Christina Applegate Details Childhood Abuse She Hid For Years In New Memoir

Christina Applegate is opening up about deeply personal experiences she has never publicly shared before, and she admits revisiting them has been emotionally challenging. In her upcoming memoir, “You With The Sad Eyes,” the Emmy-winning actress reflects on childhood trauma, family struggles, and the lasting impact those experiences have had on her life. The book marks the first time Applegate has spoken publicly about abuse she endured as a young child, something she says forced her to confront painful memories she had long kept private.

Applegate acknowledged that revisiting her past while writing the book brought unexpected emotional challenges. “To be honest, it’s actually opened up so many wounds, and it’s okay because I’m a strong girl, I’m going to get through it,” the 54-year-old “Married with Children” alum said in her PEOPLE cover story.

She explained that putting those experiences on paper didn’t immediately bring closure. “But it wasn’t like get to the other end and be like, ‘Ah, now it’s out,'” she continued. “It was the stuff that I’d never talked about. The stuff that was behind closed doors and that no one but the closest people in my life have ever known happened.”

Applegate also admitted that once the manuscript was finished, she felt conflicted about sharing it publicly, telling the outlet, “The pen down on the table afterwards was like, ‘Oh, I just wrote all this stuff, but now, I don’t want anyone to read it.'”

In the 304-page book, Applegate writes about being molested by a female babysitter when she was five years old while her mother was out. “I knew every part of it was wrong. I felt sick and scared and sad,” Applegate wrote in her book. “I never fully felt comfortable being touched, and that’s true still. I’ve never felt comfortable with it my whole life, really, and all because of that girl forcing me to do something I barely understood but that I knew was shameful.”

She also revealed that her childhood environment included exposure to physical violence involving her mother’s partner. “I think I had kind of the worst situation from three to seven,” Applegate said. “But there was stuff like that going on in all our homes. Single moms, men coming in and out, drugs.”

Despite the painful memories, Applegate hopes sharing her experiences can help others who may be struggling with similar trauma. “[My story] is about a little girl with sad eyes who ended up becoming Christina Applegate. And she still has those sad eyes. But she’s a stronger, different, resilient human being.”

She emphasized that her intention is not to seek sympathy but to inspire empowerment. “I had someone say to me, ‘Are you doing this because you’re being a victim?'” the actress said. “I’m like, ‘No, I’m empowering other people out there.’ At least I hope to.”

The memoir arrives at a time when Applegate is also expanding her advocacy work for people living with multiple sclerosis.

The actress is preparing to launch a new online platform called Next in MS, which will serve as a space for individuals affected by the condition to share their experiences and connect with others navigating similar challenges. Applegate has said she also plans to use the platform to discuss what she has learned since her own diagnosis, including insights about daily life, coping strategies, and managing symptoms.

Applegate also spoke candidly about how her life experiences, both painful and transformative, have shaped the person she is today. Rather than positioning her memoir as a traditional inspirational story, the actress emphasized that it’s simply an honest reflection of her journey and how she has learned to move forward despite adversity.

“We all have come from somewhere, some places more painful than others, and it’s what you do with it, I guess,” the actress said. “This is not an inspirational book, by any means. But it can inspire.”

Applegate’s husband, Dutch bassist Martyn LeNoble, has remained a steady presence throughout her health journey and personal challenges. The couple recently celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. The actress was previously married to actor Johnathon Schaech before their divorce was finalized in 2007.

“You With the Sad Eyes” will be released on March 3.