Lauren Weedman Had Bell's Palsy While Filming 'Sirens. 'Here's How It Was Written Into Her Role
The actress says she was embarrassed, but "waiting for it to get better just was not an option,"
She's since seen improvement in the symptoms of Bell's palsy, which is a sudden weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the faceWhile filming the Netflix hit Sirens, actress Lauren Weedman experienced a flare-up of the paralyzing condition Bell's palsy — which was then written into the show.
'The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better just was not an option,' Weedman, 56, who plays Patrice, the long-suffering personal chef to a wealthy New England family on the Julianne Moore-led drama, told The Huffington Post. The actress and mom to son, Leo, 15, said she spoke to Sirens showrunner and creator Molly Smith Metzler, and Quyen Tran, director of the upcoming episodes, about her condition.
'I wanted to talk to [the Sirens team] about it as soon as I could so I wouldn't be stressed the whole time,' says Weedman, whose condition impacted her ability to be fully expressive. As John Hopkins Medicine explains, Bell's palsy is a sudden paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles, usually on one side of the face.
She'd had a mild case while pregnant with Leo, but Weedman explained this time was more severe.
But showrunner Metzler just folded Weedman's health crisis into her character. 'At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had,' Metzler told the outlet. '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 says it was so 'kind,' telling the outlet, 'It was really hard for me to think that I mattered.' As she explained, she was raised to not 'make a big thing out of being hurt or sick.'
They wrote it into the role, leading to Patrice's memorable line: 'Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back.'
Although her flare-up has subsided, Weedman's Bell's palsy was written into subsequent roles on Hacks and Abbot Elementary, leading her son Leo to quip: 'Mom, it's no big deal. This is your Bell's palsy era, that's all.'
As Abbot creator Quinta Brunson told the outlet, 'The way I look at it, that is what normalizes any form of otherness … Her dealing with it falls in line with who [Lauren] is. She just rolls with the punches and does her job.'
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
27 minutes ago
- Forbes
Netflix's Best New Show Scored 95% On Rotten Tomatoes
It's incredibly rare for cancelled shows to get second chances at life—although, lately, Netflix has changed the narrative. Famously, Netflix picked up the beloved supernatural drama Manifest for a fourth and final season after it was cancelled by NBC, and more recently, the streamer took on Amazon Prime's Sneaky Pete, which was cancelled by Amazon Prime after three seasons. In both of those cases, we saw the same story: a show quietly builds a loyal fan base, earns critical acclaim, then vanishes before enough people even know it existed—then, suddenly, the show appears in front of a brand-new audience, coupled with the possibility of something more. And it is now happening again, this time with a recently cancelled HBO show. The next contestant in Netflix's revival game? The Anna Kendrick-fronted Love Life. One of the most quietly beloved romantic series of the last few years, the program was shelved by HBO and scrubbed from streaming in late 2022. But now both seasons of this show—including the critically revered second seasons, which scored 95% on Rotten Tomatoes—will be hitting Netflix starting today, Aug. 5, 2025. This anthology series won people over because of its unique approach to detailing the story of love, of depicting romantic comedy as something slower and deeper, as a journey that is far more personal. Each season follows a different wannabe lover as they stumble through various relationships—some forgettable, others devastating, with almost almost none of them being the right fit. The first season stars Kendrick as Darby, a reserved yet quietly ambitious museum worker living in New York City. Her story is told through relationships that span over a decade, ranging from an intense college romance to a string of short-lived relationships, flings, friendships and heartbreaks. Along the way, she navigates co-dependence and questions of self-worth, all while navigating her own journey of self-actualization. The people of her life play an important role in this process, from her evolving relationship with her best friend Sara (Zoë Chao) to her complicated dynamic with her mother (Hope Davis). As she grows more confident and self-aware as the years go on, you realize Love Life is not just—or, perhaps, not at all—love about love, but instead a story about growing up, about how we become ready to find our 'one true love.' The focus of season two shifts entirely to a brand new character, Marcus Watkins (William Jackson Harper), a Brooklyn-based book editor who seemingly has his life together until an adulterous fling ruins his marriage. Now separated from his ex-wife, Emily, and unsure about what comes next, Marcus looks inward to understand who he's been in his relationships and what he's been avoiding. As he starts dating again, he confronts