Donna wears a Crème Ostrich Feather Coat by designer Mark Zunino and jewelry from the Nolan Miller Glamour Collection.

The Ageless Donna Mills

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES FRANKLIN

STYLING BY RENE’ HORSCH

FASHION BY MARK ZUNINO, AND CAROLINA HERRERA

JEWELRY FROM THE NOLAN MILLER GLAMOUR COLLECTION

You may know Donna Mills best for portraying the scheming and manipulative Abby on the Primetime drama series “Knots Landing.” Recently, Donna was cast for a part in Jordan Peele’s film, Nope, which most certainly will put her back on Hollywood’s radar. At age 81, she wants Hollywood to know she’s ready to jump back into the industry and has no plans to stop her passion for acting any time soon.

I sat with Donna and asked her questions about herself and what makes her a successful woman today.

JF: In your opinion, what makes a woman strong, independent, and elegant?

DM: “Wow, all of those things. I think what makes a woman strong is confidence—having confidence in herself and her own abilities, style, and looks. Strength comes from having the confidence to be sure you know what you are doing. I believe that makes anyone confident, but a woman particularly.”

“I believe what makes me independent is that I make my own money … always have. Never have I been with a man who pays all the bills. I’ve tried to teach my daughter that too—to be independent and always feel safe, you have to have your own money.”

“Elegance comes from confidence. A woman will often dress a certain way, and if she’s unsure about her confidence, it will show. But if she walks out feeling it, she will be elegant.”

Donna wears a Blush Baby Sequined Dress by designer Mark Zunino and jewelry from the Nolan Miller Glamour Collection.

JF: What are some of your favorite things to do to relax and feel comfortable?

DM: “Playing tennis. Most people probably wouldn’t feel that’s relaxing, but something about being active takes you away mentally. On the tennis court, I can’t think about anything except the game. It takes me out of any problems I might have, so it is very relaxing. I’m a doer, and I can’t sit and read a book for hours and hours. I’m too antsy … I have to be moving. I think it comes from being a dancer, which is how I started. I’m happiest when I’m doing stuff, not just lounging.”

JF: What is your secret to having a balanced life in a career that can, at times, be chaotic?

DM: “I don’t know if I have a secret. It’s always been that way, and, at times, it is chaotic. Just when you think you’re doing one thing, something else comes along, and then you have to go off on location for two months. So life is always topsy turvy. You have to learn to go with the punches and not look at them as punches but as opportunities.”

JF: Besides talent, your name is synonymous with fashion and style. What are some of your favorite tips everyone can pull from to be more stylish?

DM: “I think probably one of the biggest things is having a good classic wardrobe. Classic pants, blazers, dresses. If you always have these, you can add your personal touches, feel confident in your skin, and be ready for almost everything.”

JF: Being a celebrity and single parent must have challenges. What are some of the high and low points with your teen/adult daughter?

DM: “She’s a really good kid, so the high points have been many. There was the regular teenage stuff, but she was a straight-A student, did modeling gigs, and has always been very responsible. She’s always made me very proud of her.”

JF: Your daughter is now in her 20s. How has your relationship changed now that she is an adult?

DM: “We are better friends now. There is less that I have to impose on her as a mom and parent. She was over last night, and we watched a movie together. We talk about everything, and it’s really nice to have that bond of friendship as well as our mother/daughter relationship.”

JF: How much did she lean on you for help with her career?

DM: “She was very clear not to take any help from me. I wanted to give it, but she wanted to do everything on her own. Because she was a child of a celebrity, she didn’t want people to see things being handed to her, so she got what she wanted because of herself.”

JF: You have a vineyard. How did that come about?

DM: “The vineyard came about by my partner Larry Gilman, who went up there to cut back the weeds and vines because they were killing the trees. While he was up there, he went crazy! I thought if you took all the brush down, it would make the soil erode and slide into the yard. I was not for it initially, but he got a geologist who said the earth was good. Larry talked to vintners, eventually put in the steps, and cleared the area because it was nothing but dead trees and brush. He planted in 2014, and we got a crop the following year. In 2016 our first vintage won a silver medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, which totally surprised us. Since then, we’ve won one more silver and a bronze.”

