Susan Lucci proved age is just a number as she stepped out at the US Open looking incredible at 79. The All My Children legend showcased her youthful figure in a fitted white mini dress as she attended the tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.
Susan's sleeveless dress featured a flattering scoop neckline and textured horizontal detailing before flaring gently into an A-line skirt that finished just above her knees.
She teamed the summery look with nude pointed stilettos, a chunky gold chain necklace, matching drop earrings and a gold watch, while carrying a colorful printed scarf.
Her famous brunette locks were styled with plenty of volume around her face, while a sweep of rosy blush and a glossy red lip completed her glamorous appearance.
Susan was all smiles as she posed for photographers before taking her seat at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she watched the action from the President's Box.
The actress, who turns 80 in December, also found herself sitting alongside New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and later described her trip to the tournament as a "picture perfect evening."
© GC ImagesSusan Lucci's incredible fitness at 79
While Susan has maintained an enviably fit physique for decades, there is no dramatic secret behind it. Instead, she credits consistency, particularly her longstanding devotion to Pilates.
The actress has practiced Pilates for decades and still incorporates it into her routine almost every day. Following her second heart procedure in 2022, she was able to return to her exercise regimen quickly, with her doctors encouraging her to continue the healthy habits that were already part of her lifestyle.
Earlier this year, Susan revealed just how transformative Pilates had been for her body and even her appetite. She told Fox News that the exercise method changed her physique and, after several weeks, even began influencing the types of food she wanted to eat, leaving her craving cleaner, fresher options.
© GC ImagesPilates has been part of Susan's life since the 1990s, and she has previously said that she initially resisted trying it because she worried it wouldn't be challenging enough.
"I was looking for a more intense workout," she previously told Women's Health. But after trying it, she quickly realized just how demanding it could be. Her favorite piece of equipment is a Pilates Pro Chair, which allows her to work her entire body, including her core, legs and upper body.
The diet Susan Lucci follows
Her approach to food has also evolved considerably, particularly following two frightening heart health scares. Susan now follows a doctor-approved Mediterranean-style diet centered largely around fish and fresh vegetables.
"It's mostly fish and fresh vegetables," she told Fox News earlier this year, adding that she still enjoys pasta occasionally. There are three foods in particular that have become staples in her kitchen: salmon, blueberries and kale.
Susan previously revealed that she makes sure she buys all three when grocery shopping, while emphasizing that she hasn't completely eliminated the foods she loves. "I do have the occasional pasta and carbs," she explained. "I love cheese, but I don't eat much of it, hardly ever. I love ice cream, but I moderate it. It's all about moderation."
© GC ImagesIt's an approach that appears a far cry from some of the extreme diets she tried as a young actress. In her new memoir, La Lucci, Susan recalls returning to All My Children shortly after giving birth to her son Andreas in 1980 and discovering that her character Erica Kane was expected to appear in a figure-hugging black nightgown.
"I really did eat asparagus for 10 days straight before I had to go back to work a week early," she told Fox News while discussing the memory this year.
Looking back, Susan admitted she had been nervous about having to lose her pregnancy weight so quickly, particularly given the revealing costume awaiting her on set.
Susan Lucci's heart health wake-up call
For Susan, staying healthy is about far more than maintaining her appearance. In 2018, the actress experienced intense pressure in her chest but initially tried to ignore it. Doctors eventually discovered a 90 percent blockage in the main artery to her heart, putting her dangerously close to a potentially fatal heart attack. She underwent emergency surgery and had two stents inserted.
Then in January 2022, Susan experienced another scare. Doctors discovered an 80 percent blockage in another artery and she underwent a second procedure to insert an additional stent.
The experiences prompted her to become an ambassador for the American Heart Association and have profoundly changed the way she thinks about looking after herself. "My message for women is to listen to your body," she has said. "Always put yourself on your to-do list."
Susan admitted she had initially behaved like many women do when experiencing worrying symptoms, convincing herself she was simply too busy to stop. "We take care of our children, we are advocates for our loved ones, but we're not at the top of our own to-do list," she previously told People.
© USTA via Getty ImagesFinding joy ahead of 80
Susan's youthful outlook extends beyond diet and exercise. The actress has also been rebuilding her life following the death of her husband of 52 years, Helmut Huber, in 2022.
In a candid interview with People earlier this year, Susan admitted she was "completely lost" following his death and, for a time, couldn't imagine returning to acting.
Today, however, she is deliberately seeking happiness again through her work, travel, friends and her family, particularly her grandchildren. "I am looking for joy again," she writes in her memoir, La Lucci.
She also carries with her a phrase her late husband frequently used: "After the rain, the sun she shines." "They still help me," Susan said of his words. "He was really my rock."
