Upon glancing at Playboy’s cover, Susan Lucci realized she likely wouldn’t land the Bond girl role she had hoped for. The “All My Children” star mentioned her eagerness for the part, recalling her meeting with producer Barbara Broccoli in New York. “Well… yes. I mean, I’m not sure how close we really were. I remember being there, and I saw two people—me and Kim Basinger. It was a lovely summer day, and I was thrilled to be considered,” Lucci shared during a recent appearance.
Reflecting on her experience weeks later, Lucci recalled being in the hair and makeup room for “All My Children” when she spotted Basinger on Playboy’s cover. “Oh, well, if Kim’s in it, then I guess it’s not for me,” she thought.
Basinger ultimately graced the February 1983 cover as “The New Woman of 007” and acted alongside Sean Connery in “Never Say Never Again,” marking the end of what could have been Lucci’s Bond opportunity.
Despite the years that have passed, Lucci continues to navigate her own narrative. Recently, she opened up in her memoir, “La Lucci,” discussing everything from maintaining fitness after having kids to finding balance after losing her husband of 53 years. “I actually ate just asparagus for ten days ahead of returning to work early. I was a bundle of nerves, wearing a very fitted black nightgown. I thought, ‘Seriously?’ I loved playing Erica Kane, but boy did I feel the pressure to lose a bit of weight before that,” she admitted.
Lucci then noted, “But it’s not like I was miserable about it. You just do what you have to do.” Nowadays, she’s more focused on clean living rather than strict dieting.
She credits her introduction to Pilates back in 1995 as a game changer for her lifestyle. “While filming ‘All My Children’ in New York, it was almost impossible to resist all the amazing restaurants. I was the one suggesting early breakfasts at 8:30 to plan our orders,” Lucci joked. “But soon enough, I realized I wanted to eat cleaner. It wasn’t even something I thought about consciously. My body just leaned towards healthier choices. It’s a good reminder to listen to what your body is saying.”
