Jamie-Lynn Sigler made television history with her Jan. 15 guest role on Grey’s Anatomy, portraying a doctor who lives openly with multiple sclerosis-marking the first time the actress has played a character who shares her diagnosis.
**At a Glance
- Sigler, 44, was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago
- Her character, Dr. Laura Kaplan, was written specifically for her
- The part required no effort to hide her physical symptoms
- Why it matters: Representation of disability without stereotype
The episode, titled “Heavy on Me,” introduces Dr. Kaplan as a visiting urologist brought in by Catherine Avery to consult on Dr. Richard Webber’s prostate-cancer treatment. Viewers initially see Kaplan’s surgical skill, not her condition.
“In the first couple of scenes, we don’t know that she has MS,” Sigler told News Of Los Angeles. “It’s not something that defines who you are.”
A Role Tailored to Truth
When producers approached Sigler, she gave a single directive: “I want to show someone in their power.” The writers responded by crafting a top-tier surgeon whose mobility challenges never diminish her authority in the O.R.
Sigler praised the portrayal as “a beautiful representation for the MS community,” noting that the character’s confidence mirrors the mindset she has fought to embody since her own diagnosis at age 20.
On set, life imitated art. Midway through filming, James Pickens Jr.-whose character receives the cancer diagnosis-revealed he is battling prostate cancer in real life. The two shared a raw moment that echoed their scripted exchange.
“He turned to me and said, ‘I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer,'” Sigler recalled. “We had the moment that Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Webber have in reverse.”
Breaking a 20-Year Silence
For decades Sigler masked her symptoms, fearing unemployment if casting directors noticed her gait. The Grey’s experience reversed that dynamic.
“Finally walking in a scene as I walk and not feeling like I have to hide anything has allowed me to do my best work,” she said.
She now begins every audition with transparency: “This is how I move. If it’s something you’re not down with, I totally get it, but I’m done hiding.”
A Push from a Friend
Sigler credits Christina Applegate, her MeSsy podcast co-host, for emboldening this shift.
“She pushed me off a cliff of being raw and unashamed,” Sigler said. The two openly discuss living with MS on their show, amplifying visibility for an often-invisible illness.
Sigler also partners with Novartis, helping produce an information guide for the MS therapy Kesimpta, further leveraging her platform for education.
The Door Left Open
Although Dr. Kaplan appears only once, the finale leaves room for return.
“Her last line is, ‘You have my number,'” Sigler noted. “They have her number if she’s needed.”
Grey’s Anatomy airs Thursdays on ABC and streams next-day on Hulu. All prior seasons are available on the platform.
