Lauren Weedman, known for her expressive face, has built a successful Hollywood career over three decades. The 56-year-old actress has appeared in popular shows like "Date Night," "Looking," "Will & Grace," "Arrested Development," "Euphoria," "Special," and "Mom." Recently, she landed recurring roles on Emmy-winning comedies "Abbott Elementary" and "Hacks."
In August 2024, Weedman experienced severe facial paralysis due to Bell's palsy, a condition that temporarily paralyzes muscles on one side of the face. The exact cause is unknown, but it often stems from a viral infection that inflames the facial nerve, with stress as a potential contributor. Her symptoms included complete freezing of the right side of her face, inability to align her lips or smile normally, inability to close her right eye, headache, and general malaise. The paralysis began at the start of a three-week break from work, but Weedman was already employed, having shot two episodes of Netflix's dark comedy "Sirens."
Determined to Keep Working
"The idea of sitting out and waiting for it to get better just was not an option," Weedman wrote. While some patients improve within weeks, Weedman knew she couldn't afford to wait. As a single mom, she needed the income and desperately wanted to remain part of the "Sirens" ensemble. Created by showrunner Molly Smith Metzler, the limited series stars Julianne Moore, Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon, and Glenn Howerton. Weedman played Patrice, the longtime chef of Moore's family, with three episodes left to shoot.
Weedman immediately discussed her condition with Metzler and director Quyen Tran. "At that point, I had fallen in love with Lauren like everyone else had," Metzler said. "I just felt awful that she was going through something like that." Grateful for Weedman's candor, Metzler let the actress lead the way. "We didn't even wanna conceive of the show without her in it," Metzler added.
Writing Bell's Palsy into the Story
Weedman suggested writing Bell's palsy into her character's storyline. Metzler agreed, calling it "such a terrific character trait." The tortured Patrice became more relatable with the line, "Every summer, this happens; the stress of this job, my Bell's palsy is back." This wasn't Weedman's first bout with Bell's palsy; she had a mild case while pregnant with her son, Leo, now 16, but it resolved quickly. This time felt dreadfully different.
By the time she returned to set, Weedman had undergone steroid and antiviral therapy, received acupuncture, and quit drinking to reduce inflammation. At night, she taped her right eye shut to prevent dryness. Despite fears her performance would suffer, it didn't. However, fatigue and pain were relentless, and watching herself on screen made her cringe. "If it serves the character, I don't care if I look heavy or fat or bad or whatever," she said. "But this one was a new level of [vanity]."
Continued Work on Other Shows
After "Sirens" wrapped, Weedman still faced challenges. She had booked recurring guest spots on "Abbott Elementary" as Kristin Marie Schemmenti, the snarky sister of Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter), and on "Hacks" as feisty Las Vegas Mayor Jo Pezzimenti. In both, she took the same approach. "Our first and foremost concern was her health, and whether she felt comfortable being on camera," said Lucia Aniello, creator and showrunner of "Hacks." "When she said she wanted to shoot, we just went with it!"
Quinta Brunson, creator and star of "Abbott Elementary," expressed excitement about working with Weedman through her condition. "The way I look at it, that is what normalizes any form of otherness," Brunson said. "Her dealing with it falls in line with who [Lauren] is. She just rolls with the punches and does her job."
Recovery and Future Prospects
Weedman's face has visibly improved since shooting, but her neurologist cautioned it might take a full year for complete recovery. She recently landed a guest spot as a psychotherapist on the second season of Netflix's "Nobody Wants This," thanks to her talent reps. However, she lost parts on at least two series due to not yet having full control of her facial features. Weedman is at peace, "so happy" she kept working. She marches on, supported by her teen son, who told her, "Mom, it's no big deal. This is your Bell's palsy era, that's all." HuffPost originally published this piece in May 2025; we republish it now as Weedman returns to "Hacks" for its final season and appears in the latest season of "Abbott Elementary."
