From Crisis to Comedy: Lauren Weedmans Journey with Bells Palsy

Lauren Weedman, a seasoned actress with over two decades of experience, had finally found her stride on the small screen. She had landed back-to-back roles on some of TV's biggest hits, including memorable turns in Hacks and Abbott Elementary. Last summer, she traveled from Los Angeles to New York to appear alongside Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore in Netflix's Sirens, where she played the role of chef Patrice. However, a trip to the gym changed everything.

"I remember finishing a shoot and going to the gym for cardio. I took a drink of water, and it dribbled out the side of my mouth. I thought maybe there was a hole in the bottle. I tried again. Same thing. Then I got home, showered, looked in the mirror — and there was no denying it," she tells Yahoo Entertainment.

The 56-year-old actress was unexpectedly diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition that temporarily paralyzed one side of her face, forcing her to slow down and reassess everything. "I had a moment where my ego could not fit in my bra," she joked during a nearly hour-long Zoom conversation last month. "I was like, I am on all the shows! This is crazy!"

Weedman, who is also known for roles in Looking, Euphoria, and Arrested Development, had been riding high until the health scare reshaped how she moved through her life and career. "I was pushing myself, trying to keep everything going — making money, looking a certain way. And then suddenly, it’s like I stroked out," she says. "That’s what it felt like."

Navigating her career with Bell's palsy hasn't been easy, but Weedman has found ways to turn the crisis into comedy by incorporating her condition into her character on Sirens. She explains that she didn't decide to be vulnerable on camera; it just happened by accident. She felt very sure that if they would let her use it, it could work because she has always come up through solo theater and has written books about writing about your life. She had a Zoom call with the showrunner and director and explained what she wanted to do. They were so kind and supportive, saying that what she was doing was strong.

Despite the support from her peers and the shows, Weedman has had some experiences during this health journey where a set hasn't been so welcoming. The only thing that bummed her out was one experience with a makeup artist who said that taping her face wouldn't work and wouldn't look good on camera. But after that experience, a different makeup artist who was there for the day came up to her and offered some nurturing makeup which helped her feel better. She realized that’s the kind of energy she needed.

Everyone treats Weedman like she’s so tough but what she needed was someone to say "I'm sorry this is happening" and acknowledge it. The shows have been incredibly supportive but what still bothers her is when people say "I didn't even notice it!" She thinks it could be gaslighting of emotions because what do you mean you didn't notice it?

Despite the challenges, Weedman remains optimistic about her future in the industry. She believes that her best chapter might still be ahead and is excited to continue exploring new opportunities and roles that will allow her to showcase her talent and resilience in the face of adversity.