"I've always picked myself up and kept going"

Beloved for her roles in iconic films like Back to the Future and Some Kind of Wonderful, Lea Thompson has been shining on our screens for 42 years. But she credits blessings—disguised as disappointments—for paving her way. Here, Lea's tips for turning challenges into big wins

- BONNIE SIEGLER

Long before her acting career took off, Lea Thompson, 64, had her heart set on a very different stage: ballet.

“I’m nothing if not resilient,” Lea tells Woman’s World. “I’ve always picked myself up and kept going—even after life threw me disappointments.” One of those came when Lea was 20, auditioning for famed dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov. “He told me I was a beautiful dancer but a bit stocky,” she recalls. “It was a big setback, but sometimes those hard moments are for the best.” Indeed, Lea shifted gears and decided to go into acting, and the rest is history. She went on to star in fan-favorite films and television series—her next role is in season two of Hallmark Channel’s The Chicken Sisters, and she’s also producing and directing the upcoming Anna Pigeon series for the USA Network. “I’ve been blessed with my career, my family, my health, so now when I can’t see the forest for the trees, I think, well, someday I will,” she smiles. Read on for Lea’s tips on listening to your heart—no matter what, plus the 7-minute energy secret that keeps her healthy and happy!

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