Susan Lucci stepped out for the US Open in New York this week, displaying a youthful look and svelte figure at age 79.
The soap opera legend wore a white mini-dress that was tight around her tiny waist. She accessorised the outfit with a designer silk scarf and chunky gold jewelry that appeared to be encrusted with diamonds.
Lucci presented a remarkably wrinkle-free visage during her outing at the annual tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, an appearance she attributes in part to regular cosmetic care. She has previously spoken openly about receiving regular Botox injections to maintain her skin.
"I don't make a secret of it, I have a really good dermatologist," Lucci previously told New Beauty magazine. "I go to her and get checked out, and there is some Botox involved, and that's a good thing," she added.
In a separate interview with Harper's Bazaar, Lucci credited her dermatologist for delivering natural results. She explained that her dermatologist does not completely freeze her face, allowing her to retain facial expression so the outcome does not look fake. Botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, is a popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment used to smooth facial lines and wrinkles.
Dietary Habits and Fitness Regimen
Beyond her dermatological care, Lucci maintains strict discipline regarding her diet. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, she revealed that she rarely eats dessert, never snacks, and avoids eating a lot of bread and pasta.
Fitness also plays a central role in her daily routine. Lucci has practiced Pilates for decades and works out regularly with a personal trainer to maintain her physical conditioning. Pilates is a low-impact exercise system developed in the early 20th century that focuses on core strength, muscle balance, and flexibility.
"I learned from my personal trainer that it's important to come at your muscles in different ways. So within the Pilates world, I vary it," Lucci explained. "Everything I do is Pilates informed, but I have added weights almost every day for upper body strength and toning. Now, in the last couple of years, when I'm working with weights for the upper body, I stand on a BOSU so that I'm also working on balance at the same time."
A BOSU balance trainer is a flexible, hemispherical rubber equipment piece used in physical training to challenge stability and core strength. "I've heard that balance is something that affects people as they get older, and I want to be careful about that and do as much as I can for myself," Lucci added.
Personal Loss and Family Life
Earlier this year, Lucci spoke about the heartbreaking grief triggers she continues to face following the death of her husband of 52 years, Helmut Huber. Huber died in 2022 at age 84, just one month after suffering a stroke.
In an interview with People magazine, Lucci confessed that she felt completely lost and so alone after losing her husband. The couple shared two children, daughter Liza, 50, and son Andreas, 45, building a family life that Lucci has described as such a gift.
Despite building a fulfilling life, Lucci acknowledged that certain moments remain deeply painful, noting that the holidays are especially difficult. "I don't fight it," she told People. "I'm surprised sometimes by it. Certainly there are things like the holidays that are triggers, someone who should be sitting at the table. But I just go with it."
When asked what she misses most about Huber, Lucci admitted that she misses everything about him. She noted that it is hard to isolate one single thing, explaining that she misses his presence and sharing daily routines together, such as having coffee in the morning.
The couple first met while they were both working at a hotel and became engaged after three weeks of dating. They married in September 1969. Huber subsequently served as Lucci's manager throughout much of her television career and was the chief executive officer of their production company, Pine Valley Productions. The company took its name from the fictional Pennsylvania town where All My Children was set.
Career Legacy on Television
Lucci rose to legendary status on American television through her defining role as Erica Kane on the ABC daytime drama All My Children. She began playing the character in 1970 and continued to portray the iconic figure until the soap opera ended its television run in 2011. Over her four-decade tenure on the show, Lucci became one of the most recognizable figures in daytime television history.
In addition to her defining work on All My Children, Lucci has appeared in a variety of other prominent television productions. Her notable credits include roles on the prime-time drama Dallas, the comedy series Hot in Cleveland, and the Lifetime mystery comedy-drama Devious Maids.