Donna wears a Black Strapless Taffeta Dress by designer Carolina Herrera and jewelry from the Nolan Miller Glamour Collection.

JF: You have done daytime TV and nighttime TV and film. What are the differences, and how was it to transition from one platform to another?

DM: “Film and Television are shot the same way and would be preferred by most actors. I did a soap opera years ago called Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, and recently, I did General Hospital. The difference in how they are done now is so different. We used to come in the day before, rehearse the script, and work with the director. You’d come in the next day, go on the stage with cameras, and rehearse more than you’d shoot. It was like a real acting experience. It was hard because you were learning a lot of dialogue daily.”

“But what they do now is like three shows a day. There’s no rehearsal, no time to do anything creative, and I didn’t find it very satisfying for me as an actor because I’m a person who likes to rehearse and find the little things that make a scene unforgettable. There is no time for that. The actors who do it all the time, I give them credit because … Boy, it’s tough! They do a tremendous job.”

JF: Like everyone, you have had your career ups and downs. What do you feel inspired you to stay on course?

DM: “I was obsessed and very driven. I knew what I wanted and what I wanted to do to get there.”

JF: How do you feel you inspire other women with their career, social, and personal goals?

DM: “If I do inspire them, and I hope I do, I guess just by the fact that I’m still doing my job at 81. It isn’t over yet. My goal right now is to be an inspiration to older women—women who give up at 60 and sit in the rocking chair. My life would be complete if, at this age, I could be an inspiration to women not to give up.”

Donna wears a vintage fur coat and is photographed with Steven Christensen.

JF: What word of advice do you have for upcoming actors?

DM: “I always tell actors if you love to act and it’s a passion, then go for being an actor. Don’t do it because you want to be a star. If your main goal is to be a star, you will be disappointed. If you love the craft and if stardom comes from it, great. If it doesn’t, the most important thing is you’re doing what you love to do.”

JF: Is there a director you would love to work with or a film project you would love to work on?

DM: “There are so many. I’d love to do a costume drama. A Downton Abby-type project. I would love to work with Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson. They are the most amazing because they are so in the characters. I would love to work with Jordon Peele again, but I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to use the same people.”

JF: How do you feel about Reality television?

DM: “I can’t watch reality shows. I did a reality show several years ago produced by my friend Leslie Greif called Queens of Drama. When Leslie called me to do it, I said I would not do a reality show. He said let me send you the outline about it. I liked the idea. It was about several actresses trying to get a primetime drama on TV, and they each had their own story that they wanted to get on the air. There was no backstabbing campy stuff that seems to happen on many other reality shows. The situation made you adlib and improvise, sharpening those skills. We all had a fun time doing it.”

Donna wears a vintage fur coat.

JF: How do you feel about the recent events and changes in America today?

DM: “I’ve been fighting for women’s rights for many years and never thought Roe v Wade was in danger. Like many, I thought it was a law that couldn’t be overturned, and I’m so disappointed in this country. Trying to outlaw Gay marriage is so abhorrent to me that it makes me crazy. What happened to the division of Church and State? All of the current issues are religious beliefs, and why are they being imposed on us?

JF: You have been an environmentalist for quite some time. What changes have you seen, and where are we still lacking?

DM: “We are still lacking almost everywhere, but I must say the auto industry is turning around and making so many more electric and hybrid vehicles. Hopefully, soon we will be off fossil fuels. It will help us be less dependent on foreign countries, and that’s a very good thing.”

JF: How can we collectively and individually make a difference to help the environment?

DM: “I used to say recycle, but we are now finding out that so much just isn’t getting recycled. We must use less plastic and stay very committed to everything we can do to encourage change.”

JF: Thank you, Donna Mills, for being the wonderful, talented person you are and taking the time to speak to CHIC COMPASS magazine.

DM: “My pleasure.”

THANK YOU

Donna Mills
DonnaMills.com
instagram.com/thedonnamills

James Franklin (Photography)
instagram.com/jamesfranklinofficial

Rene’ Horsch (Stylist)
instagram.com/rene_horsch

Mark Zunino (Fashion)
markzunino.com
instagram.com/mark_zunino

Steven Christensen (Model)
instagram.com/prettycountrybro