issues of race, class, intimacy and self-image in a way that feels strikingly honest compared to most modern rom-coms, with each new relationship chipping away at his guardedness. Marcus's story doesn't build toward a traditional romantic climax, but instead embraces the subtler, harder-earned realization that love, real love, requires more than timing or chemistry. Believe it or not, Love Life was developed as HBO Max's first original scripted show when the platform launched in 2020. Sam Boyd, who created the show and wrote and directed the pilot episode, executive produced the show alongside Bridget Bedard, Paul Feig, Dan Magnante and Kendrick (Harper would later become an executive producer for the second season). Upon release, Love Life received a mixed reception from critics, who noted the charm of the format and Kendrick's grounded performance, yet felt the first season leaned too heavily on rom-com tropes. However, the show truly hit its stride in the second season, as widespread acclaim was cast upon the main star, Harper, as well as the show's richer emotional depth, sharper writing and more layered storytelling. After a disappointing 63% score after the first season, Love Life captured a 95% approval rating with Season 2, with only one negative review preventing the show from a perfect 100% score. Yet, despite this upward trajectory, HBO cancelled the show in 2022 after its second season, as part of a larger and widely criticized content purge following the WarnerMedia-Discovery merger. In an effort to cut costs and restructure the platform's identity, HBO Max removed dozens of shows, including Love Life, from its library entirely, leaving many fans stunned and frustrated. But now you have a second chance to experience what critics have been praising after Netflix acquired Love Life in July 2025 (there is currently no word on a third season). Over at AV Club, Joshua Alston praises the show's top-notch acting, writing that 'Harper reaches his final form as a leading man, further delivering on the promise he showed in turning The Good Place's Chidi Anagonye." Alston also highlighted several of the show's fantastic character performances, from the likes of Ego Nwodim and Punkie Johnson. For Vulture, Jen Chaney notes how accurately and poignantly the cancelled HBO show depicted the act of falling in love. She writes that while many romantic comedies are designed to end happily, Love Life 'works according to that design while also acknowledging that getting to that happy ending involves challenge, struggle, and unexpected snags. It excels in a genre that can often detour into fantasy by staying grounded in reality.' And Judy Berman of Time writes about how Love Life recovered from a rather limp first season, specifically highlighting how the show examines the love life of Black men. While many pockets of society have received their own movies and shows, 'we still don't see many love stories that examine the difficulties a man, let alone a Black man,' she writes. If you love shows like Master of None, High Fidelity or Modern Love, then Love Life offers a similarly introspective, relationship-driven experience, but with its own distinct charm. It's funny, a little messy and deeply honest about how long it can take to figure out who you are and what you need from a romantic partner. Netflix has quietly become the final resting place for a number of fan-favorite series, and now it's Love Life's turn for a second chance at life.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Real Reason Percy Hynes White Left 'Wednesday'
The Real Reason Percy Hynes White Left 'Wednesday' originally appeared on Parade. After a long three years underground, Wednesday is coming to life once more. Netflix's take on the titular Addams Family daughter became an instant success in 2022, heralded for Jenna Ortega's performance and mystery box storytelling. And, while fans are waiting with baited breath for the first batch of Season 2 to premiere on Aug. 6, there will be one cast member who has not reenrolled at Nevermore Academy: Percy Hynes White. White's character, Xavier Thorpe, was a massive part of the teen drama's premiere season. Xavier nursed a complicated relationship with Wednesday, having met when they were 10 years old. Their first meeting in some time was a thorny one, to say the least, with the two immediately bristling upon their reunion at Nevermore Academy. Despite his attempts to help her, including the use of his prophetic painting powers, he is still framed for being the monster that is terrorizing Jericho and gets arrested as a result. By season's end, however, we find out that Xavier is a red herring, set up to obscure the identity of the real monster, Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan). 