ago. You are diagnosed with ms four years age years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed with years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed with ms years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed with ms and years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed with ms and i i years ago. Yes, 2018 i was l diagnosed with ms and i told years ago. Yes, 2018 i was diagnosed with ms and i told a few months later to say it open in an Instagram Post not realising that it would be, it would mean so much to people. I think my stylist on a show that i was on and kinda struggling to get dressed and by the time, my coordination was a lot worse. So i came onto think the women that were really stressing me, supporting me and keeping it quiet for me and thatis keeping it quiet for me and that is the catalyst of me Say Something and then he became a much bigger awareness that was really beautiful. Just much bigger awareness that was really beautiful. Really beautiful. Just to take ou really beautiful. Just to take you back really beautiful. Just to take you back because really beautiful. Just to take you back because it really beautiful. Just to take you back because it was really beautiful. Just to take you back because it was a l really beautiful. Just to take i you back because it was a Long Time Coming that diagnosis, wasnt it . Ifelt time coming that diagnosis, wasnt it . I felt six sons, i felt sick since i a Clear Markerfor ms but itjust marker for ms but itjust turned into a lazy eye for markerfor ms but itjust turned into a lazy eye for me. And somehow it was just overlooked. Data constant overlooked. Data co nsta nt fatigue, overlooked. Data constant fatigue, easily i2 overlooked. Data constant fatigue, easily 12 years old that i would just say, even at that i would just say, even at that age, even its overgrowth. Anything i could find in books that could contribute to the sluggishness, i was always searching and i was really miserable and i had a facial pain which actually have right now, i am pain which actually have right now, iam in pain which actually have right now, i am in a flare of that. But when i had my son may give birth to my son and 2011, that was the real, thats when the horror of not being able to move without extreme discomfort and stiffness move without extreme discomfort and stiffnes and stiffness became a part of m life and stiffness became a part of my life and and stiffness became a part of my life and that and stiffness became a part of my life and that was and stiffness became a part of my life and that was really my life and that was really ageing and everything fell apart in those years thinking it was just a severe post that i cannot get over Self Medicating and it was a real Roller Coaster in the spiral of being down on myself and keeping it secret that i felt like such an unaccomplished new mother and i was being very secretive about it because i was ashamed and concerned i would not work again. And when the diagnosis came, really took the lid off a lot for me and unburdened me. Is it true that somewhere along the lines, doctor said to you that its psychosomatic and you would feel better if you got a boyfriend . I would feel better if you got a boyfriend . Boyfriend . I cannot say how many times boyfriend . I cannot say how many times my boyfriend . I cannot say how many times my fatigue boyfriend . I cannot say how many times my fatigue and | boyfriend . I cannot say how i many times my fatigue and my disturbances even in my 20s, the speech would come out when i developed tics from players and things. That would say ok, what kind of trauma have you had . We do think this is psychosomatic. Without any real neurological tests. Its just talking to me. And case history and i did disbelieve that. Im really depressive, i cannot get to the bottom of igniting some way for us in me and i took it ever since i was 12 i was told that it was just depression. How did you feel when you finally got the diagnosis and the doctor said to you the you have a mess. I did that feel . When the doctor told me the night of the mri that i had ms, i cried and it was an amazing comforting feeling even though i dont wish disease on anyone, it was a huge comforting feeling. Theres a whole community of Chronic Illness ms patients. And so, i always felt 0k. Patients. And so, i always felt ok. I did not feel like this was the end of the world for me. Ifelt like it was me. I felt like it was the beginning for me understanding and there would be some healing coming soon. You and there would be some healing coming soon and there would be some healing coming soon. You mentioned you are ublic coming soon. You mentioned you are public about coming soon. You mentioned you are public about it coming soon. You mentioned you are public about it and coming soon. You mentioned you are public about it and working i are public about it and working with people and he wanted to thank them for your help. Was there a time where you needed that to be private and that you needed to get your own head around it before you took that step was it all a natural process . Step was it all a natural process . Step was it all a natural rocess . �. ,. ,. , process . At that one at the Diagnosis Process . At that one at the diagnosis and process . At that one at the diagnosis and the process . At that one at the diagnosis and the doctor, i process . At that one at the i diagnosis and the doctor, well meaning as he was to protect me because he knew that when people say they are unwell that there is a stigma with work and so, my doctor that it diagnosed me said, i would not tell people at work, i would not tell people because it really come this could be the most the damages you can get better and you dont need that hanging over you and people talking about you and i thought, people been talking about me all the time and sometimes life unfortunately give them things to talk about. And so i said ok, i did not feelan overwhelming need to share, i just wanted to start feeling better but when i didnt feel better but when i didnt feel better and i saw how much people were helping me, that is always been the catalyst for me to move. Distilled knowledge what is happening with some of the saver result of having these women as allies as the wardrobe department, i never asked for help