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Interview with Marilu Henner PDF Print E-mail
A Conversation with Marilu Henner and Lyle Hurd, editor of totalhealth

Marilu Henner has starred on stage in several successful TV series, in films, in commercials, in television movies and variety specials. She is the best-selling author of five books. She produces and develops TV projects and has hosted her own daily TV talk show. She costarred with many of Hollywood’s major male stars and has been directed by some of the best directors in Hollywood and on Broadway—she recently starred in the national touring production of “Annie Get Your Gun” and the Broadway production of “Chicago.”

The only way Marilu Henner can keep up with the hectic pace of being Marilu Henner is her inexhaustible supply of energy. She has shared the secret of that in her two well-being bestsellers which soared to the top of the New York Times and other bestseller lists. Harper Collins’ Marilu Henner’s Total Health Makeover and Marilu Henner’s 30-day Total Health Makeover, as well as Healthy Life Kitchen have established her as one of the most knowledgeable collectors and teachers of health wisdom. The information which the actor and full-time mother has gathered and the discipline to maintain her own super energetic and demanding schedule have made her health books key reference works in homes around the world.

Henner has two school age sons, Nicky and Joey. Joey’s birth was shown on the Henner-hosted national television documentary “We’re Having a Baby.” With the documentarian’s cameras following her, she went directly from guesting on “Comic Relief” to the maternity ward. The ABC-TV special followed her during the pregnancy, right through the actual delivery.

Her book, I Refuse to Raise a Brat (coauthored with noted psychoanalyst Dr. Ruth Velikovsky Sharon) has proved a reading must for parents who suspect that modern day permissiveness is not the true reflection of parental love nor the best prescription for happy young lives. Similarly her latest book, Healthy Kids, further explores instilling within our children the ideals that will enable them to maintain healthy balances in their lives from an early age.

Growing up in a large, loving family in Chicago, Marilu chose performing at an early age. With a mother who was a longtime dance teacher (the studio was in the garage at their home), Marilu gravitated naturally to musical theater, starring first in college, local and regional theater, then appearing in the original production of “Grease.” In Chicago she declined the opportunity to appear in the first Broadway production so she could start college but when they asked her to star in the national touring company of “Grease,” Marilu said yes, even though it meant leaving school. After the tour she joined the Broadway show in the role of “Marty.” Other Broadway productions included “Over Here,” “Pal Joey” and “Social Security,” directed by Mike Nichols.

Although she has performed in all areas of entertainment, including over 30 commercials ranging from Annie Sullivan to the Samsonite Luggage girl, what Marilu loves best is the excitement of a live audience. “I definitely enjoy being in front of people,” she says. “It gives me that exciting immediate rush.” In her “spare” time, Marilu managed to write a previous best-selling book, By All Means, Keep on Moving, relating all the funny and sad experiences of growing up as part of a large family and of the romance, glamour, success and heartbreak of a star career on Broadway and in Hollywood.

TH: Marilu, with five books over the past few years, starring roles in “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Chicago” and other entertainment projects, your interactive Web site (marilu.com) and being a hands-on mom to two young sons, you epitomize the saying “If you want to get the job done, ask a busy person.” What is your number one priority?

MH: My family. The boys are very much involved in almost every aspect of my life. For example, we are going to spend the summer together in New York. I am going there to play the leading role in “The Allergist’s Wife.” We are looking forward to seeing and experiencing the wonderful sights and events of New York City in the summer. They have assignments when I am writing a book, they help with the health fairs I run at schools and they have begun to join appropriate chat room discussions on marilu.com. Also I support their activities— they love school and baseball and belonging to a theater group. In addition, my careers are my hobbies. I have been dancing since I was three, in musical theater since college. Writing is my passion and enabling people to live healthier lives is my personal commitment to the greater community.

TH: I understand your major epiphany regarding health was precipitated by the loss of your parents.

