“Oh my gosh,” Bridget Moynahan exclaims, “Maggie is eating all my papers. She’s going bananas and is completely out of control.”
The actress who stars as New York Assistant District Attorney Erin Reagan-Boyle in the police drama Blue Bloods is referring to her three-month-old Lab puppy, Maggie. In real life, the Massachusetts-bred model and actress who made a name for herself in the movie Coyote Ugly is not of aristocratic or socially prominent lineage. Rather, she’s a busy working mother of a five-year-old son, John. Wearing the hats of chef, chauffeur and caretaker, she says she’d have it no other way.
“I feel like I still have a grounding in growing up in a small town, a sense of community, and I bring that to my everyday world,” Moynahan says.
THE SKIN SHE’S IN
Never a skinny model/actress type, Moynahan has relied on her strong physicality for a vibrant and healthy body image. “I think every girl goes through a state of going out on your own and learning exactly who you are, and not just who you were brought up to be,” she says when asked if she’d experienced any self-image issues in earlier days. “I modelled for a number of years, so I watched a lot of girls go through self-image problems, but I had a good sense of self and I didn’t really fall into that trap. I’m completely comfortable in my own skin now.”
Moynahan admits that her fashion sense has evolved over the years into a much more comfortable look. “I would not consider myself very talented in décor or fashion, so I draw a lot of help from photo shoots and websites,” she says. “I’ve tried different things over the years and was really into an androgynous look at one time, then maybe more of a sexy look. So I’m kind of a hybrid of those looks now, and still finding myself.”
CLOTHES FOR CONFIDENCE
These days, the working mom is no longer intimidated by wardrobe—she’s empowered by it. “Certain clothes can make me feel really confident and sexy,” she says. “I think fashion can help your attitude and your mood. A well-dressed woman, in my opinion, shows confidence and personality in their choices. You have to weave your own personality into your look.”
And a well-dressed man? She smiles. “I really appreciate a well-dressed man…just classic pieces and comfort. I’ve noticed a lot of basketball players now wearing button-down shirts and jeans—a real preppy look, which is contrasting to their profession. I like that men are going in that direction.”
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
The 42-year-old actress has certainly worked hard since she launched her career in modelling. She transitioned to commercial work and acting, making her TV debut as a guest in 1999 in Sex and the City, which turned into a regular gig as Mr. Big’s wife, Natasha.
Now Moynahan is carrying the largest workload as a mother, and her wardrobe is less sexy and stilettos, and more slacks and flats. And with Blue Bloods filmed in New York, she has become a bi-coastal resident.
“It’s all a matter of balancing things,” says the statuesque 5’9½” beauty who also was seen on the big screen recently in Battle: Los Angeles. “I think anyone who has a kid instantly gets rid of a lot of the nonsense in their life because they don’t have time for it.”
TIME OUT
Moynahan has good reason for needing downtime. Luckily for her, the summer gave her a chance to take time off to be with John, friends and herself.
“In this block of time I’ve had off, I’ve really tried to find time to take care of myself,” she says. “A lot of women put taking care of themselves on the back burner because we’re always taking care of everybody else. But I’ve really tried to find some time for me every single day, and it’s difficult.”
“Me time” means acupuncture, exercise, massages, eating well and the guilty pleasure of TV’s Game of Thrones, all which have contributed to Moynahan’s vibrant and youthful appearance. “I have a small group of friends, and we’re all the same age; we still feel like we’re in our 20s, so it’s an attitude, too.”
CHANGING IT UP
Perhaps it’s her relationship with her son John, or her friends, but these days Moynahan’s pace in life and work is far more measured and with more variety. “Like today, I just came back from working out where I did sprints and fireman drills,” she says. “I like to change it up all the time, so I might play tennis, go swimming, bike riding—or my new thing is working on the indo board for core work and balance. Now I’m home taking care of things around the house.”
The former sports enthusiast who excelled at team sports and tennis laments she has found no time lately for basketball. However, she’s glad she had those experiences. “You know, I continued playing team sports throughout my life, and the commitment you make to it really helps you in other areas of life,” she says.
NO REGRETS
Moynahan seems to spend little time regretting the valleys of her life, saying whatever has happened, she has been able to turn it into a silver lining. “Every single one of them,” she states. “Obviously I went through a big public breakup [with NFL quarterback Tom Brady], and a lot of my friends are going through similar situations. So I remind everyone to find the positive in every single moment, no matter how hard it is to find. Because at the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re feeling good, so make it a positive experience somehow.”
It’s no surprise, then, that when asked to describe herself in a few words, she says: “Tough and resilient.”
