Latest news with #BellsPalsy
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sirens star reveals she had private health condition written into hit Netflix show
Lauren Weedman, a cast member on the new hit Netflix show Sirens, has revealed how the producers adapted the script to accommodate her recent Bell's palsy diagnosis. The actor, best known for roles in Hacks and Abbott Elementary, plays a family chef, Patrice, in the newly-released dark comedy series, which is based on Molly Smith Metzler's play Elmeno Pea. Sirens follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who believes her sister Simone (Alcock) has a strange relationship with her new boss, the socialite Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore). Michaela's life of luxury is addictive to Simone, and Devon decides it's time for an intervention. Weedman, 56, has disclosed that after filming the first two episodes of the show last summer, she was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face. Weedman experienced facial paralysis on the right side of her face, an inability to align her lips and smile normally, an inability to close her right eye, headaches and general discomfort. Speaking in a new interview with The Huffington Post, Weedman said that waiting for her visible symptoms to subside was not an option during filming, and spoke to the production team about how to move forward with her role. Weedman ultimately suggested the team write Bell's palsy into her character's storyline, which she said the production team supported. 'I wanted to talk to [the Sirens team] about it as soon as I could so I wouldn't be stressed the whole time,' Weedman said. The show's creator, Metzler, said in the same interview that she had 'fallen in love' with Weedman's character and wanted to actor to take the lead on how she wanted to continue the character's storyline. 'We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it', Metzler said, who added she was 'so so game' when Weedman suggested writing in the Bell's palsy storyline. 'It's such a terrific character trait', Metzler said. She also added that the tortured, long-suffering Patrice is made more relatable with the line, 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.' Weedman has previously experienced a mild case of Bell's palsy while pregnant with her son, Leo, but the symptoms subsided quickly. Her experience with Bell's palsy was very different the second time around, and she received steroid and antiviral therapy and acupuncture. At night, she'd tape her right eye shut to keep it from drying out while she experienced severe fatigue and pain. Weedman added she was 'so happy' she could continue working since she had guest spots on Hacks and Abbott Elementary during that period, and that the producers were also accommodating. But she admitted she lost out on at least two series, including a new comedy and an Emmy-nominated drama, due to not yet having regained full control of her face. The NHS states that Bell's palsy symptoms should get better within six months, with treatment including a 10-day course of steroid medicine. Symptoms include weakness on one side of the face, or not being able to move a side of the face, a drooping eyelid or corner of your mouth, drooling, a dry mouth, loss of taste and a dry or watering eye. Sometimes, the condition can lead to permanent facial weakness and symptoms such as facial pain around the jaw and behind the ear, a constantly watering eye, difficulty eating or drinking, changes in their sense of taste and difficulty with loud sounds.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix star reveals secret health battle which was written into hit show
A cast member of the popular Netflix show Sirens is opening up about a private health battle they dealt with during a time cameras rolled on the streaming hit. Laura Weedman, 56, who portrays the role of chef Patrice on the drama, was diagnosed with Bell's palsy last summer. Speaking with The Huffington Post on Tuesday, the actress detailed her health battle, and how she dealt with it on a professional level. 'The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better was just not an option,' Weedman told the outlet. Weedman said that she opened up to the shows creator Molly Smith Metzler and director Quyen Tran about the medical situation and how they would move forward with it collectively. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The Mayo Clinic describes Bell's palsy as 'a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face' which 'makes half of the face appear to droop.' According to the clinic, 'Smiles are one-sided, and the eye on the affected side is hard to close.' While it is not immediately clear what causes the confliction, the clinic said, 'experts think it's caused by swelling and irritation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face. Weedman, who has been in the business more than 30 years, told the publication she 'wanted to talk to' the creator-showrunner and director about the issue so she 'wouldn't be stressed' during the remainder of a vacation the cast was on in between filming episodes. Weedman - whose small screen credits include regular roles on Abbott Elementary and Hacks - said she had past had a mild case of the condition when she gave birth to her son, Leo, now 15. Metzler said that she, cast and crew 'didn't even wanna conceive of the show without' Weedman, who has also made appearances on Arrested Development, Euphoria and Will & Grace. Metzler added, 'At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had, I just felt awful that she was going through something like that. 'We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it.' Weedman praised Metzler's kindness in adapting the script to accommodate her health. 'It was really hard for me to think that I mattered,' said Weedman, whose character was scripted the line, 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.' The cast of the Netflix series, which began streaming May 22, also includes Julianne Moore as Michaela Kell; Kevin Bacon as Peter Kell; Meghann Fahy as Devon DeWitt; Milly Alcock as Simone DeWitt. Rounding out the cast are Glenn Howerton as Ethan Corbin; Bill Camp as Bruce DeWitt; and Felix Solis as Jose. The Mayo Clinic said Bell's palsy 'could be caused by a reaction that occurs after a viral infection' and 'can occur at any age.' The clinic said that symptoms subsiding varies by the patient. 'Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months, the clinic said. 'A small number of people continue to have some Bell's palsy symptoms for life. Rarely, Bell's palsy occurs more than once.'
