Knot’s Landing vet Donna Mills, 84, worked with Clint Eastwood and is pals with Jaclyn Smith, see her now

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Donna Mills was a top star in the 1980s as she worked in both movies and TV shows.

The 84-year-old Hollywood looker got her start in 1966 with a guest role on The Secret Storm.

That same year she could be seen on Broadway in Woody Allen’s comedy Don’t Drink the Water. 

She first appeared in a film called The Incident the following year, and then starred in the soap opera Love Is a Many Splendored Thing from 1967 to 1970.

Her breakthrough came with a leading role in the 1971 thriller, Play Misty for Me, where she starred as Clint Eastwood’s girlfriend.

She next was in the heist film Murph the Surf (1975).

Her biggest break came when she landed the part of Abby Cunningham on the popular nighttime drama, Knots Landing, alongside Ted Shackelford and Joan Van Ark.

She recently attended the Farrah Fawcett Foundation’s 2025 Tex-Mex Fiesta at The Rustic in Dallas, Texas, alongside her friends Alana Stewart, Morgan Fairchild, and Jaclyn Smith.

See her now.

She wore a light turquoise dress with beaded fringe, cinched with a black belt and accessorized with long earrings.

Mills appeared much younger than her 84 years. 

While promoting her show, Ladies Of The ’80s, alongside Linda Gray, Loni Anderson, Nicollette Sheridan, and Fairchild, she shared some of her secrets to staying in Hollywood shape with First For Women magazine last year.

The influencer explained she’s avoiding carbohydrates, which means no more cinnamon rolls or bagels. ‘I enjoy bread, sweets, and ice cream,’ she shared, ‘but carbs cause me to gain weight, so I limit them.’ As a dancer, she found that a protein-rich diet worked best for her.

She’s discovered a way to satisfy her sweet tooth recently. ‘I started using a Keto cookbook to make desserts with little to no sugar, and they’re amazing!’ she said.

Donna also talked about her simple dinners. She often makes spaghetti squash instead of pasta, either using fresh squash she prepares herself or a pre-made version. She sautés garlic and butter, then tops the squash with it and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, calling it ‘divine and satisfying’.

Mills also shared what she does when she gets sleepy in the afternoon.

The pinup explained that she usually gets a sudden wave of sleepiness around 4 PM, and starts yawning. She prefers not to drink coffee at that time because it keeps her up at night, so instead she goes outside for a quick, energizing walk – even just ten minutes helps.

‘It wakes me up and refreshes me.’

And she reaches for the water instead of a soda.

Mills explained that staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining energy levels. He used to ignore his thirst and go without water all day, but he’s now realized that wasn’t healthy.

I currently drink around two large bottles of water each day. I sometimes add a slice of lemon for taste, and when I work out, I’ll mix in an electrolyte supplement.

She also told AARP – The Magazine how she she stays young looking.

The celebrated actor encouraged people to keep contributing their talents and experience, no matter their age. ‘Don’t retire from life just because you reach 60, 70, or even older,’ they said.

And she talked diet too.

Donna explained that when she was young, she avoided all pasta, sugar, bread, ice cream, and cookies – basically, any sweet or starchy foods.

I’ve definitely gotten back to eating normally, but I’m still mindful of what I consume. I’m not fully vegetarian, but I really enjoy growing, harvesting, and eating lots of fresh vegetables – it’s become a big part of my life.

I stay active by playing tennis three times a week and doing light weight training. Like many people my age, I have arthritis, and it can be painful at times.

Mills became a first-time mother at the age of 54 when she adopted her baby daughter Chloe in 1994.  

‘I was single, I was 54, and I badly wanted to be a mother,’ said the star.

Adopting was an easy choice. I took time off work for many years while Chloe, now 28 and working as a model and at Soho House, was growing up, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Romance came later, she said.

I was sixty years old when I met Larry Gilman, and I feel very fortunate that I did. Before him, I was attracted to men who were a bit troubled, but with Larry, I immediately knew I wanted someone different – someone kind and dependable.

The star said she keeps in touch with her Knot’s Landing costars too. 

Joan Van Ark and Michele Lee have remained close friends for four decades since working together on Knots Landing. We still make appearances for our fans, and it’s wonderful to see some of them recreate the iconic makeup looks inspired by my character, Abby!

She shared that playing the villain on Knot’s Landing cost her friends. 

She played scheming vixen Abby Fairgate on the Dallas spinoff Knots Landing from 1980 to 1989.

When I was on Knots Landing, I noticed many women seemed distant towards me off-camera. At first, I was confused, but then it hit me: they associated me with the manipulative character I played and worried I’d set my sights on their husbands!

She’s eager to take on more acting roles and is particularly excited about playing complex characters. She recently landed a part as a cruel grandmother in a new film and hopes this leads to a long-running series – something like ‘Succession,’ which she admires – where she can fully embrace villainous roles.

In a recent interview with People magazine, the Chicago-born star revealed her secrets to staying youthful and beautiful.

The woman, who is in her eighties, explained that she exercises daily. As a former dancer, she has a ballet barre in a small home gym and recently received a Peloton bike as a gift. She also incorporates weight training and plenty of stretching into her routine.

Donna described her diet as consistently healthy, explaining that she avoids sugar, pasta, and starches. She focuses on eating proteins and lots of vegetables, many of which she grows herself – like kale, arugula, and tomatoes. She especially enjoys eating fresh vegetables straight from the garden. While she doesn’t consider herself a skilled cook, she does make a great cheesecake.

As a longtime fan, I always love hearing Donna’s honest advice! She recently told People that the biggest secret to good skin is seriously avoiding the sun – she says it makes a huge difference. And when someone asked her about getting work done, she had the best response! She’d rather embrace natural aging and have a few lines than risk looking unnatural. She put it perfectly – she’d rather have lines than a ‘duck bill’! I admire her so much for staying true to herself.

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2025-11-04 17:34