Selma Blair took an emotional walk down the red carpet on Sunday in her first public appearance since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
She was aided by her former publicist and now manager Troy Nankin, whom she thanked in an emotional Instagram post. “He knew I wanted to be able to stand proudly as the woman I have become and hope to be,” she said.
She then returned from her night out at the Vanity Fair Oscars party ready to do some good. The actress, 46, shared a passionate plea on Instagram in support of the Leuser ecosystem in Indonesia.
Blair said on her Instagram story she was nominated by singer Pink to join designer Stella McCartney in helping to spread her #ThereSheGrows campaign in support of the endangered forest.
The actress dedicated a tree to her 7-year-old son, Arthur Saint Bleick, and called on her “hero” Sarah Michelle Gellar and friend Kris Jenner to do the same and help spread the word.
“The Leuser ecosystem is an endangered forest in Indonesia and it is home to the endangered Sumatran orangutan and it desperately needs our help and attention,” Blair explained. “You can join with us by dedicating your own tree on Instagram and nominate your own friends with the hashtag #ThereSheGrows.”
The video took a funny turn as Blair broke down in laughter. “What the f—k?” she said through laughs. “I’m reading this off something ‘cause I’m not capable… This is wonderful and serious, but #ThereSheGrows.”
Stars like Pink and Gwyneth Paltrow have recorded similar videos, with Pink dedicating her tree to daughter Willow and Paltrow planting hers in memory of dad Bruce Paltrow. Money raised for the forest will be donated through the Stella McCartney Foundation, Blair said.
The Cruel Intentions star walked the Vanity Fair Oscars party carpet in a pink, mint green, ice blue and black dress, and carried a custom cane that featured her monogram and a pink diamond.
“This is love,” she wrote on Instagram of her cane. “How did I get so lucky?”
“I wanted a special cane for #vanityfair dinner,” she continued. “So… @lyon_heartedwent out and found patent leather and @bic_owen and he stitched it on. Hours of love put in. And then #tombachick made it especially magical. I burst into tears. These gifts to get me through. #subtle #chic #love. I can’t thank these three enough. There are angels.”
She also shared a portrait of herself in her party garb to Instagram, as well as a selfie with Shonda Rhimes.
“When my life flashes before my eyes, I want this portrait by @markseliger to be front and center,” Blair wrote of the stunning portrait.
The photo was also shared by pal Sarah Michelle Gellar, who wrote on Instagram, “To say I’m proud, would be a gross understatement. When I have a cold, I want to hide from the world under my covers. But not Selma. She is facing this diagnosis, the way she faces everything, with dignity, grace and head on.”
Blair went public with her diagnosis in October with an emotional Instagram post.
“Going out, being sociable holds a heavy price,” she wrote on Instagram in January. “My brain is on fire. I am freezing. We feel alone with it even though the loving support has been a godsend and appreciated.”
“People write me asking how I do it. I do my best,” she continued in the honest post. “But I choke with the pain of what I have lost and what I dare hope for and how challenging it is to walk around.”
“My smiles are genuine. This is ok. Life is an adventure with many shards of awakening,” Blair added. “I can’t sleep at night but daytime I have trouble staying awake.”
Source: Read Full Article