|
Hello Magazine -
November 21st, 2000
Interview with Linda Evans
Linda Evans who played Krystle Carrington in
the successful TV series Dynasty is now single and loving it. Once voted
one of the worlds ten most beautiful women, Linda was married to film
director John Dereck for ten years, then to real-estate-mogual Stan
Herman for three years until 1979. Her most recent love was Yanni, a
musician and composer 12 years her junior. They met after Linda phoned
him to tell him how much she loved his music and they were together for
nine passion years. She accompanied him around the world, supporting him
as he performed his music.
Since this relationship ended in 1998 Linda has remained happily single,
enjoying life in her beautiful lakeside home in Washington State. The
house complete with a gym, stand in four and a half acres and is a haven
for wildlife, including eagles and rare ducks. Today Linda, whose
Dynasty character Krystle was always glamorously turned out, dressed
down at home in comfy casuals. These days she travels the world
promotion women`s health issues. She is fervent believer in preventive
health measures and is trying to get the message across to younger woman
that taking care of their bodies now will reap rewards when they are
older. She recently flew to London for and appearance on the QVC shopping
channel and took time out to talk to Hello!
Linda, why are you so keen to promote
women`s health?
Women are living much longer. As healthy woman I can expect to live into
my nineties and when I reach that eage I still want to be able to dance
the night away or climb mountains, so I learned about how my body works
and how to keep it working. When a woman is in her thirties her bone density starts to decrease.
When the menopause hits,most women lose a large amount of bone destiny.
One in two women will suffer from osteoporosis unless they take care of
themselves. It`s not hard. You have to watch your caffeine and sugar and
suggar intake, take calcium, supplements and exercise, even if it is
just walking for and hour each day. Such simple measures can stop you
ending up in a wheelchair or using a walking stick.
Are you sad about being single at 57?
No, I love it! Like many women, when I fall in love I give everything of
myself to that person and struggle to maintain my own place in the
relationship. The only way I knew how to be as a partner was to be
completely selfless. Yanni and I were passionately in love. He was
younger than me and I felt so grateful to have this experience that I
wanted to give him everything of me. After we split up I realised there
was joy in having your own freedom.
What caused the break-up?
Relationship change after time. Yanni was working hard and we were
travelling so much. In the end there was too much work and not enough
time for us. We`re still very good friends. I talked to his mom and
sister recently. We`re all still very close.
In an age-obsessed profession, you`re
very open about approaching 60.
As a woman I`ve always felt that as we get older we get better. You come
to terms with yourself, through emotional experiences and the simple
wisdom that comes with age. At 57 I`ve never been so happy in my life. I
don`t agonise over things anymore. If I make a mistake I tell myself I
tried to my best and moved on. It doesn`t matter if I don`t succeed in
something, what matters is that I learn from my mistakes. My mother died
when I was very young and my father died when I was in my early teens,
so most of my life I have just wanted people to love me and to be a good
girl and do the right thing.
I eventually learned I didn`t need anyone to pat me on the back and tell
me I was great, I could do that for myself. It`s and incredibly
liberating thing when you stop worrying about what other people think
about you. Now I just need me to love me and, as a result, I`m a much
better friend, girlfriend, sister, aunt, everything.
You spent almost all the 1980s playing
Krystle. Do you regret spending so much of your life on one show?
Absolutely not. It was a magical ride. The cast was like a family. I
still see John Forsythe, who played my screen husband Blake. We
travelled the world and met many people who told us how much the show
meant to them. And thanks to Dynasty`s producer Aaron Spelling I need
never work again. The money I earned has given me freedom.
How did you get on with Joan Collins,
who played your screen rival Alexis?
Contrary to popular
visdom, Joan and I got on very well. We joked about
how thrilled we were that two older women like us could get such a
glamorous job and wear wonderful clothes. I bumped into her in Spain
recently and we were thrilled to see each other.
What was it like for you when the show
finally finished in 1989?
For almost ten years I lived very controlled, strict lifestyle. We were
on set all day every day and at weekends we did photo shoots or fashion
sessions. I never let myself put on more than five pounds. WHen the show
finished, I left Hollywood. I didn`t want to stay in a place where the
pressure to look good was so high. I wanted to be able to go shopping
without people looking to see if I really was one of the world`s ten
most beautiful women. I longed to be myself. I`d realised that if you
aren`t happy inside, no matter how many awards you get or dresses you
buy, you won`t have joy in your life. So I moved up to Washington State and bought a house that overlooks a
lake. I let myself put on a bit of weight and discovered the joys of
walking along the beach in comfortable clothes. It took me a year to
unwind then I fell madly in love with Yanni and decided to lose that
weight. I had never exercised before, I din`t know how to go about it,
so I learned how to use a treadmill and work out with weights. Now I
work out all the time.
How important is it to look good?
I`m not obsessed by how I look or with being reed thin, but I do think
that as a woman in my fifties, I have 40 years ahead. Looking after
yourself goes hand in hand with looking good. When I started exercising
it was to lose weight. But soon realised working out wasn`t just to
looking good, it was to keep my body healthy and full of energy. If I`m
going to keep this body for 92 years I wasn`t it to function well. I can
buy five houses and 20 cars but I can`t get a new body.
Right after Dynasty ended I had a facelift and laser surgery to get rid
of lines around my eyes. The trouble with plastic surgery is that after
ten years gravity wins out and you have to have another one a year or so
ago but I discovered the home facelift mask, which I now promote around
the world. It tones the face using need to put it on for 15 minutes each
day. It`s perfect for women who haven`t got the time or the money to
treatments and it has saved me from having more surgery!
Do you wish you`d had children?
I wanted them very much, but it just didn`t
happend. My first husband,
John Derek, didn`t want children and I felt I wanted whatever John
wanted. My second husband, Stan, was a playboy and wasn`t good prospect
for a dad. Then I worked all the hours on Dynasty, so being a mother
never happened for me. It isn`t a big regret in my life. I am around
children, mys sister and friends have kids. I am close to Sean, my
stepdaughter by my marriage to John. I have a wonderful network of
friends and feel blessed to be surounded by so many people I love.
What are your memories of Jon Derek?
He was an extraordinary man who marched to his own drum. It was a
complete schock whe he died in 1988. When we were together I didn`t
realise how depentent on him I was until he left me for Bo Derek. John
would talk about me being independed and free but, really, all he he
wanted was for me to be at home with him. His death has been very hard
for Bo. I talk to her on the phone and try to offer support, but these
first years without him have been tough on her.
Do you think you`ll ever marry again?
I don`t think I`ve met the great love of my life yet. I`m and optimist
and I believe that, because I`m now the happiest I`ve ever been, I`ll
find someone I`ll love more than I`ve been able to love before. I don`t
know if I`ll marry again, though. One thing`s for sure, I`d never give
up my independence for a relationship like I have in the past. Once you
have a good relationship with yourself, there is no way you can give it
up.
|
