Shear Beauty

With a hit TV-show and her own brand, Jaclyn Smith is busier than ever, six years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Written by Chris Mann
Photo Courtesy of Bravo

With a hit reality show, her own product lines and a devoted family, Jaclyn Smith embraces every minute since beating breast cancer.

Ever since Charlie bestowed Angel wings on her more than 30 years ago, Jaclyn Smith has publicly epitomized leading a wholesome—and whole—life. The Texas-born actress’ family-centered upbringing helped her avoid the pitfalls of Hollywood while staying down-to-earth as a doting daughter, wife and mom during her ascent to pop-culture immortality. But even her Southern grace and celestial charm couldn’t help her float above the indiscriminate reach of breast cancer. In 2002, Smith’s doctor discovered a mass when she had her annual mammogram. A biopsy confirmed Stage 1 cancer. Disbelief, fear and a lumpectomy with radiation soon followed—all happily punctuated by a clean bill of health, thanks in large part to early detection.

But the prolific miniseries queen turned self-branding businesswoman hardly slowed down during her battle. Instead, she forged ahead balancing TV and film gigs, her home-furnishings and fashion lines, and her favorite role of all: mother to son Gaston, 26, and daughter Spencer Margaret, 22. While still playing an active part in her children’s adult lives, the former “Charlie’s Angels” star also continues to empower women as spokeswoman for the Strength in Knowing breast cancer awareness campaign. Breathtakingly beautiful at 61, the former Breck Girl and Wella Balsam spokesmodel—also still famous for her lovely locks as host of Bravo’s hit reality series “Shear Genius”—reflects on her personal and professional challenges, and the priceless value of family and friends during her treatment.

Great Health: A reality show, acting jobs, apparel and home-furnishing businesses—does staying busy and creative help keep you vital and healthy?

Jaclyn Smith: It keeps you young and challenged. I really like the challenge. That’s my reason for going into new areas all the time—from reality shows to doing more branding.

GH: What does it mean to you to be inspiring women’s lifestyles, including educating them about breast cancer?

JS: I think that being a brand and a business is my way of giving back. Now, being a breast cancer survivor—a portion of the sales of my clothes and my upholstery goes to breast cancer research. It’s another way to give back. And I think for celebrities, that’s important. Last year I did a five-city tour informing women of breast cancer risk factors. We reached a lot of women through Strength in Knowing. And I’m doing three cities this year. At the time I was diagnosed, I thought, Oh, I don’t want anybody to know. I’ll just get through this. Now my need is to spread the word, because women are in denial. It’s very fulfilling to me.

GH: You’d always been quite healthy. What put you at risk for breast cancer, and what helped you beat it?

JS: I’ve always had a pretty healthy lifestyle. I never drank, never touched a drug—never wanted to. I’m married to a pediatric heart surgeon [Bradley Allen], so I eat very healthy now. So I was surprised. What I learned is that 80%—maybe now it’s 90%—of breast cancer cases are women over 50 with no family history.

I think when anyone hears those words, “You have breast cancer,” your world stops. I was very fortunate that I went in for my yearly mammogram. They said, “Oh, this isn’t anything, but we’re going to do a little biopsy.” It was found thanks to early detec- tion, and that’s the key to a good prognosis. Other women think that as they get older, they’re out of the woods and don’t need to do a mammogram, but it’s just the opposite. Being female and being older puts you at greater risk each decade that passes.

GH: Was there a point when you thought you might have to get a mastectomy?

JS: Each case is individual, but certainly with mine, lumpectomy with radiation was the best way to go. Because it was small, and I was Stage 1. If you have positive [lymph] nodes, it’s another whole story. But we got it early.

GH: How did you maintain your personal grace and professional momentum during your health crisis?

JS: I was fortunate and I’m grateful that I had a lumpectomy with radiation. I did not go through chemo. And I must say from that period on, I’ve never been busier. I launched the furniture line, I was a semiregular on “The District” on CBS, and I did the “Charlie’s Angels” movie. And from that moment on, I went in different directions. I don’t know if it was my thought of, Wow, I’m not going to waste a moment when something this traumatic happens. Yes, it was traumatic, but it gave me strength I didn’t know I had. I’ve always been pretty grateful, but this gave me a sense of deep gratitude. It made me realize how—in a second—things can change, so be very present in the moment, embrace it and appreciate it.

GH: And how did your family and friends react to your diagnosis?

