Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You are also the only woman in America who has written for the New Yorker and posed for Playboy. How do you feel about this unique achievement?
Ms. Fiona Lewis:
When I came to America I posed for Playboy because I needed the money. I was never embarrassed about this. I was liberated enough (thought I didn’t realize it) to think it was okay to be naked. I knew I had a brain, I was already writing pieces for the Los Angeles Times. In a way, of course, I was also naïve. I was astounded when other people (men, mostly) were shocked to see me in Playboy. A nice girl like me! But I’m glad I did it now––that young body has gone! Again, I learned that attitude is everything. If you seem confident, people will see you like that and treat you accordingly. Admittedly sometimes you have to fake it!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You also have a blog called Fiona’s French Chateau, where you write about restoring your French chateau, stories about London and Paris in the 60’s, Los Angeles in the 70’s, and your time working as an actress. Introduce us to it.
Ms. Fiona Lewis:
Restoring the French chateau was much more of a challenge than I realized. First of all, the stories you hear about French workmen are all true. And worse! In France, they still take a 2 hour lunch break; they go to a local bistro and have a 3 course meal and drink a bottle of wine. So the afternoons are not that productive – sometimes they don’t come back at all! Also, I was alone, without a contractor (none were available locally) and I thought I could manage. But I often had to resort to tears to get things done. It did, however, give me time to reflect on my life: my past bad affairs, my career as an actress, my current marriage. And also my fear of aging. It was all very well to run away, of course, but I’d forgotten that I had brought myself with me! It gave me the opportunity to confront my life, who I was now, who I wanted to be. After all, it wasn’t over! In the countryside I learned to appreciate what I had, to realize how lucky I’d been. I can honestly say that going to France saved me–– and my current marriage. I think everyone needs their own “chateau in France.” It can be something small, an idea, an adventure to pursue, even a new hobby, or a new friend. What building the chateau taught me was that however old you are, however lost you might feel, refuse to give up!
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our readers?
Ms. Fiona Lewis:
Health is beauty. Humor is essential. Optimism is sexy.
Know more about her journey on:
- http://fionasfrenchchateau.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/fionasfrenchchateau/
- https://www.facebook.com/fionasfrenchchateau
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