Debi Mazar, known for her roles in Goodfellas, Entourage, and Younger, has captivated audiences with her talent and vibrant personality. Beyond her acting career, Mazar has also made a name for herself as a cookbook author and lifestyle icon. This article explores Mazar's approach to weight loss, beauty, wellness, and her secrets to maintaining a fulfilling life.
Marriage and Love
Debi Mazar has been married to Gabriele Corcos for 17 years, and the secret behind their lasting marriage in Hollywood is surprisingly simple. “We’re just committed,” the 54-year-old recently told Closer Weekly. “We love each other, we have fun, we laugh. We fight, but we never go to bed mad. We try not to. We cook and we drink! We dance with great music, try to keep the house happy and always talk.”
Mazar admitted she was easily captivated by the celebrity chef when she first met him. “We met in Florence [Italy],” Mazar recalled. “I had a friend named Katia Labeque, who performed at Madonna’s wedding to Guy Ritchie and she said, ‘Debi, you must come to see me!’ And when I did, he walked into the room, and I didn’t want to go back to New York or Los Angeles. I decided to shack up with him for the entire month of August. We fell madly in love.”
The couple tied the knot in 2002 and share two teenage daughters: Evelina, 17, and Guilia, 13. Mazar and Corcos have since received the James Beard Award for their hit Cooking Channel series and cookbook titled “Extra Virgin.”
Early Life and Career
Debi Mazar was born in Queens Village, New York, to a 15-year-old mother and a father who was "sort of a small-time gangster-wannabe." She grew up emulating the style of her mom and babysitters, cultivating a cool look at a very young age. Mazar's family did not have much money, but that didn't stop her from becoming a mini fashionista.
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Mazar was independent at the age of 15 when she moved into a New York City apartment with a friend. In order to make money, Mazar used her skills, parlaying her hair and makeup prowess into paying gigs as a stylist for magazines such as The Village Voice. She also worked various jobs, including waitressing, selling jewelry, and even a short stint as a dental assistant.
While waitressing, she met poet and art critic Rene Ricard and became friends with artists like Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. At age 16, Mazar got a job at the Mudd Club, working her way up from coat check to VIP entry, which allowed her to rub elbows with the likes of David Bowie, Debbie Harry, and David Byrne.
It was at one of her many jobs that she met her longtime pal Madonna. Mazar was working the elevator at the nightclub Danceteria when she first bumped into the then-wannabe popstar. Mazar went on to appear in several of Madonna's early music videos, including "True Blue," "Everybody," and "Papa Don't Preach." She also landed a gig as a dancer in the TV movie "Graffiti Rock," despite her lack of training.
Acting Career
Although she had a love for old movies and classic sitcoms, Debi Mazar didn't set out to become an actor. She began working out of necessity, and it just so happened that her talents aligned with the entertainment industry. While doing hair and makeup for a stage show, Mazar realized she knew some of the lines. During a break, she found herself in the dark theater and came onstage to perform a monologue. She thought she was alone, but then she heard the sound of applause.
When Debi Mazar began honing her acting skills, she took classes at the highly regarded Actor's Studio and studied with esteemed acting teachers Uta Hagen and William Hickey. She landed the role of Sandy, the mistress of Ray Liotta's character Henry Hill, in Martin Scorsese's 1996 film "Goodfellas."
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"Goodfellas" served as Debi Mazar's first real acting gig and the springboard that launched her career. She worked steadily throughout the '90s, mostly keeping mum about her personal life.
One of the roles Debi Mazar is best known for is that of tough talking publicist Shauna Roberts on the HBO series "Entourage," which premiered in 2004. Many fans came to know and love Debi Mazar when she joined the cast of "Younger" as Maggie.
Mazar's Weight Loss Journey
Debi Mazar has shared insights into her weight loss journey, particularly when training for a new role. She emphasized the importance of a balanced approach, combining healthy eating habits with exercise.
