Actress Lesley Ann Warren Loves Sherman Oaks More Than Wisteria Lane

Lesley Ann Warren is one of those actresses who has all kinds of signature roles that people recall fondly. Baby boomers remember her as the dreamy star of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella TV musical and for her one season on Mission: Impossible.

One of Warren's defining roles is Norma, the ditsy blond showgirl in the 1982 movie comedy Victor Victoria. More recently, Warren has starred on TV's Will and Grace, as Teri Hatcher's mom Sophie on Desperate Housewives, and on the USA Network's acclaimed series In Plain Sight.

What Warren loves most, other than acting, is her life in Sherman Oaks, where she has lived for more than 30 years, she said.

"I love the peaceful quality of the neighborhood. I go for walks in the hills in Sherman Oaks and nearby Fryman Canyon, and it's so lovely. I feel like I'm on vacation when I'm here," Warren said.

Warren leads a very active lifestyle, taking exercise classes at several Pilates studios and working out regularly at a gym. "I love shopping at Whole Foods. It's like going to a farmers market. Their produce and vegetables are fabulous," she said. Warren also has followed a strict regimen of homeopathic herbs and vitamin supplements.

"I believe that a person can heal a lot of their ailments with the right combination of herbs and proper diet," Warren said. She sticks to a very low-sugar diet but admitted, "I do have a Fatburger [in Sherman Oaks] every now and then. I can't resist it on the way home from the movies sometimes," she said, laughing.

My friendship with Warren dates back to the 1980s, when I interviewed her for a Japanese celebrity magazine I was writing for. Warren hasn't changed a bit since then, only she can walk up steeper hills now than she used to.

"I really work at aerobic capacity by hiking around here [in Sherman Oaks] and I love meeting friends at Art's Deli. It reminds me so much of New York," Warren said.

Born in New York, Warren started her career at age 16 in productions of Bye Bye Birdie, Drat! The Cat! and eventually landed the starring role in 1965 of Cinderella. Warren went on to star in notable films including Choose Me, Clue and Life Stinks, with Mel Brooks.

"I love that living here I am close to the studios and so many of my work locations," Warren said. "I can just drive over the hill easily to get to the Westside or the beach. This is the most idyllic place to live."

Warren has been married to advertising executive Ron Taft since 2000, and has a grown son, Christopher Peters, from her marriage to hair salon entrepreneur and film producer Jon Peters. 

"I think the key to having success as an actress is to be devoted to always evolving as an artist," Warren said, and added, laughing, "That and finding a good hairstylist, I suppose."