Christina Applegate has been candid about her personal life, her health, and a career moment where a major job offer came in lower than what she felt she deserved.
Applegate, who has spoken publicly about living with Multiple Sclerosis since being diagnosed in 2021, has now shared more of her story in her memoir, You With The Sad Eyes.
In the book, she details difficult chapters from her upbringing and early years: growing up with a mother dealing with addiction, finding stability through acting as a child, struggling with anorexia as a teenager, navigating an abusive relationship, and later facing cancer before her MS diagnosis.
She recently appeared on The View to discuss the memoir, with host Whoopi Goldberg describing the book as ‘stunning’.
Applegate admitted it felt daunting to put so much into the public eye, especially as the memoir includes journal entries she wrote when she was only 10. Still, she explained that being fully open mattered to her—particularly if it helps others facing similar struggles.
As the conversation moved from her teen success on Married…With Children, the panel brought up one of her most recognizable comedy performances: Adam McKay’s first Anchorman film.
Released in 2004, Anchorman follows a group of rival news anchors, with Will Ferrell starring as the famously self-serious Ron Burgundy.
Applegate played Veronica Corningstone, Burgundy’s love interest who later becomes his co-anchor.
But she revealed that when she was first offered the role, the proposed pay was far below what she expected—and lower than what her male co-stars were receiving.
“When they came in with the initial offer, it was, you know, a little offensive,” she noted. “And I said I can’t. I know my worth, and I can’t do that.”
She said the situation ultimately changed because ‘they wanted me bad enough’, explaining that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay both reduced their own pay and redirected that money to her. Applegate added: “Thank God they did because it was one of the best experiences of my entire life.”
Looking back, she described the role as a turning point in her creative growth—especially because she had never done improv prior to joining the production. “It was such a lesson. I had never done improv before. Learning from that group of dudes… that is the masterclass that people pay for. Steve Carell, like, taught it. Adam McKay developed an entire new way of doing it with his group. To get in there and have that happen was absolutely magic and it’s been invaluable to me and my career.”
The film’s ensemble—alongside Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Fred Willard—proved popular enough that the team reunited for a sequel nine years later, with the main cast returning.