Training for a New Part
Mazar mentioned that she was training for a part that required her to lose weight. She aimed to lose around 25 pounds for the role. While she admitted to not always being concerned about being skinny, she also expressed feeling self-conscious about being nude in scenes and wanting to give her best performance.
To achieve her weight loss goals, Mazar focused on eating a lot of salads and good grains like quinoa and brown rice. She also acknowledged the challenge of living near her husband's store, which offered tempting treats like pesto, Bolognese, and pasta fagioli.
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Dancing With the Stars
Debi Mazar participated in "Dancing With the Stars," where she lost 11 pounds and noticed her body toning in various areas. The intense rehearsals and physical activity contributed to her weight loss and improved muscle definition.
General Wellness Advice
Mazar attributes her youthful appearance and energy to a combination of factors, including a healthy lifestyle and a positive mindset. She emphasizes the importance of eating well, having lots of sex, and dancing.
She believes in living life to the fullest and enjoying cocktails or wine in moderation. Portion control is also crucial, as people often underestimate how much food they actually need.
Mazar's Beauty Secrets
As Madonna’s former makeup artist and muse to many, Debi Mazar has always been into beauty. Mazar shared her earliest beauty memories come from her grandmother, Evelyn, who was very feminine. She was very beautiful, wore My Sin perfume by Lanvin, stockings with garter belts, slips, heels, and satin bed jackets. Mazar would watch her do her hair and makeup every day, and she was always dressed to the nines.
Makeup and Skincare Routine
Mazar has a passion for makeup and skincare, which she developed from a young age. She shared some of her favorite products and techniques:
- Eyebrows: She uses the Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette and the Per-fekt Brow Perfection Gel in Espresso.
- Lipstick: Rouge D'Armani 400 is her favorite red, and she also likes Lipstick Queen and Dior lipsticks.
- Blush: She prefers cream blushes like Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Rose and Lipstick Queen Oxymoron Matte Gloss in Minor Crisis.
- Eyes: She typically sticks to creamy browns, blacks, and blues, and loves the Laura Mercier Tightline Cake Eyeliner.
- Mascara: Lancôme Definicils mascara is her go-to choice.
- Foundation: She likes Armani Luminous Silk Foundation and Armani Designer Lift Foundation.
- Skincare: She slathers Tatcha Ageless Enriching Renewal Cream on her face in the winter.
Beauty Philosophy
Mazar believes in embracing natural lines and avoiding the overuse of concealer and contour. She loves that color eyeshadow is back and encourages everyone to have fun with crazy makeup and lashes, liner, and wigs.
She prefers to go to the pros for her hair color and cuts and likes getting lasers to correct her skin issues. She also gets a "touch" of Botox and any hydration her skin can get via treatments, injectables, and face masks.
Aging Gracefully
Mazar doesn't obsess over looking younger, but she emphasizes the importance of maintaining health and taking care of oneself. She believes that being in shape and focusing on health at this age will help you last longer and keep your youth a lot longer.
Embracing Life and Staying Energetic
Debi Mazar leads a busy and fulfilling life, balancing her acting career, family, and other passions. She shared some of her secrets to staying energetic and embracing life to the fullest:
- Morning Routine: Her morning begins with her husband making her coffee in bed.
- Disco Workouts: She puts on disco music and dances like she’s in a club.
- Acceptance and Self-Love: She accepts some limes and celebrates a life well-lived, knowing she has the experience in her soul to deliver great characters, a face that tells a story, and planes that show maturity, but also someone who is taken care of with love and respect of her age and diligence to be healthy and happy.
- Family and Friends: She is loved by family and friends who have accepted her no matter what she looks like in every transition.
Italy and Family
Mazar and her family relocated to her husband's hometown of Fiesole, Italy, amid the stress of the pandemic. The move allowed her daughters to immerse themselves in Italian culture.
Mazar celebrated her 60th birthday in August 2024 and was preparing for life as an empty nester. She expressed contentment with her life and career, noting that Europe appreciates women of a certain age.