Teri Hatcher: Keeps it real… and spectacular!
by Bonnie Siegler
Well before her iconic role as quirky Susan Mayer in Desperate Housewives, Teri Hatcher uttered a memorable line during a guest appearance on Seinfeld in 1993. In one quip, she captured the imagination of millions and dispelled any lingering doubt about having breast implants. She told Jerry and Elaine: “They’re real…and they’re spectacular.”
Being real has been a way of life throughout Hatcher’s career. “There is not an ironclad moment or an epiphany where I say, okay, I’ve figured life out,” says Hatcher. Taking a break from wardrobe changes during Viva’s photo shoot, her well-toned legs crossed and a black sweater revealing what made her a consistent contender amongst the “Sexiest Women” list, Hatcher is having fun talking about turning 48, her girlfriends, and donning a chef ’s hat.
The Palo Alto, California native has made a name for herself in Hollywood via her varied roles: smart and savvy Lois Lane on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, quirky Susan Mayer on Desperate Housewives, and sexy Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies. The self-described “funny, kind, honest, adventurous, smart” woman also admits she’s had her share of ups and downs. “But I joke with myself where I put life on a daily parallel of a tennis match: Hatcher – 0, Life – 1. Then I laugh about it and say, okay, the day won today and tomorrow will be a better one. So it’s not tragic. I will never say I can’t wait till this day is over, no matter how bad it might be.”
The former San Francisco 49ers cheerleader is as famous for her looks as she is for her roles. Now taking a break from Hollywood, the single mom to teen daughter Emerson still knows how to keep things in perspective – inside and outside the house. Hatcher and her daughter love to watch What Not To Wear together. “You almost want to cry when you see these women go through emotional pain only to blossom at the end of the show.” Hatcher is also ensconced at a local Cordon Bleu culinary school where she puts on her white chef ’s outfit, sans makeup or without anything that would reveal her status in Hollywood, but she admits, there were some very dark days in her life, dating back to her childhood when an uncle sexually abused her.
More recently, she sustained a few broken ribs from a fall on the set of Desperate Housewives and a painful diagnosis of frozen shoulder. Isn’t that the most ridiculous name for a disease? For a few months, I noticed I couldn’t put my arm behind me to put on a jacket and thought I lifted something wrong,” recalls Hatcher on the beginning of her immune disease.
“Then one day we were rehearsing a scene and Marcia (Cross) dropped her glasses. My instinct was to pick them up; I reached with my left arm and you would have thought someone drove a spike through my shoulder. I dropped to the floor crying.” She is now on the mend after 18 months of painful recuperation that included physical therapy, reflexology and even surgery. Though she lives a very active life – biking, hiking and always looking ahead, Hatcher spends some of her down time listening to Pema Chodron’s meditative tapes, reading and learning about nutrition. She prefers magazines over books to help relax, “because they’re not a big commitment so reading in the bathtub helps ease tension,” she explains. However, she was recently compelled to read the book Young Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge. The authors draw on the latest science of aging to help people 50 and over feel younger as they get older. “I can’t say I’m perfect and do everything it says to do, but I try. The idea of shifting your mind that you still have a whole lifetime in front of you. At 40, you’re only halfway there. We get to 45 and there’s a bit of enticement to feel like you’re done. No you’re not! You’re starting anew so you have to keep your mind and body physically prepared. Okay, you’re no longer young or the prettiest in the classroom, but you have to take care of yourself – learn a language, start a new hobby, pick up a guitar and learn to play. You can do it!”