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
ITV News host addresses ‘droopy eye' after viewer concern
ITV News presenter Paul Brand has issued a statement about his health after viewers were left worried about his appearance. The 39-year-old Welsh broadcaster sparked concern when he presented the News at Ten on Monday (7 April) with what appeared to be a droopy eye. Viewers were alarmed, and shared their thoughts on social media. The comments ranged from mild curiosity to wild theories about serious health issues. 'Paul Brand looks as if his face has dropped on the right hand side,' wrote one person. 'That could be the sign of a stroke or Bells Palsy.' Brand cleared up the concern with an update on his social media, telling his fans: "For those asking, the dodgy eye is just a product of a toddler's grubby fingers. Hopefully less red tomorrow." He then shared a further update on Tuesday (8 April), writing: 'Eye slightly less weird today.' Brand shares one son with his partner Joe Cuddeford. The newsreader has been UK editor at ITV News since 2021. He started his career in journalism as a production journalist at ITV Wales in 2008. He then worked as a political correspondent for ITV Yorkshire and ITV Tyne Tees and Border. Having joined ITV News as a political correspondent in 2016, he occasionally presents Good Morning Britain and also presented the current affairs programmed Tonight for the past three years. Brand has been open about the homophobic abuse he has faced on social media in 2022, when he was at the centre of reporting on Covid law-breaking in Downing Street and Whitehall. After breaking several agenda-setting exclusive stories on the Partygate scandal, including a picture of Boris Johnson raising a glass at the leaving do of his former spin doctor, Lee Cain, some speculated about who his sources were. A Tory MP also suggested that the image was linked to Brand's husband who is a civil servant. He clarified the misconception writing: 'It's been an education in how disinformation spreads. Inevitably it became pretty homophobic and grim so in order to protect the people I love I felt I had to tweet this.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ITV News host addresses ‘droopy eye' after viewer concern
ITV News presenter Paul Brand has issued a statement about his health after viewers were left worried about his appearance. The 39-year-old Welsh broadcaster sparked concern when he presented the News at Ten on Monday (7 April) with what appeared to be a droopy eye. Viewers were alarmed, and shared their thoughts on social media. The comments ranged from mild curiosity to wild theories about serious health issues. 'Paul Brand looks as if his face has dropped on the right hand side,' wrote one person. 'That could be the sign of a stroke or Bells Palsy.' Another added: "Has Paul Brand had an allergic reaction / hay fever reaction in his right eye?" Brand cleared up the concern with an update on his social media, telling his fans: "For those asking, the dodgy eye is just a product of a toddler's grubby fingers. Hopefully less red tomorrow." He then shared a further update on Tuesday (8 April), writing: 'Eye slightly less weird today.' Brand shares one son with his partner Joe Cuddeford. The newsreader has been UK editor at ITV News since 2021. He started his career in journalism as a production journalist at ITV Wales in 2008. He then worked as a political correspondent for ITV Yorkshire and ITV Tyne Tees and Border. Having joined ITV News as a political correspondent in 2016, he occasionally presents Good Morning Britain and also presented the current affairs programmed Tonight for the past three years. Brand has been open about the homophobic abuse he has faced on social media in 2022, when he was at the centre of reporting on Covid law-breaking in Downing Street and Whitehall. After breaking several agenda-setting exclusive stories on the Partygate scandal, including a picture of Boris Johnson raising a glass at the leaving do of his former spin doctor, Lee Cain, some speculated about who his sources were. A Tory MP also suggested that the image was linked to Brand's husband who is a civil servant. He clarified the misconception writing: 'It's been an education in how disinformation spreads. Inevitably it became pretty homophobic and grim so in order to protect the people I love I felt I had to tweet this.'
