Bernadette Peters, 76, Reveals the Everyday Habits That Keep Her "Feeling Youthful"
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Bernadette Peters is giving dessert lovers everywhere a healthy serving of nostalgia.
The Broadway legend, 76, starred in a series of charming TV commercials for Breyers ice cream in 1992. More than 30 years later, she's once again partnering with the brand for a cheeky follow-up campaign. The new ads reimagine Breyer's CarbSmart as an anti-aging (ice) cream, because enjoying life's pleasures is the key to feeling young at heart.
Good Housekeeping went behind-the-scenes during the photoshoot, and spoke exclusively to Bernadette about her wellness secrets, being an animal lover and the person living or dead who she'd most like to share dessert with. (Answer: Shakespeare.)
On embracing aging and taking care of her body:
"The most important thing is to take care of [your body] and do all the things to keep it running in a healthy way," Bernadette tells Good Housekeeping. "It's not only what you look like when you look in the mirror, but it's all the things you could add to your life to make it a healthier life."
Bernadette's workout routine includes walking and weight lifting. "Weight lifting is supposed to be really, really good for your cognitive too," she adds. "And it keeps the muscle on the bone, which keeps your bones strong, so that's something pretty important to do."
"Anything you can do to keep you healthy and feeling youthful — and eating right is one of those things. So that's why this kind of a dessert is a nice thing to have." She tries to eat clean, with a diet that includes fresh fish and vegetables. She also admits, "I have good genes, I'm lucky about that."
On mindfulness and meditation:
Bernadette meditates every day, which she attributes to keeping her feeling her best. "One important thing is to use your mind and [pay attention to] how you think. Actually observe your thinking and go, 'Well maybe I don't want to be negative today. Maybe I can choose how to think positive.'"
She notes that something she's learned "this year more and more is to be mindful and to be grateful."
On teaming back up with Breyers:
"I had such a good time with [the commercials] 30 years ago. I looked them up, you can find them on YouTube. I didn't even know that," she says.
"The campaign is so fun because it's another anti-aging cream, except it's a dab on the tongue rather than on the face," she notes.
On her pets:
The two-time Tony Award winner is also an animal lover. She co-founded Broadway Barks with Mary Tyler Moore, and hosts the annual star-studded adoption event. This year's event will take place on August 3rd. "The Broadway community loves it. It's become their event and it's like having pet therapy between shows on a Saturday," she says.
The adoption advocate says her two dogs — "one for each hand; a pit bull who wears pink pearls and a big shaggy dog" — are what makes her house feel like home. "You wake up in the morning and you see your animal, your dog or your cat and right away you're happy. And that starts your day off in the best way possible."
A dog for each hand and a dab of Breyers on the tongue — what more could a girl need to keep her feeling young?
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