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Fear is definitely\u00a0a word in Valerie Bertinelli’s<\/a> 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).<\/p>\n Baring her skin was nothing to baring her soul in the book, which comes out Tuesday. No topic \u2014 menopause, family relationships, grief and even her gray roots \u2014 is\u00a0off limits in the book, which is laced with her good humor as she offers advice to help others with their own lives.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> at Madison Theatre in Rockville Centre on March 11 in an event hosted by Long Island LitFest.<\/p>\n Bertinelli chatted by phone with Newsday’s Daniel Bubbeo about the book and her other projects, including her new digital platform Valerie’s Place<\/a> \u2014\u00a0where she’ll share recipes, have a book club and present podcasts \u2014 and the Lifetime movie “Love Again” with Henry Czerny and Eric McCormack which will air in May.<\/p>\n I have to say that cover is fantastic.\u00a0Were you nervous about posing naked?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was just one of those things I had never done. I figured now is the time to do it. I\u2019m literally getting naked emotionally and physically as well. And I don\u2019t have to do it again.\u00a0Sometimes 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.<\/p>\n What made you decide to start a digital platform for your fans?<\/strong><\/p>\n The fellows at\u00a0[tech company] Visible Things came to me about two or three years ago after I lost my job at Food Network<\/a> 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\u00a0it is to be a cook and how I can make everyone feel comfortable in the kitchen.<\/p>\n The movie “Love Again” sounds like a different sort of role for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n It was challenging but I fell in love with the script immediately … There’s a beautiful love story between my\u00a0husband and me, Then he gets early onset Alzheimer’s. And there\u00a0is a little story on the side where I fall in love with a doctor. … It\u2019s about the complexities of love and where our heart takes us. I hadn\u2019t acted in about four years, so I was really frightened of it. But I was so ready to go.<\/p>\n Was it hard getting your acting muscles back in shape?<\/strong><\/p>\n Surprisingly\u00a0no. 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.<\/p>\n You hadn’t done much acting when you got cast in “One Day at a Time.” Why did Norman Lear<\/a> choose\u00a0you?<\/strong><\/p>\n I had come in and read for the casting director a few times and she had brought me back to read with\u00a0Norman. I reminded him a lot of his daughter, Maggie, and it was as simple as that. He knew that I wasn\u2019t a great talent, but he knew that I had something to work with. Those magical things got me hired for that show.<\/p>\n 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?<\/strong><\/p>\n Let me tell you what I know about Long Island. I know that it\u2019s flipping beautiful. It\u2019s such a gorgeous place to visit. I love the people there. It\u2019s a pain\u00a0to get to. It takes me forever to get to. But it\u2019s so damn worth\u00a0it because it\u2019s so beautiful and the people are so open and conversive and just good people.<\/p>\n Paulina Porizkova is doing the interview. How did that come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n Paulina\u00a0and I\u00a0have followed each other online for a few years and I\u2019ve 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\u2019t met her yet. We\u2019ve conversed in DMs, so I\u2019m super excited to get to spend an evening with her.<\/p>\n Is\u00a0there\u00a0still something else you’re really looking forward to experiencing?<\/strong><\/p>\n Grandkids. I’m looking forward to that, but I don\u2019t have any control over that, so I\u2019m patient. I’m a very patient person.<\/p>\n WHAT <\/strong>Long Island LitFest presents Valerie Bertinelli<\/p>\n WHEN | WHERE<\/strong> 7 p.m. March 11, Madison Theatre at Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre<\/p>\n INFO <\/strong>$55; madisontheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n