Linda Lusardi: “I’m nearly 60 but I feel sexy and more confident than ever”

After a turbulent few years, model-turned-actress Linda Lusardi opens up about finding happiness and not caring what other people think, just in time to celebrate her milestone birthday

She rose to fame in the ’70s as S a glamour model and became one of the most popular Page 3 girls of all time. Fastforward 40 years from her first topless shoot, and Linda Lusardi still oozes confidence. In fact, as she shows off her impressive figure in a high-cut swimsuit just weeks before her 60th birthday, the actress says she’s never felt so good.

Linda says, “I may be nearly 60, but I feel more confident than ever. When I hit 50, I was more body-conscious, but one of the luxuries of age is that you don’t care what people think. I don’t give a damn, and it’s so liberating!”

Her happiness marks something of a turning point after a tumultuous few years, during which she’s endured a cancer scare, undergone a hysterectomy and lost her beloved father, Nello, after a battle with Alzheimer’s.

“Dad died last year [aged 87], which was very traumatic and it left me feeling depressed,” says Linda. “I lacked energy and was on a downward spiral. It made me think about my own mortality, too.

“But then I realised I needed to pull myself together and start looking after myself. I’d got into the habit of skipping breakfast, then grabbing Mcdonald’s during the day and Chinese or pizza in the evening. I wanted to feel great when I hit 60.”

So, in May, in a bid to feel healthier and happier, Linda started doing 15-minute runs three times a week, and 30 sit-ups a day, toning her stomach and thighs. She celebrated by posing in her swimwear, to mark her big 6-0.

SECOND MARRIAGE

She says, “My cellulite and wobbly bits have firmed up and, if I stand still for a photo, I can get away with it! I feel sexy now, but that’s because my husband, Sam, tells me I’m gorgeous every day. He knows I’m quite insecure, and because of him I feel much better about myself.”

Linda met actor Sam Kane – who is ten years her junior – after an unhappy first marriage to builder Terry Bailey.

“My previous marriage was miserable, but Sam changed my life,” she says. “We still find each other very attractive and he’s romantic, bringing me a cup of tea in the morning and rubbing my feet when I’m watching TV. He’s a wonderful dad to our children, Lucy, who’s 21, and Jack, 18, and is always there for me. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary last week.”

Linda had her hysterectomy in 2016, after discovering a grapefruit-sized lump on her tummy. To her horror, a scan revealed it to be a 9cm tumour on the wall of her womb, and doctors couldn’t be certain it wasn’t cancerous until they removed it, along with her womb and ovaries.

“I was terrified it was cancer,” says Linda, who lives in Hertfordshire. “Thankfully, it

turned out to be a fibroid [a benign fibrous tumour]. I have a photograph of it hanging out of my belly during the operation, it was enormous.”

The former Emmerdale actress adds, “My hysterectomy is the best thing I’ve done – I didn’t realise how many other issues the fibroid was causing by pushing on my bladder and bowel. Thankfully, the scar from the op is tiny.”

GOING THROUGH ‘THE CHANGE’

Linda is still on HRT, which she’s taken since her early 50s to combat the symptoms of the menopause. “I was in denial at first,” she says. “I had hot flushes and Sam told me I was going through ‘the change’, but I told him to shut up. I didn’t want to admit it to someone ten years younger! I felt ratty and miserable but, two weeks after starting HRT, I was back to normal.”

Now, with her well-being firmly back on track, she’s looking forward to welcoming in a new decade with a huge party.

“We’ll celebrate my 60th, Sam’s 50th and our 20th wedding anniversary all at once,” she says. “I used to worry about how things would be with Sam when I was 60 and he was 50, but it’s obviously not a problem! I’m mentally and physically more positive and happier than I’ve been for some time. I feel very blessed.”

‘My husband and I still find each other very attractive’