MH: My dad died of a heart attack at 52. Mom died at 58 of arthritis. She was teaching dancing in December. Went to bed with the flu in January. Went to the hospital in February. Experienced excruciating pain and endured numerous medical procedures, including having her leg amputated in April and died in May. All during her journey her body tried to fight back. The epiphany for me was that if your body tries to heal itself, no matter what the adversity, you can imagine what it can do for you if you do the right things for it. I took this as a sign and committed that if my mother recovered, I would learn everything I could about the human body to make sure she could live a better life from there on. And if she didn’t live, I was going to make sure this doesn’t happen to my brother and sisters or me and my loved ones. I don’t want to lose anyone else in my life, if I can help it.

TH: Your books are excellent how-to guides. It must take a good deal of time and energy to collect all of the information you convey.

MH: Yes, they are very practical and there is a great deal of information. My first book, Marilu Henner’s Total Health Makeover—10 Steps to Your B.E.S.T. Body (Balance Energy Stamina Toxin Free) is sort of an encyclopedia of what you need to know to establish and maintain optimum health. The second book, The 30 Day Total Health Makeover, as it implies, is what you can accomplish in 30 days. Healthy Kitchen is an how-to on setting up your kitchen not only in terms of organization but how to make it into your own health factory. It is really hands on, including shopping, recipes and even a “healthy junk food” section for converting the naughty treats you crave into nutritious recipes you can enjoy any time.

I Refuse to Raise a Brat provides simple and straightforward advice on how to raise secure, happy and self-reliant children. I Refuse to Raise a Brat teaches readers how to distinguish between overgratification and love, break the pattern of overindulgence and offer children the balance of frustration and gratification they need.

TH: Your newest book, Healthy Kids, has received terrific reviews from both parents and health care practitioners. Please tell us about the project.

MH: Healthy food equals healthy kids. And Healthy Kids provides the essential information for creating a lifetime of nutritional eating habits for your growing children. With expert advice from pediatricians, physical trainers, teachers and expert nutritionists on all the aspects of nourishing your family, Healthy Kids helps your children eat smart and stay active for life. American children are more obese, sedentary and sicker than any other time in our history. Their palate has been destroyed by bad food. They can only taste the extreme flavors, salt, sugar and extreme spices. And these aren’t even real flavors, they are created somewhere off the New Jersey turnpike in factories. We must understand the dangerous chemical toxins we are pumping into their little brains which leads to kids being diagnosed with ADD. Then we pump them up with drugs. Parents must also realize they are the role models for food, exercise, alcohol and tobacco from the time their children can begin to observe. If we can help them find the natural and healthy path from the beginning, it can change not only their lives but ours.

TH: After thoroughly reviewing Healthy Kids I would recommend it to any parent or grandparent. Actually much of the book is relevant to any adult who needs to reorient his or her eating, exercise and overall approach to good health. You also have an interactive Web site www.marilu.com.

MH: Yes, what an exciting project. It is a place where the readers of our books and an audience for healthy lifestyle messages can communicate with us. Whether it is a chat room, a class for kids or adults or one of a number of seminars for all sorts of reasons. It is like an extended neighborhood or group of friends. People from Paris, London, Italy, Singapore, St. John’s, Australia, all over the world interact with marilu.com. It’s truly amazing and will be a major factor in our growth as communicators.

TH: In closing, what do you do to keep Marilu Henner healthy?

MH: First, I try to practice what I preach. I am very careful about what I eat. No chemical additives, sugar, dairy or meat. I try to break a sweat for at least 10–20 minutes a day by using a treadmill, by doing Pilates exercises or playing with my kids. I shop in a health food store, take nutritional supplements and rely on input from health care professionals, including a nutritionist and homeopath. As I mentioned earlier, my family is my first priority and whether on stage or in person or at marilu.com, I am energized by interacting with other people.

TH: Marilu, thank you for your time. It has been a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet you.

Marilu Henner’s latest book, Healthy Kids, helps parents give their children a foundation in healthy eating and leading an active lifestyle.
 
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