when needed help on the set and so, this is monumentalfor me. To on the set and so, this is monumental for me. To see on the set and so, this is monumentalfor me. To see how much and the producer, she said everyone has something. Its ok. We will stand by you. They mentioned there was a golf cord, air conditioner heating, the step of some of my sensitivities somewhere to lie down. It was incredible. And down. It was incredible. And the others down. It was incredible. And the others you down. It was incredible. And the others you become down. It was incredible. And the others you become an inspiration and a role model and thats wonderful and lots of ways. Is there a Pressure Thatis of ways. Is there a pressure that is associated with that . It is to be a role model in some ways or an inspiration. I mean, thats a lovely thing. I was on the spiritual card Dancing With The Stars recently and that was my first foray back into public life as not just talking about and mess in my poker my past, something because i wanted to move the needle for me. And because im a performer was, and it is true that it might be harderfor me and it is true that i might have to bailout, i deserve the chance to try as well and i was important for me to show 0k, chance to try as well and i was important for me to show ok, if i have this momentum right now to do this and i have a professional wanting to teach me, what can i discover. I have not tried to move on my own. And i have someone as a partner who can help me with a lot of counterbalance and have my son, i have a cane, bike and always be able to help with my balance issues and now its time to train actual human. To move as a partner at all so proud of what Dancing With The Stars stated by having someone like me on the show but i did have to bailout. Because there are consequences and i did not want them, i wanted to be in the finals, i wanted to be saying, i can do it all, im not going to be someone that they can put in five hours of rehearsal every day. So, those real things and i was proud that i could to show that too and that people will or so kind to celebrate that. I do not deserve to be a name and shoulders for this but there is also is was really lovely. Why not, were beaten down all the time, why not heaven at a girl . Make it sound like a tough time but you had amazingly positive experiences in the workplace, and the Entertainment Industry. How would you describe hollywood and the Entertainment Industry relationship with people who have challenges like the one you are experiencing . Hollywood is so visible. Those industries all over the world that are bigger than hollywood that are bigger than hollywood that because it is an industry by visibility because its media and entertainment and we put out in the world, it is a real mirror and it has risen to a lot of the challenges and seeing shows that future people with disabilities and having it be such an impressive remarkable appearance in our brains and entertainment to have crypt camp break out and blew the doors off my own thinking about more radical disabilities that i had not experienced that i was actually always kind of i averted my gaze subconsciously. My whole life because you do not want to think of no one that is not afforded the same privileges will stop your treading water yourself in your life even if though i thought of myself as non disabled and to know that there are so many incredible stories and things that need to catch up in the present, the conversation is absolutely happening but yes, it is a process and its going to take a future generation to really take hold of what we are planting now for people to just turn on the tv and see people like them and it is a wonderful moment. ~ ,. , like them and it is a wonderful moment like them and it is a wonderful moment. ~ ,. , m, moment. When they won the oscar for best picture moment. When they won the oscar for best picture last moment. When they won the oscar for best picture last year. Moment. When they won the oscar for best picture last year. And for best picture last year. And this film could not of done that years ago. You think things are improving and moving of the right direction . I things are improving and moving of the right direction . Of the right direction . I do. And i of the right direction . I do. And i do of the right direction . I do. And i do say of the right direction . I do. And i do say of of the right direction . I do. And i do say of course, of the right direction . I do. And i do say of course, we | of the right direction . I do. And i do say of course, we have to do more. My biggest goalfor this year is to learn Sign Language and i was saying this, but my own speech was happening, you dont know until you know how much more you can do and i wanted to be an ally for people in this community and how much that helps me know much from people that have wheeled this road before me, i would know who to turn to and it is set up now, its starting to be set up for support but yeah, i do, to be set up for support but yeah, ido, love to be set up for support but yeah, i do, love that hollywood is listening because we are so theres a big responsibility to make Iconic Images for those with disabilities. There is an audience in our abilities are fleeting and were lucky enough to age in our abilities take a turn. And this is something that will affect us all but it does remind me of what women have had to go through always. And marginalised communities. We have to do a little more to get sine had to be a little friendlier to not turn people off as youre trying to engage and theres so many ways they have to dress yourself up to make things palatable for people and so, im really happy to bejust a people and so, im really happy to be just a visible ally or some people might see me as someone with a disability and someone with a disability and some people might not and thats not for me to judge thats not for me to judge thats for whoever wants whatever encouragement i may offer. , whatever encouragement i may offer. ,. , whatever encouragement i may offer. ,. , whatever encouragement i may offer. , offer. What impact do you think this is set offer. What impact do you think this is set under offer. What impact do you think this is set under career. Offer. What impact do you think this is set under career. I this is set under career. I