Susan Lucci, 77, Shines in Red at ‘Passion Project’ AHA Red Dress Fashion Show Concert (Exclusive)

Susan Lucci knows how to get attention.

The All My Children alum, 77, strutted her stuff on the red carpet at the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Red Dress Collection event on Wednesday night in New York City.

Lucci wore a strapless red dress that matched the event logo and the red carpet. The mermaid-style design had feathers at the bottom and was embellished with silver jewellery.

When asked why she felt it was important to attend the event, Lucci told PEOPLE exclusively that it was her “passion project” since she had her own cardiac event. “I came out of it knowing that I just had to pass on my happiness,” she says.

Susan Lucci.

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty

The actress also recalls how her cardiologist told her she didn’t have to continue raising awareness as part of her work with the American Heart Association, but Lucci felt it was necessary.

“I couldn’t keep that happiness to myself. I couldn’t,” she tells PEOPLE.

Lucci, who is an ambassador for the American Heart Association, attends the annual event year after year, but while walking the catwalk in 2019, she fell short in a red dress. The soap star, who walked down the catwalk in a strapless red matte lasse ball gown by Rubin Singer, didn’t break too much of a sweat and smiled.

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Susan Lucci 2023 Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Writers Guild of America East Susan Lucci says late husband Helmut Huber has ‘everything to do’ with her Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys

Lucci is fiercely dedicated to her work with the AHA, especially since experiencing her own heart trauma in 2018. In 2023, the star told PEOPLE about the intense chest pains she experienced and wrote off, assuming it was nothing she really had to deal with. – I didn’t want to bother the cardiologist – she said then. Eventually it became too much to bear.

A scan revealed a 90% blockage in a major artery in her heart: “I didn’t realize how close I was to having a fatal heart attack.” Her condition turned out to be genetic (“inherited on her dad’s side”) and doctors put in two stents. “It’s important for everyone to know their family history,” Lucci said. “I don’t think I ever mentioned Dad’s family history to the doctor.”

Susan Lucci says her late husband Helmut Huber has ‘everything to do’ with her lifetime achievement award at the Daytime Emmys

Just a few years later – after she spoke openly about what she went through – she had more pain that required another stent. She, again, hesitated to call the doctor.

“I almost didn’t want to talk about it, I was so ashamed of myself. But it’s a reminder to be careful,” Lucci said.

She recently shared a post on Instagram that included the quote “Heart health awareness starts with self-care” and reminded her fans to take care of their “precious heart.”

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education