Elisabeth Shue Mixes Passion With Acting

She was just a kid when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in their legendary 1973 tennis match. Now Elisabeth Shue, 53, plays Riggs’ wife in a film about that match, Battle of the Sexes, which opens September 22. “I was so excited to be in a tennis movie,” the Oscar-nominated actress confesses. “I’ve been a psycho tennis addict for the past 13 years.”  Her lesson for improving your game? Compete.

Tennis Secret

“It’s a totally different sport when you’re playing a match versus just hitting balls.” 

Fit for Life

“I love playing sports, so I work on my core, back and knee muscles to make sure my joints are supported. I want to keep my body strong so I can play tennis forever.” 

Grateful at 50+

“You need to embrace getting older as a gift. I do believe that. One of my brothers passed away when he was nearly 27, so I’m always very aware of how lucky I am to grow older.”

Kiss the Cook

“We grill salmon or swordfish a lot; it’s quick. But marinating beforehand is really important. For my marinade, I often use olive oil, lemon and a little bit of soy sauce.” 

Love All

“Respect is the bottom line in a good relationship. I’m lucky that my husband, Davis, treats me with respect. And I respect his work ethic, how he is as a father to our three kids, how kind he is to people. It challenges me to be a better person.”

— As told to David Hochman