know my ms took my own career down and i had to stop working. For years, even before i had my son because i was not well, and i blamed myself, god, like can i blamed myself, god, like can i not wake up and stop being fatigued or crying and why my leg giving out my back hurts and its hard to sit and it affected me before i knew what it was an disability was affecting me and taking out of the workforce and create a huge changes in my appearance and when i talked about it, there was so much support and i never got a job again. Im not bitter about that, i dont know how long is it im going to be in a subtle day and dipping my towing with the production and Dancing With The Stars and lets check my stamina, and i do want to go back to work. And i do hope that my own knowledge can be a strength for me because the people who are working with me wanted to be easy for them so sick and have a longer day. In creating Agency Within myself with knowing what i can have disappointment working along the day when they can have on seven with nutrition with lasers, whatever it is, we have to come with our arsenal to help us fit into the non disabled world and that is still a process for me. Nondisabled world and that is still a process for me. Still a process for me. Lets talk about still a process for me. Lets talk about your still a process for me. Lets talk about your memoir still a process for me. Lets| talk about your memoir and again, you mention briefly there that dependency on alcohol at a very early age and tell us about why thats sculpted your life, really involves a difficult to decide for you to be open yet so much that he can read about that i can imagine you can pick and choose. I can imagine you can pick and choose. ~. , can imagine you can pick and choose. ~. ,. , can imagine you can pick and choose. ~. ,. ,. , choose. I knowl always wanted to be a writer choose. I knowl always wanted to be a writer they choose. I knowl always wanted to be a writer they loved to be a writer they loved reading and reading saved me and is also one of the main things of having a drink. Its really too young to read that book and interpreted as a saviour and especially someone who is looking for it and i wanted to write a book for the little selma out there thats afraid and did not know how many allies could be out there not many people felt broken like me are undervalued themselves. And probably had real Self Loathing issues that i wouldve been able to temper a lot if i knew other people had it. That i wasnt the only one who felt undeserving, unloved, messy, stupid. I mean, ijust felt all of unloved, messy, stupid. I mean, i just felt all of those things because i could not stay awake. Because i believed in a tort other kids that im sick, that shes making this up and started the cycle of Self Loathing and an and acceptance and that youre trying to get attention. Im just trying to talk to you, im a little kid. Lets take away the stigma of saying, you have to see a final the time because saying that youre line is what made me drink and a bathroom at the age of nine until i pass out because i did not feel fine. It was helpfulfor out because i did not feel fine. It was helpful for me to talk about this in the book because we all should for a minute. We all should have that ritual of where we include ourselves and our histories and ourselves and our histories and our conversations about how we see things and that is with therapy does for people and never really worked for me, this doesnt resonate him as i think im reaching other people that might need it and if theres any comfort or conversation that people can start having with each other the great shims of their life that they feel they got themselves into an app to keep to themselves, then that shame can create unhealthy habits and thats the least i could do. And not talking about the me to movement of which you played a role. And now. People talk about things that kept secret for many years and coming together at a thousand major moment for the incredible thing about me too. That is not what i got out of it, me too. That is not what i got out of it, it me too. That is not what i got out of it, it did me too. That is not what i got out of it, it did not me too. That is not what i got out of it, it did not increase i out of it, it did not increase my hater my distrust of men, it increased my trust in the women that were looking for empathy and looking to be unburdened. I would neverfeel and looking to be unburdened. I would never feel stronger than when i have women supporting me. I would love to have more highlights in my life. Lets face it, the men seem to be the ones who have had the power for a long time and things are built on this patriarchy and i if i had someone in the beginning of my career who did trap me and insult me and sexually molest me in a hotel room and my own Self Loathing for his deeds was tremendous that even let it happen, that he kept it in and that i was afraid of it and i wondered and i share things and this man taught me that he did this to you and that you liked it and then he had me stay in the room and used you as a point of strength for him to do these things and oh my god, i did not want anyone to know her people to think i was weak i am, i was weaki to think i was weak i am, i was weak i did not know and i wanted it to be over when i wrote me too with his name, i couldnt believe how many people contacted me and the Support System we build upon the scene we formed a group that really supported each other and the two of my story to vanity fair and i would not of felt comfortable saying it unless there was a bigger star is much more loved and trusted to me and she had heard that i needed to talk and she supported me and told her own version of the story that might not have been this can flag a tory board she did for me, i would love love and respect and eternal thanks for and that strength allowed me the comfort to tell my story. The strength allowed me the comfort to tell my story to tell my story. The slow progress to tell my story. The slow progress and to tell my story. The slow progress and given to tell my story. The slow progress and given everything that we had spoken about, this is the tenth year of bbc 100 women in the theme is progress. And yet, we are talking about a year were here in america, there has been in many more