Vanessa Williams Reveals She Was ‘Out of Control’ Before Turning to Modern Science — And Why She Refused to Cancel Her Show the Day Her Mother Died

Vanessa Williams is pulling back the curtain on the “hard” reality of aging in the spotlight, revealing that even a global icon isn’t immune to the jarring physical shifts of midlife. In a raw and wide-ranging conversation with Hello!, the 61-year-old superstar admitted that her fifties felt like a losing battle against her own biology—until she turned to a cutting-edge scientific regimen to take her power back.

While she has spent decades as a star, from her historic 1983 Miss America win to her run on Ugly Betty, the actress confessed that behind the scenes, her body had stopped responding to the discipline that once defined her.

“My fifties were hard,” Vanessa admits, speaking to the experience of millions of women navigating the “change.” While she noticed the first signs of perimenopause in her late 40s, it was turning 51 hat brought the most frustration. “It’s crazy how your body changes. You feel out of control because you’re working out the same way, eating the same, and your body is not reacting the way it used to.”

Determined to retain her health, the mother of four and grandmother of one has embraced a high-tech wellness toolkit. Beyond Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), she has integrated NAD+ injections—the “fountain of youth” treatment currently sweeping the longevity community for its ability to fuel cellular rejuvenation and skyrocket energy. “Science is amazing,” she says of her bio-hacking journey. “I’m like: ‘What’s next? Bring it on!'”

This newfound resilience was put to the test in late 2024. Just as Vanessa was commanding the London stage as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada musical, tragedy struck. Her mother, Helen Williams, died on a Saturday morning in December following complications from acute liver failure.

In a move that stunned many, Vanessa didn’t call for an understudy. Instead, she performed both the matinee and the evening show just hours after her mother’s death. For the professional, the stage wasn’t a distraction—it was a lifeline.

“In the second act, there’s a scene where I cry, which was very cathartic,” she recalls. The audience saw a turning point in the story, but Vanessa was living her truth, using the performance to process a loss that had occurred only hours prior.

The sting of the loss was softened by a final, sweet memory. Just weeks before her death, Helen sat in the front row of the West End production, seated directly next to Sir Elton John. It was a full-circle moment for a mother who had championed her daughter through chart-topping hits like “Save the Best for Last” and countless Broadway credits.

Today, Vanessa is moving forward with what she calls “ease and wisdom.” Despite three divorces—from publicist Ramon Hervey II, NBA star Rick Fox, and Jim Skrip — she is happily single. “We’ll see what happens in the future,” she says of her love life. “I believe in love, and I love being in love, but I’m not desperate for love. It happens when it’s meant to happen.”