The beloved actress is introducing a brand new version of herself—or, rather, finally revealing who she’s always been—as she moves on to the next chapter of her life.

Christina Applegate is an American actress. She first gained recognition starring as Kelly Bundy on Married… With Children. She has gone on to earn seven Emmy nominations, including one win for a guest spot on Friends, for roles on TV shows Samantha Who? and Dead to Me. Applegate has also appeared in Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, The Sweetest Thing and both Anchorman movies.

In a new sit-down with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, Applegate is looking back on the last 40 years of her life, shedding the skin she says she was hiding behind to make things less difficult.

“I’ve been playing a character called Christina for 40 years,” she explained, finding it easier to be “who I wanted everybody to think I was.” But as she and friend and fellow actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who is also diagnosed with MS, delved into their newest project, a podcast called MeSsy that showcases their candid conversations about living with the disease.

“…it’s kind of my coming out party,” Applegate, 52, explained. “This is who— this is the person I’ve been this whole time.” She described the last several decades as “kind of putting on a little act for everybody for so long.”

“I just thought that was easier to be a light, be funny, be liked,” she said. “Don’t make people feel uncomfortable.”

But now, she “[doesn’t] care anymore.”

After listening to the first episode of their new podcast, Sigler emphasized, “I am so excited for people to get to know this Christina.” Acknowledging the difficulties that the Dead to Me alum is experiencing, Sigler called it “a really beautiful chapter” in her life. 

Here’s to that!