American actress, singer, songwriter, author and life coach. Quite the list! You may have seen her as a Mouseketeer on “The New Mickey Mouse Club,” or perhaps as Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life;” Lisa Whelchel was certainly a hit in the 80s! She went on to release a contemporary Christian album, “All Because of You,” as well as becoming a speaker with Women of Faith Christian Conferences.
Whelchel has also found that she is quite the writer, penning books on motherhood, children, friendship and spirituality, with bestsellers “So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling” and “The Facts of Life (and Other Lessons My Father Taught Me).” In 2012, she tied for second on the reality TV series “Survivor: Philippines!” Quite the diversified career, and quite a legacy to leave behind one day!
Maureen McCormick
Best known for her role as Marcia Brady on "The Brady Bunch," the ugly side of fame reared its head, with a recent article disclosing the star was troubled as a young woman. At one point, her addiction was so severe that she would be awake for days on end because to her, it was all that kept her going. When her parents were about to hand her over the police, and her husband Michael Cummings threatened to leave, she went cold turkey.
Whilst battling her addiction, she ventured into stage acting, as well as appearances on reality TV shows. In 2008, her autobiography debuted at number four on The New York Times bestseller list, exposing her controversial past and issues with substance abuse. Whilst she may not be a squeaky-clean role model, she overcame adversity and emerged triumphantly.
Justine Bateman
Most famous for seven seasons on NBC sitcom "Family Ties," is Justine Bateman. Portraying Mallory Keaton, Bateman adds a number of other skills to her repertoire; just this year she sat down with Vanity Fair to discuss her new book "Fame: The Hijacking of Reality." When "Family Ties" saw its end in 1989, Bateman moved on to writing and directing films, such as "Push," "Five Minutes" and "Violet."
In 2016, she also earned a degree from U.C.L.A. in Computer Science, as well as a pilot’s license! But whilst Bateman has done many things, she has something important to say about the phenomenon of the “fame cycle” and its trappings. "Reality programs are the cancer of this particular country. An entire group of people who think they should just show up somewhere and get paid…. it’s when they show the least level of intelligence, or maturity, or composure, or class.”
Erika Eleniak
American-Canadian actress, Playboy Playmate and former model Erika Eleniak was just 13 when she made her debut in Hollywood; in the 1982 film "E.T.the Extra-Terrestrial" as the girl Elliott kissed! Just 7 years later she appeared in Playboy magazine. From there, she shot to fame, starring in "Charles in Charge" and "Baywatch." With her 34-24-32 measurements, she was every man’s dream girl, with her blonde locks and full bust! No more ogling gents! She also had roles in "The Blob," "Under Siege" and "The Beverly Hillbillies."
Eleniak sadly suffered weight issues; yo-yo-ing from underweight, abusing laxatives, to overweight, participating on VH1’s "Celebrity Fit Club." Not only did she battle with her weight, she also suffered a tragic ectopic pregnancy. Soon after though, she fell pregnant once more, giving birth to a healthy baby girl, Indiana. One of her latest films was titled "Marilyn Monroe Back?"
Jacqueline Bisset
Most people find it surprising to hear that Jacqueline Bisset is a renowned British actress and not a French one! However, there is some French blood in this beauty; her mother, Arlette is of French heritage. With a career starting in 1965, her first notable appearance was in the Finney/Hepburn film "Two for the Road," followed by a role in the satirical "Casino Royale" as Miss Goodthighs!
Whilst she played a number of roles that weren’t so remarkable, her decision to star in French films, such as "Day for Night" and "Le Magnifique" in the 70s won her high praise as a serious actress. Her continued love for France was recognized in 2010, when she was awarded the Légion d’honneur insignia, and Nicolas Sarkozy remarked she was a “movie icon.” Fun fact: did you know Jacqueline is the godmother to Angelina Jolie?