This veteran star may have never planned on becoming an actress, but a chance role on a hit TV show changed everything. Now, in her late fifties, she’s overcome incredible challenges and is thriving more than ever—here’s a glimpse into her inspiring journey and how she’s doing today.
Famed for her role as Natalie Green on “The Facts of Life” (1979–1988), this actress was discovered as a teenager. After facing serious health struggles years later, she had to leave Hollywood but, at 58, is now flourishing once more.
Reflecting on her early years in a 2013 HuffPost article, the celebrity wrote, “Have I said anything at all about performing, or wanting to be an actress? No, sir.”
The actress further explained, “If you had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I probably would’ve said a doctor because I wanted to help people and I have a knack for doing just that.”
She recalled how her journey to stardom happened entirely by chance. In the summer of 1979, just before starting ninth grade, she was called out of her class along with some classmates to meet with TV producers working on a new sitcom set in an all-girls school.
Despite getting a role on “The Facts of Life,” the actress expressed her initial desire to become a doctor.