Keeping her body in peak form includes regular exercise and eating good food. “I’m absolutely conscious about food. What I’m really passionate about and want to put my celebrity behind is working to help shift the rules so that more people are able to afford healthy food,” says the actress between takes. Hatcher stocks her kitchen with unprocessed foods and whole fresh foods, along with raw chia seeds, also known as salvia hispanica. “I eat them every day and even sprinkle them on yogurt or put in my smoothies,” she explains. What’s her guilty pleasure these days? She smiles mischievously at the question as her face lights up. “Well, there are these organic dark chocolate peanut butter cups that are special treats. And I love organic dark chocolate with salt and caramel.” As beautiful as Hatcher is on the outside, it’s the internal care she strives to give herself that reinforces her overall well-being, though she admits balancing out the emotional, physical and spiritual sides of life is a constant challenge. “Besides being a good mom as my greatest accomplishment,” she says, “I’ve been a good part of the community of people I touch,” alluding to her decision in 2006 to reveal to Vanity Fair that she had
“We get to 45 and there’s a bit of enticement to feel like you’re done. No you’re not! You’re starting anew so you have to keep your mind and body physically prepared.”
– biking, hiking and always looking ahead, Hatcher spends some of her down time listening to Pema Chodron’s meditative tapes, reading and learning about nutrition. She prefers magazines over books to help relax, “because they’re not a big commitment so reading in the bathtub helps ease tension,” she explains. However, she was recently compelled to read the book Young Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry S. Lodge. The authors draw on the latest science of aging to help people 50 and over feel younger as they get older. “I can’t say I’m perfect and do everything it says to do, but I try. The idea of shifting your mind that you still have a whole lifetime in front of you. At 40, you’re only halfway there. We get to 45 and there’s a bit of enticement to feel like you’re done. No you’re not! You’re starting anew so you have to keep your mind and body physically prepared. Okay, you’re no longer young or the prettiest in the classroom, but you have to take care of yourself – learn a language, start a new hobby, pick up a guitar and learn to play. You can do it!”
Keeping her body in peak form includes regular exercise and eating good food. “I’m absolutely conscious about food. What I’m really passionate about and want to put my celebrity behind is working to help shift the rules so that more people are able to afford healthy food,” says the actress between takes. Hatcher stocks her kitchen with unprocessed foods and whole fresh foods, along with raw chia seeds, also known as salvia hispanica. “I eat them every day and even sprinkle them on yogurt or put in my smoothies,” she explains. What’s her guilty pleasure these days? She smiles mischievously at the question as her face lights up. “Well, there are these organic dark chocolate peanut butter cups that are special treats. And I love organic dark chocolate with salt and caramel.” As beautiful as Hatcher is on the outside, it’s the internal care she strives to give herself that reinforces her overall well-being, though she admits balancing out the emotional, physical and spiritual sides of life is a constant challenge. “Besides being a good mom as my greatest accomplishment,” she says, “I’ve been a good part of the community of people I touch,” alluding to her decision in 2006 to reveal to Vanity Fair that she had
“I encourage everyone to try and learn something new. It’s fun and it makes you feel alive.”
been molested by a family member as a young child. “Through my survival of sexual abuse, other survivors have reached out to me and said how my strength was helpful for their own strength.” Hatcher is also involved with the Juvenile Arthritis Association, recently putting together a celebrity garage sale with proceeds benefiting this organization. “And through my career, there have been iconic moments where I’ve made people happy and entertained.” To ensure her own blissful days, Hatcher says you should“ recognize it could be your last. You have to have the gratitude of being alive. The idea that you have a life, so in a way, you’re obligated to try and enjoy it.” A year after Desperate Housewives aired its last episode following an eight-year run, Hatcher’s life is no longer regimented by her hectic production schedule. She uses her newfound freedom to spend more time with the people closest to her. “When I cook, I always make it big affairs for between 20 and 30 people. And I mean there’s an appetizer, many side dishes, multiple meats and probably six different desserts. Plus, I do special vegan dishes for my vegan friends. It’s my way of showing love. I think cooking is one of the truest ways I can show love to people who come to my house. It’s hands-on work for sure, and I think it’s an old-fashioned idea to me of this delayed gratification. I usually start prepping days before so there’s a lot of thought and effort. I once had a chef friend tell me “don’t ever cook when you’re angry because the tension goes into your food.” And I want my meals to be wonderful and comforting.” Although she’s still learning how to craft magnificent dishes at the highest level of culinary and hospitality, Hatcher says “I encourage everyone to try and learn something new. It’s fun and it makes you feel alive.” VM
