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Selma Blair Performs Blindfolded on Dancing With the Stars, Wowing Fans & Judges

The actress has struggled with "sensory overload" on the show due to her multiple sclerosis.
  • Selma Blair and Sasha Farber. (Photo: Disney+)
    Selma Blair and Sasha Farber. (Photo: Disney+)

    Selma Blair brought the Dancing With the Stars ballroom to tears again this week when she dedicated a blindfolded performance to her late mother. 

    As part of the show's James Bond night, the actress performed a rumba to Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only" and got emotional during her intro package when she described the song's special meaning for her. Blair dedicated the performance to her late mother Molly Ann, who used to dance and sing along to the song with her. 

    The song's sentimental significance wasn't the only thing special about the performance; Blair also took to the dance floor blindfolded in an effort to help with some of the sensory overload she'd been experiencing as a result of her multiple sclerosis. "It was helping me to block out some of the noise. I do get real sensory overload and shut my eyes a lot so this was a gift, but also can be quite disorientating but really thrilling. I loved it, and I love Sasha," Blair explained after her performance.

    "The whole point for the blindfold was, when I see Selma, there’s a disconnect from the brain to the body, she tends to close her eyes," explained her partner, Sasha Farber. "When she’s learning a step, and she can’t control her body, she closes her eyes. So I wanted to make her feel as comfortable as I possible can on the dance floor. We gave it a whirl. It worked. It was a gamble and I’m so proud of her."

    Fans were also proud of Blair, singing the actress' praises on Twitter:

    Their performance earned them accolades from the judges for having such strong faith in one another and taking risks each week, and they ended the night with a score of 28/40. 

    Dancing With the Stars streams Mondays at 8PM on Disney+. 

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    Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. She was previously a reporter/producer at Decider and is a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.

    TOPICS: Selma Blair, Dancing with the Stars