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Despite Wednesday's clear error, her relationship with Xavier is mended by season's end. Thing is able to help him escape arrest and return to the school to help the heroes' battle against the resurrected spirit of Joseph Crackstone. And, in turn, Wednesday takes an arrow for her fellow psychic. Following Crackstone's defeat, the two reconcile, with Xavier even offering her a phone to make amends. With Tyler being sent away, it seemed like Wednesday was setting up for the heat to get turned up on the Wednesday-Xavier connection come Season 2. Unfortunately, that heat promptly cooled in May 2024, when Hynes White wrote in an Instagram post that he would not be returning to the series. "I had so much fun working on this show," he captioned over a photo of the cast, as well as director and executive producer Tim Burton. "I can't wait to watch season 2 :) Much love." Related: While Hynes White's dismissal may be shocking, specifically from a show perspective, his departure came as a culmination of a yearlong controversy involving the actor. In January 2023, an anonymous woman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the actor would manipulate girls into sending nude photos or having sex with him. She even described a situation where Hynes White had "assaulted" her at a party he threw because she was "too drunk." While the woman would eventually go on to delete the post, several other people posted their own stories, claiming to corroborate the actor's behaviors. In June of that year, Hynes White made a statement in his Instagram Stories vehemently denying the allegations. "Earlier this year, somebody I've never met started a campaign of misinformation about me online," he wrote. "Because of this, my family has been doxxed, and my friends have received death threats. Underage photos of me were used, and examples of me acting in character were presented as hateful. My friend Jane was falsely portrayed as a victim, and her attempts to set the record straight have been ignored. She gave me permission to include her in this message. "The rumors are false. I can't accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people's safety. These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims. It's very distressing to know that this misinformation has upset people." Netflix has yet to comment on the reason behind Hynes White's departure from the show, so it has not been confirmed whether it came as a result of these allegations. Wednesday fans have their own theories to offer, such as rumors that the actor had been liking racist posts and accounts on Instagram, as well as posts criticizing both the show and Burton. Regardless of what the reason is, it will be intriguing to see how the show will handle Xavier's absence in Season 2 – if it even gets addressed at all. Otherwise, it may become yet another unsolved Real Reason Percy Hynes White Left 'Wednesday' first appeared on Parade on Aug 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 4, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
This Critically Panned Book Adaptation Is A Top Movie On Netflix Right Now
'My Oxford Year' is currently one of the top movies on Netflix, according to the platform's public ranking system. The romance film, based on Julia Whelan's 2018 novel, follows an ambitious American woman (Sofia Carson) who sets out for the University of Oxford in England to fulfill a childhood dream and ends up falling for a charming local (Corey Mylchreest). Some critics had less-than-thrilling things to say about the movie, noting its cookie-cutter characters, emotionally hollow plot and uninteresting adaptation of Whelan's text. You can read HuffPost's review of the film here. Read on for more trending movies across streaming services, including HBO Max, AmazonPrime Video and Peacock. And if you want to stay informed about all things streaming and entertainment, subscribe to the Culture Catchall newsletter. 'Final Destination Bloodlines' The latest installment of 'Final Destination' is now available to stream, and it's currently the top movie on HBO Max. The sixth movie in the grisly horror franchise takes audiences back to the very beginning, as Death's twisted ways plague a college student (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) with a violent, recurring nightmare from her grandmother's past. She must then track down the one person who can stop the vicious cycle and save her family from Death. 'War of the Worlds' 'War of the Worlds,' a sci-fi thriller starring Ice Cube and Eva Longoria, is currently the top movie on Prime Video. Based on H. G. Wells' legendary 1898 novel, the film is described as a 'fresh take' on the familiar tale about a gargantuan invasion that's 'filled with present-day themes of technology, surveillance and privacy,' according to the synopsis. The cast also includes Iman Benson, Michael O'Neill, Clark Gregg, Henry Hunter Hall, Devon Bostick and Andrea Savage. 'Borderline' The top movie on Peacock right now stars Samara Weaving in a twisted tale about an obsessive fan. 'Borderline,' which hit theaters in March, centers on a '90s pop superstar (Weaving) whose home is invaded by a helplessly romantic sociopath (Ray Nicholson) who believes they're meant to be married. Jimmie Fails, Alba Baptista and Eric Dane also star in the film. If you're looking for other films to watch, check out our What We're Watching blog. Related... This New Movie Is So Bad, Even Netflix's Big Movie Star Can't Save It 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Won The Box Office — But It's Missing 1 Obvious Thing This Emmy-Winning Actor Is The Queen Of Portraying Strong, Complex Women
