What I had was not caused by a cholesterol buildup or anything except it was DNA, i got my dad’s genes for a calcium buildup in my arteries. … There’s much more than just appearance. … A test needs to be done. I had a scan that showed I had a 90 percent blockage. I had no idea.

Susan Lucci

I love spaghetti and meatballs... I eat a lot. by Susan Lucci

I love spaghetti and meatballs... I eat a lot.

spaghetti ice-cream food

It took awhile for me to get used to speaking candidly about my own life. I got into it, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience.

my-own used wonderful

I somehow instinctively knew it would be much better to win. by Susan Lucci

I somehow instinctively knew it would be much better to win.

would-be winning

I want you to know how I feel about my Italian heritage, so I'd like to say a few words in Italian: Verdi, Pavarotti, DiMaggio, Valentino, De Niro, Giuliani. . .

pavarotti family italian

People always ask me, how do you do everything you do? by Susan Lucci

People always ask me, how do you do everything you do?

ask-me asks people

My grandsons really love my apple cake, which is from my grandmot... by Susan Lucci

My grandsons really love my apple cake, which is from my grandmother's recipe.

apples cake grandmother

I married somebody who is very secure. He's been in my corner from the time we met, and we grew in this together.

mets married together

I am the luckiest actress on the planet. by Susan Lucci

I am the luckiest actress on the planet.

planets actresses

Erica Kane was a spectacular role for any actress to play, and I felt so lucky to be the one who got to do it.

roles lucky play

I really always felt that I was going to be an actress. I had a lot of confidence in the fact that I would do well from a very early age. I didn't know how tough the business is.

confidence age facts

My parents were both from extremely different backgrounds. My father's Italian, my mother was of Swedish descent. They're both first-generation Americans.

italian mother father

Life goes on, and I'm moving on to the next thing, but I hope the soaps that are still running will thrive. They have millions of loyal viewers.

goes-on running moving

It is hard sometimes to look into the future, you never know what twist and turn the school of life is going to take.

twists looks school

You know what my greatest personal stumbling block is? My shyness... by Susan Lucci

You know what my greatest personal stumbling block is? My shyness.

stumbling block shy

No one should have to die of a heart attack -- they just need to listen to their symptoms and act on them, my hope in telling my story is that I can help at least one wife, mother, sister and friend.

On a late October afternoon, I had a wakeup call, narrowly missing a severe heart attack, I realized how vulnerable life is and how incredibly grateful I am to be here today.

My father had calcium build up in his arteries, it's my DNA. by Susan Lucci

My father had calcium build up in his arteries, it's my DNA.

It’s the same things we know about, eating well and exercising. by Susan Lucci

It’s the same things we know about, eating well and exercising.

In 1949, when I was 2, my family moved from Yonkers, NY, to a development of brick houses in Elmont, a Long Island suburb of New York City. What I remember most about the house was the glider on our porch. I used to sit there evenings close to my father, Victor, as he talked about the moon and the stars. He taught me to dream big.

me family stars father

Overcoming my shyness has been a lifelong struggle. by Susan Lucci

Overcoming my shyness has been a lifelong struggle.

been shyness struggle overcoming