JS: I saw the fear in my family’s eyes. They had a difficult time. I was in traffic coming home—never go for the results of a biopsy alone, by the way—and called my husband and told him I had breast cancer. He said, “You must be mistaken. I’m gonna call your doctor.” Then I called Mom. She said, “Oh, honey, you must’ve misunderstood.” I said, “No, Mom, no.” Then I got home and sat my children down. My son looked at me and said, “You’ll make it OK, right, Mom? You’re gonna’ be all right. Just give me that answer.” In other words, if I said it’d be OK, it’d be OK. And then my daughter cried for weeks and couldn’t sleep. So everyone handled it differently.

I knew my family would be with me through breast cancer, but what was surprising was the power of my girlfriends. They supported me and blessed and empowered me. So I think the power of girlfriends is a very special thing in life, and I embrace mine. It taught me that to be a friend and have a friend is one of the best gifts. There wasn’t a time I went to radiation by myself. And “The District” rearranged their schedule to accommodate my radiation treatments. Support is everything. Love is everything. I felt so embraced and so loved that it made me fly through it.

GH: You’re obviously in great shape now. Do you have any tips for maintaining overall wellness?

JS: I’m also a former ballerina, a dancer, so I’m still working out as much as I can. I do Pilates and I want to start yoga. I do my aerobics. Studies show doing aerobic exercise three or four times a week cuts down the incidence of breast cancer.

As we’re talking, I’m going up and down and doing some exercises. I don’t sit that much. I run the dogs at the park, do the treadmill. But I really like Pilates. I have a Pilates machine in our home. I do all the stretches. It protects your knees—you don’t have the weight of your body, but you’re still doing 30 pliés in a row. Some weeks when I’m traveling I have to do my workout in a compromised way, whether it’s just weight for my arms or doing some sit-ups. I target my core because I know that protects my back. That’s probably the weakest part of my body. My legs are very strong. I’ve exercised most of my life. My daughter’s certified in yoga, so I have a perfect teacher.

Also, being able to give of yourself is so important. It’s all about getting away from yourself and living beyond yourself. I just find that a more fulfilling life. It sounds kinda’ goody two-shoes, but it’s really the best way to go.

What keeps me together is my family, my friends and my upbringing. It’s a safe place. When you have a safe place to go, I think you’re healthier mentally, emotionally and physically.

GH: Your “Charlie’s Angels” girlfriends, Kate Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, also have struggled with cancer. And Cheryl Ladd is also a strong women’s health advocate. Were you able to draw on each for strength during these health scares?

JS: Certainly I was there for Kate, and when I had breast cancer we were sort of going in different directions, but she absolutely was there. She had adopted a child and sometimes you’re here or you’re there. And certainly we have both been there for Farrah, who lives down the street from me. She’s very strong and she’s really giving it everything she has with her treatment. And Cheryl is a great girl who really has her life together, so I admire that. She leads a very down-to-earth life. In marriage, family, relationships—she’s a giver.

GH: The four of you were so identified as empowered women who fought for themselves. And in your health struggles you’ve shown exactly how much you’ve become that.

JS: We’re survivors. We’re fighters. Oddly enough, “Charlie’s Angels” is really about that—women making their way and becoming financially and emotionally independent. People don’t often look at it on that deeper level, but that’s what it was. We set out to do a job and we succeeded—sometimes with the help of each other, but we weren’t depending on anybody but ourselves.

GH: How has your Texas upbringing helped you maintain your core through the years?

JS: I think upbringing is everything in life, and I had the best. I had an idyllic childhood and great parents that I admired; I really didn’t feel that need to rebel. Growing up in Houston—it was sort of like a small town but yet it offered many cultural advantages. My dad was a dentist, and my mom was a homemaker and took care of us in a beautiful way. You couldn’t have asked for better. They’re my best friends, and I still have my mom. She’s amazing. A year ago she had a fall and broke her neck, but she’s fine now. She’s out of her brace, she’s making her way, and she’s a wonderful, inspiring example. She’s 92 and looks 62. She’s truly amazing—a true inspiration. And my grandfather lived to be almost 102.

I look around today, and I hope I gave that same upbringing to my children. It’s just that they are raised in a different time, with cell phones and computers, and they weren’t raised in Houston. So you try to give them what you had. Family’s still No. 1, even though my kids are grown. Everything’s sort of arranged around them. But it’s truly what makes my world go ‘round.

GH: Do you miss eating Southern-fried foods?

JS: Growing up in Texas, eating hamburgers and fried foods was pretty common. Now I eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, not a lot of meat—I grew up on meat in Texas. But being on a low-fat diet now after breast cancer and being married to a pediatric heart surgeon, I sort of modified my diet. I still have to have my hamburgers every now and then, because I love them. But you don’t have to put on mayonnaise, and you can leave off the french fries if you want.