Valerie Bertinelli took her social media followers way back to the 1970s with a flashback pic that landed them squarely in 1975.
The “Getting Naked: The Quiet Work Of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect” author shared an Instagram post to remember the time period when she first appeared on television screens in “One Day at a Time.” The Instagram post showed the former Food Network star and current host of “Valerie’s Place” over five decades prior, giving fans a rare glimpse at the start of her iconic career.
Valerie Bertinelli’s Photo Is a Time Capsule of the Decade
Valerie Bertinelli captioned the 51-year-old photo, “Way back Wednesday. 1975. The days of tie-dyed halter tops, Puka shells, and Ditto jeans.”
In the snap, she leaned back on a Cadillac, looking away from the photographer. A pair of large sunglasses was perched atop her head and she was barefoot.
Bertinelli’s followers were thrilled to see this vintage photograph. They shared their own memories of the decade in the post’s comments section.
“Love these memories! In 1975, at just 13 years old, I started watching the premiere of ‘One Day At a Time’ and still a fan of yours,” wrote one Instagram user.
“Love the outfit. You look so cute,” penned a second follower.
“Love this throwback so much! You still have that same bright energy,” claimed a third fan.
A fourth concluded, “Love the 70s! Miss ’em.”
Valerie Bertinelli Became a TV Star in 1975
In 1975, Valerie Bertinelli made her debut as Barbara Cooper on the CBS television series “One Day at a Time.” She co-starred alongside Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips, and Pat Harrington.
In an interview for “The Drew Barrymore Show,” Bertinelli recalled the first scene she ever filmed for the series, which would go on to be a ratings winner for nine seasons. She spoke of the moment wistfully when she realized the importance of being on the series as a young adult.
“The strongest memory, I think I’ve told this to you before. I remember the pilot, holding the apartment door handle, and my first line was, ‘Mom, mom, I made the team!’ I’ll never forget that.” she recalled.
“I remember standing there, and I saw Pat Harrington’s (Schneider) gum on the wood the sets are made out of, and I remember seeing the audience and going, ‘Wow.’ At 15, I knew this was going to change my life, and it certainly did,” Bertinelli explained.
“Everything about [‘One Day at a Time’] changed my life, especially the people I got to work with,” she added.
The actress concluded, “I was so protected by Norman [Lear], Bonnie, Pat, and Mack. For a 15-year-old raw actress. It was the best place for me to be.”
Valerie Bertinelli’s new book, “Getting Naked: The Quiet Work Of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect,” is out now.
