Stealing the Scene

Marg Helgenberger investigates all she has to offer!

By Boonie Siegler
Women’s Health Today – Summer 2009

Saline solution? Got it. Lip gloss? Wallet and keys? Check, check. Ready to go. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” star Marg Helgenberger’s basic tool kit illustrates the contrast between her simplified life and that of her TV character, senior crime scene investigator Catherine Willows, who requires a vast array of high-tech equipment and latex gloves to get her job done.

The contrast doesn’t stop there. “Catherine’s a former exotic dancer, a Vegas girl who’s connected to the history of the town,” says Helgenberger, one of the original cast members of the popular CBS drama. “But over the years we’ve both grown wiser, more reflective, confident, relaxed and assured.” Recently turning the big 5-0, it’s clear that Helgenberger is comfortable and happy in her own skin. And why not? The Nebraska native has a youthfulness about her that women half her age would envy. “Being open-minded is an important factor in staying young,” explains the actress. “Remaining open to new ideas and interpretations and not passing judgment makes not only you, but the world, a happier place.”

Fighting hardship, onscreen and off
Helgenberger’s world includes her role as mom to 19-year-old Hugh, her son with actor Alan Rosenberg (the couple separated in 2008). She splits her time between family, friends and a successful career in which she’s won the hearts of TV viewers, shared in CSI’s Screen Actors Guild award in 2005 and earned an Emmy for her portrayal of a tough prostitute in “China Beach” in 1990. “I like edgier material because it suits my nature better. Bad girls or complicated women are always more fun to play than good girls,” she says. “I feel an affinity for people who’ve been through hardships but keep going.”

On top of that list is Helgenberger’s mother, a breast cancer survivor. “My mom’s always looked on the bright side of life; I respect that type of person.” In part because of her mother’s experience, Helgenberger donates her time to various cancer charity events, hosting her own annual Celebrity Weekend to fight breast cancer in Omaha, Neb., since 1997, and attending last September’s “Stand Up To Cancer” event put together by the Entertainment Industry Foundation. On a more personal level, Helgenberger’s preventive measures include her annual physician visit. “I’ve been betting yearly mammograms for a long time,” she acknowledges. “And I do self-examinations regularly.”

Taking care from the inside out
Helgenberger knows the importance of nutritious eating: Yogurt, fresh berries, salad greens, tuna, sliced turkey, milk, orange juice and teas are among her nutritional staples. “I’m big on drinking lots of water and teas,” she says. “I start my day with a protein-packed smoothie made with yogurt, rice milk and fresh fruit like berries or papaya.” But she’s not a sergeant with the food police. “I love chocolate chip cookies too much,” she laughs. “And those Girl Scout Thin Mints…soul food like fried chicken with macaroni and cheese…let’s see, I like Italian food…” Helgenberger continues, ticking off her list of guilty pleasures. “I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a great pasta or pizza? Thin crust and not too cheesy!”

Growing older gracefully
But that doesn’t mean Helgenberger can simply ignore the pressures Hollywood’s ageism places on women. “I certainly want to look the best I possibly can, and I’ve always been a disciplined and motivated person. But I really have to work with what I’ve got and grow older gracefully. I don’t wear some of the clothes I wore 10 years ago—and certainly not the ones I wore 20 years ago.”

To keep her 5-foot-6-inch figure in shape, Helgenberger attends twice-weekly yoga sessions, hikes with her dog, Henry, and meditates daily. “Stress in general is bad for your health and well-being. That’s why I do yoga and meditate for 20 minutes every morning,” says Helgenberger. “Being out among nature also reduces my stress in a visual way. A long walk, hanging out at the beach or just appreciating the outdoors does wonders.”

Singing a simple song
A new element of calm for Helgenberger is a local book club she started a few years ago “Good reading material’s always important. But I’m not one of those readers who can plow through a novel every week because I get distracted from all the things on my plate.”

Helgenberger’s distractions come in many forms. So what would this self-described “loyal, hard-working, fun-loving” woman do with an extra hour in a day? “I’d probably play my guitar. I’d sing songs I’ve learned or want to learn. I guess you could say that’s just another distraction,” she smiles, “but I’d say it’s simply another stress reducer.”     ♦