female leaders but also it is the year that Roe Versus Wade in the constitutional right to abortion was overturned. As a final thought, what you think about progress as we sit here today . About progress as we sit here toda . , today . From where i sit, progress today . From where i sit, progress has today . From where i sit, progress has been today . From where i sit, progress has been made | today . From where i sit, l progress has been made in today . From where i sit, progress has been made in so many ways. I am a woman not has had a hard pass that can be judged for a lot of things and have had my power dismantled easily. But its through the support of other women that i am here with you and i am someone that does have a makeup line, an alternative beauty tool that was started by a woman with parkinsons before me that i joined woman with parkinsons before me that ijoined onto and Medicine Woman with ms, which is a really a womans disease for the most part and i have been afforded a lot of the strengths of what its been happening with the women and i was a to so many people went Roe Versus Wade overnight was overturned. I thought there were many more safeguards that maybe we had put in place that the Supreme Court is put in place to protect women there was shocked to find i was not the case. It is very frightening that this can be undonein frightening that this can be undone in our bodies, that some of the people feel the need to control our decisions in the name of the sake of the children when we know its not really the truth of whats happening, but thats a bigger thing. I do think that we cannot let the progress that we are making in that we need to be hopeful and we need to know that we are strong and real at the stand up and we will have to get our votes in with the standup and be visible and that we will not be silenced with their own bodies. We cannot be. This is a lot at stake but i am heartened by the progress in the women that now know that we will stand up for each other if you are looking. What makes wonderful to talk to you and thank you for having me. Hello. Some truly atrocious Weather Conditions early on friday morning but it turned into quite a pretty day of weather with a lot of blue skies and sunshine developing as you can see from our Weather Watcher pictures, Northern Ireland in Northern England, still a lot of lying snow around and i weather system, the deepening of low pressure to give us all that snow is not pushing and spiralling off into the near continent and the winds are lightning behind inside friday night in the saturday, likely to be bitterly cold with icy stretches from the midlands and tim jewellery at the lying snow around my distended mind and widespread frost into the start of the weekend away from the far southwest. The court start and drive for most of us on saturday way from the western coasts and will be some snow on Saturday Night in Northern England and france scotland and thenit england and france scotland and then it turns a lot milder on sunday. 0n then it turns a lot milder on sunday. On saturday morning in a bit more detail, yes weather the southwest will be some snow because the moors in cornwall, potentially at lower levels and parts of wells were mostly confined to the Higher Ground endorsement for the hills and approaching the northwest of england by the end of the day and further east, the cloud will increase for the day and wanted to snow showers across the borders and central boat to scotland. But then, weve got a Weather Front moving eastwards and the likely to turn to snow across england and across scotland for a time before it becomes increasingly more confined to the Higher Ground and much milderfeeling at the early hours and all tied in and its going to be sweeping in from the west and allow this will be following his rain in northern scotland and from Northern Isles for much of the day and into the start of next week and falling as rain and wet and windy and temperatures are going to double figures from ten to 13 celsius there be a lot of snowmelt too the start of next week and this could possibly lead to some localised flooding with more rain on top just moving in on another front as we head into monday so wet and windy weather again look at the temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees is still of the corridor across much of northern scotland. That cold air is making a return because as we had throughout my night into tuesday, more of a northerly when developing and will be some snow showers to tracking down on the northerly wind is after the day on tuesday across much of northern scotland and moving into Northern England and Northern Ireland to parts of wells, the further south and east you are, the more likely you are to stay dry on tuesday but is still likely to be cold with the Dropping Temperatures and plenty of added wind chill. The call over there with us On To State Commissions about the Blue Shepherd milder air in yellow is not too far away and moving in on this Weather Front will be some snow showers to tracking down on the northerly wind is after the day on tuesday across much of northern scotland and moving into Northern England and Northern Ireland to parts of wells, the further south and east you are, the more likely you are to stay dry on tuesday but is still likely to be cold with the Dropping Temperatures and plenty of added wind chill. The call over there with us On To State Commissions about the Blue Shepherd milder air in yellow is not too far away and moving in on this weather for the Blue Shepherd milder air in yellow is not too far away and moving in on this Weather Front will have another battleground situation between the cold air and the milder airports in southwestern as all of this moisture hits the corridor, it is likely to turn to snow and there could be some more snow falls wells in Northern England from the midlands and across Northern Ireland moving scotland of the day on wednesday. Cold air hangs on. But we will see the mild aerotek return and for the latter part of next week, the low pressure not too far away and atlantic systems spreading in from the west will be wet and windy at times in the forecast, theres still a of uncertainty. This is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Us and around the world. 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