Selma Blair performs blindfolded in moving Dancing With the Stars dance dedicated to late mom
Selma Blair turned "For Your Eyes Only" into "For Your Crying Eyes Only."
The actress, who is currently competing on season 31 of Dancing With the Stars, performed a rumba to Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only" from the 1981 film of the same name during the show's James Bond night — which she performed blindfolded and in special tribute to a personal hero.
Blair moved everyone, including herself, to tears during her intro package, as she explained the extra meaning of this week's song, dedicating her performance to her late mom, Molly Ann. The Cruel Intentions star recounted how she and her mom used to dance and sing along to the song, and how it became something of a special track between them. Her mom died in 2020, and Blair expressed how much she misses and depended on her mother.
Video: Selma Blair praises Sarah Michelle Gellar for attending 'DWTS'
In a post-show press conference, Blair tearfully spoke to EW about the impact of performing in honor of her mom. "It's grounding to feel anything other than nerves," she said. "If I'm in a space where I know mom's with me, which she always is, even though I can't see her. So, the blindfold was a double meaning to me. She made me, and any joy or victory I have I always would want to go home."
selmablair/Instagram A young Selma Blair and her mom, Molly Ann.
Her dance partner Sasha Farber added, "They say that time's meant to heal everything, but I think time just keeps you moving forward. It never heals anything."
Blair agreed, getting choked up, and saying, "I just really do miss her so much. She was my person. In life. I wanted to do everything to make her proud. I don't think anyone ever thought I would try dancing in my life and I love it so much."
For their performance, Farber decided to have Blair perform the majority of the dance blindfolded. Farber explained in their intro that the blindfold was meant to combat Blair's MS and subsequent tendency for sensory overload. It also provided an opportunity to showcase their trust as a dancing duo, and the ways in which Farber is a solid and reassuring presence for Blair on the ballroom floor.
"It was insanely weird, but we were trying to up the ante," Blair told EW in the post-show press conference. "Sasha was never far from me like at all, but it was a way to not have as much sensory overload in my head. The blindfold was an ingenious way to add a bit of style, but also a challenge that was comforting to me and brought me closer to my partner."
Added Farber: "I always saw Selma close her eyes a lot when she would feel a disconnection from her brain to her body. Learning steps for Selma is challenging in the sense that I can see her body try to do it. And I know that she can do it, but the message stops, and it doesn't allow to happen. And she closes her eyes. I found that she would always be comfortable in that situation. I wanted to see how this would help the performance, and I remember putting it on her and she had goosebumps."
Disney+ Selma Blair dances a rumba while wearing a blindfold with partner Sasha Farber on 'Dancing With the Stars' James Bond night.
Blair and Farber once again earned praise from the judges, garnering praise for the fluidity the faith in each other they both exhibited. The placed in the middle of the standings with 28 points from the judges.
Dancing With the Stars airs live on Disney+ Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
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