Why Christina Applegate Stays Out of the Spotlight, on 'Real Biz With Rebecca Jarvis'

— -- Actress Christina Applegate began her career before she could even speak.

At only three months old, she appeared in an episode of “Days of Our Lives,” in the arms of her actress mother, Nancy Priddy. In 1987, at the age of 15, she was cast in what some consider to be her breakout role, that of Kelly Bundy in the Fox sitcom “Married With Children.”

The sitcom proved to be successful, lasting for 11 seasons, during which Applegate also took on several film roles.

“Married With Children” wrapped up the final season in 1997, but Applegate’s career continued to prosper. A year later, she took on a more adult role as a single mother in the NBC comedy “Jesse” and then, in 2002, she stared alongside Cameron Diaz and Selma Blair on the big screen in “The Sweetest Thing.”

That same year she also won an Emmy portraying Jennifer Aniston’s spoiled sister Amy on the hit show “Friends.” The following years brought major roles including Veronica Corningstone in the movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” (2004), her Broadway debut in “Sweet Charity” as Charity (2005) and then Samantha in “Samantha Who?” (2007), for which she earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

In recent years, Applegate’s credits include “Up All Night” opposite Will Arnett (2011), “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” (2013), “The Book of Life” (2014), “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” (2015), “Vacation” (2015) and coming in July, “Bad Moms.”

Applegate, 44, is also a mom. She and husband Martyn LeNoble welcomed daughter Sadie in 2011. She is also an animal activist, but her latest endeavor involves her personal battle with insomnia.

Applegate recently announced her participation in the educational awareness program, Why So Awake, to help consumers learn more about how the sleep and wake systems play a role in insomnia.

Applegate recently joined Rebecca Jarvis on “Real Biz With Rebecca Jarvis” for a conversation about the choices she has made throughout her career, what she has learned along the way and what the future holds. For more of Applegate’s interview with Jarvis, watch the video above.

Rebecca Jarvis: What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learned over the course of your career?

Christina Applegate: That your personal life and your private life are really important to protect. That the goods are in the moments that you’re creating in your life, that all this other stuff is, it’s not tangible, it’s not real, so stay who you are.

Jarvis: How did you do that?Applegate: I just don’t think of myself as someone who’s in this business. I’ve stayed really private, I don’t have lots of actor friends, I don’t stay in it, I don’t talk about it …

Jarvis: At what point in your career did you realize there has to be this separation in order for me to do what I love but also have the life that I want?

Applegate: My mom just always kept me normal, you know? And I also grew up in a neighborhood that just didn’t allow for that. My friends wouldn’t allow me to be anything but just Christina who lives on the street, you know? Christina with the single parent, only child, like that’s it. I wouldn’t have been allowed in my group of friends if I had come back and was holier than thou. So they kept me humble.

Jarvis: What’s been your favorite role?

Applegate: Charity on Broadway. That was the best thing I’ve ever done.