Overcoming my shyness has been a lifelong struggle.
Susan Lucci
My father was an ironworker who eventually co-founded a construction business. My mother, Jeanette, was a stay-at-home mom who had been an operating-room nurse until my older brother, Jimmy, was born.
I started doing Pilates when I was in my mid-40s. I thought it was called 'pie-lattes' because I didn't hear anyone talk about it; I just read about it.
For most of my adult life, I drove through Central Park every morning going to work.
I was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award 19 times before I won. The first nine years, I heard someone else's name called; after that - I think it was a protective thing - I didn't hear whose name was called, but nobody was making eye contact with me, so I knew that it wasn't mine.
My grandsons really love my apple cake, which is from my grandmother's recipe.
It took awhile for me to get used to speaking candidly about my own life. I got into it, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience.
I think we all cheer for couples who just seem right together and go the distance.
The 'All My Children' studio was near Lincoln Center, and I used to see all the ballerinas and the dancers, and I thought, I don't want to bulk up; I want to have long, lean, toned muscles. And I found out that through Pilates, you can achieve those strong, lean dancer muscles.
In 1949, when I was 2, my family moved from Yonkers, NY, to a development of brick houses in Elmont, a Long Island suburb of New York City. What I remember most about the house was the glider on our porch. I used to sit there evenings close to my father, Victor, as he talked about the moon and the stars. He taught me to dream big.
I was a shy little girl. Growing up, I was often content being alone in my room, making up stories, and acting out all the parts. I became so good at it that, with the door closed, my parents thought I had friends over.
You know what my greatest personal stumbling block is? My shyness.
I love spaghetti and meatballs... I eat a lot.
When someone has that combination of arrogance and ignorance - that drives me crazy.
My parents were both from extremely different backgrounds. My father's Italian, my mother was of Swedish descent. They're both first-generation Americans.
I grew up loving Broadway musicals. I'd put on my parents' cast albums and stand on the stool and sing in the mirror.
Erica Kane was a spectacular role for any actress to play, and I felt so lucky to be the one who got to do it.
People always ask me, how do you do everything you do?
I married somebody who is very secure. He's been in my corner from the time we met, and we grew in this together.
You don't have to get doughty or, suddenly, because you have a new label on you, 'Oh, I'm 50, so therefore, I have to be a certain thing.' Follow your heart and look at your rear view as well as your front view!
I really always felt that I was going to be an actress. I had a lot of confidence in the fact that I would do well from a very early age. I didn't know how tough the business is.
I drink hot water and lemon - after two cups of the coffee in the morning.
Life goes on, and I'm moving on to the next thing, but I hope the soaps that are still running will thrive. They have millions of loyal viewers.
Before I was working out, if somebody told me that I would actually choose fruit over french fries, I would never believe them.
I am the luckiest actress on the planet.
The sense of acting being teamwork was a mentality that I took from school: I studied with wonderful people, and I wanted them to be proud of me.
I love fashion.
With 'Dancing with the Stars,' they miraculously send your dance teacher with you wherever you need to be.
I occasionally buy a bikini, but I'm too shy to wear it.
I was very lucky both of my parents had really nice skin.
If your skin looks okay today, and you take care of it, there's a good chance it's going to look good tomorrow.
I married young. I had an instinct that this man was going to really wear well, and he has. For me, this is what worked. I always admired Helmut because he was, A, very smart, B, very sure of himself and very, very funny, and so that combination of things.
I live in my activewear.
I eat very clean, not in an exaggerated way.
I do crunches to keep those abs going strong and flat. I'm not a sedentary person.
I use Neutrogena makeup off wipes to take the first layer of makeup off.
