Donna Mills is best recognized for her long-running soap roles on ‘Knots Landing’ and ‘General Hospital’.
The 81-year-old actress recently revealed how she stays active and cheerful despite her age.
Soap star Donna Mills recently spoke with AARP – The Magazine about her health and how much she values ‘eating green and clean.’
‘During the soap opera years, I never ate pasta, sweets, bread, ice cream, cookies, or any of that kind of stuff,’ Mills explained to the journal.
I’d have around half a glass of wine. I eat now, but I’m still cautious. I’m not a vegetarian, but I raise, harvest, and consume a lot of vegetables.’
Play tennis for two hours five days a week. ’I am fortunate to have a clay court, which is considerably easier on the joints than cement,’ she explained.
’I also have a tiny gym in my home, so I work out with modest weights, use my Peloton, do a lot of stretching on my ballet barre.
And believe me, it’s not always enjoyable. I have arthritis, like practically everyone my age, and it hurts at times.
However, this is where discipline comes into play. I’m hardly Superwoman, but I always look at the larger picture.’
‘At age 60, 70, later, you have so much more to contribute — don’t just sit down and say, ‘I’m done,’’ the actress told her audience, emphasizing the necessity of considering age.
Mills tells in the interview that she adopted her daughter Chloe at the age of 54 in 1994. It was at this time, according to the actress, that she chose to take a break from performing in order to raise her daughter, who is now 28 years old.
‘I was 54 years old, single, and really wanted to be a mother. ‘It wasn’t a difficult decision to make,’ Mills remarked.
‘I genuinely think she was intended to come to me, she was meant to be my child. I wished for her to live a regular life.
So I stopped working for many years while daughter was in school, and it was the perfect decision for me. I didn’t want to be without her.’
It wasn’t until she was in her 60s that Mills revealed she had also found love in Larry Gilman, an actor and producer.
’I met Larry Gilman when I was 60 years old. I got lucky. Prior to him, I was drawn to terrible boys. ‘However, when I met him, I knew I was going for the not-so-bad boy,’ she stated.
In light of her own journey, she spent a portion of the interview urging readers to ‘allow yourself up to love at any age.’
Mills appeared in Jordan Peele’s ‘Nope” lately. V.C. Andrew Dawn’s ’Cutler” series, based on the author’s writings, will feature her as Lillian Cutler. The Lifetime series is set to premiere in 2023.