Fear is definitely a word in Valerie Bertinelli’s vocabulary, but it’s one that she is always ready to tackle head on. And that includes overcoming her fear of disrobing for the cover of her new book, appropriately titled “Getting Naked” (Harper Wave, $29.99).
Baring her skin was nothing to baring her soul in the book, which comes out Tuesday. No topic — menopause, family relationships, grief and even her gray roots — is off limits in the book, which is laced with her good humor as she offers advice to help others with their own lives.
The actor, 65, whom TV viewers first met in 1975 on the long-running sitcom “One at a Time,” will talk about the book with model and author Paulina Porizkova at Madison Theatre in Rockville Centre on March 11 in an event hosted by Long Island LitFest.
Bertinelli chatted by phone with Newsday’s Daniel Bubbeo about the book and her other projects, including her new digital platform Valerie’s Place — where she’ll share recipes, have a book club and present podcasts — and the Lifetime movie “Love Again” with Henry Czerny and Eric McCormack which will air in May.
I have to say that cover is fantastic. Were you nervous about posing naked?
It was just one of those things I had never done. I figured now is the time to do it. I’m literally getting naked emotionally and physically as well. And I don’t have to do it again. Sometimes it feels good to have beautiful pictures taken of yourself. I can look back on this photo session and go “Wow!” First of all, for me it was exciting to step outside of my comfort zone. And I still look pretty good.
What made you decide to start a digital platform for your fans?
The fellows at [tech company] Visible Things came to me about two or three years ago after I lost my job at Food Network which was devastating for me because I loved it. … With Valerie’s Place, I’m welcoming people into my kitchen and showing them how easy it is to be a cook and how I can make everyone feel comfortable in the kitchen.
The movie “Love Again” sounds like a different sort of role for you.
It was challenging but I fell in love with the script immediately … There’s a beautiful love story between my husband and me, Then he gets early onset Alzheimer’s. And there is a little story on the side where I fall in love with a doctor. … It’s about the complexities of love and where our heart takes us. I hadn’t acted in about four years, so I was really frightened of it. But I was so ready to go.
Was it hard getting your acting muscles back in shape?
Surprisingly no. The first day of shooting I had to cry, so I had to be raw the first day. It was good, it was really, really good.
You hadn’t done much acting when you got cast in “One Day at a Time.” Why did Norman Lear choose you?
I had come in and read for the casting director a few times and she had brought me back to read with Norman. I reminded him a lot of his daughter, Maggie, and it was as simple as that. He knew that I wasn’t a great talent, but he knew that I had something to work with. Those magical things got me hired for that show.
The last time you were on Long Island was in 2024 when Newsday’s Erica Marcus interviewed you about your cookbook “Indulge” at the Landmark Theater in Port Washington. How well do you know Long Island?
Let me tell you what I know about Long Island. I know that it’s flipping beautiful. It’s such a gorgeous place to visit. I love the people there. It’s a pain to get to. It takes me forever to get to. But it’s so damn worth it because it’s so beautiful and the people are so open and conversive and just good people.
Paulina Porizkova is doing the interview. How did that come about?
Paulina and I have followed each other online for a few years and I’ve always loved her content. She is one of those people who is right out there with her true authentic self and just being vulnerable. And now I finally get to meet her. I haven’t met her yet. We’ve conversed in DMs, so I’m super excited to get to spend an evening with her.
Is there still something else you’re really looking forward to experiencing?
Grandkids. I’m looking forward to that, but I don’t have any control over that, so I’m patient. I’m a very patient person.
WHAT Long Island LitFest presents Valerie Bertinelli
WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. March 11, Madison Theatre at Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
INFO $55; madisontheatre.org
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