Dana Delaney: there’s “dieting competition” among Housewives cast


52 year-old actress Dana Delaney is the latest female cast member to join Desperate Housewives, and plays troubled newcomer Katherine Mayfair who moved in last season. She turned down a chance to play Bree at the series’ inception in 2004. Delaney gave a press conference in June right after the season ended. She said that everyone was very professional and friendly on set and that rumors of rifts between castmembers were not true. Delaney admitted that the actresses playing the women of Wisteria Lane work hard to keep their bodies fit and trim, and said there was a kind of “dieting competition” among cast. The costume designer called it “the Desperate Housewives disease”:

When asked if there is pressure to always look perfect, she said there might be a quiet competition among the women of the show in terms of dieting. “When I got on the show the costume designer said to me, ‘don’t get the Desperate Housewives disease.’ When I asked what it is she said that everybody loses weight and their clothes don’t fit. I do think there is that competitive dieting thing going on and because I am such a contrarian I am the only one who gained weight — my clothes got tighter.”

The atmosphere on the set is great, she said. “We all heard stories about the fighting early on the set and I don’t think that exists anymore. All these actors are so professional. Everybody comes to the set knowing their lines, everyone is on time, it’s really a fun, fun set. It’s a great place to work.”

[From MediaScribbler via Hello Magazine, print edition, August 28, 2008]

Delaney also noted that all the castmembers were welcoming to her. She said on her first day no one knew that she would be joining them, but that they “were great with me… and it was sort of like, oh, hi Dana, what are you doing here?”

Eva Longoria might be trying to take that dieting competition in another direction – she’s gained a smidgeon of weight and says she’s doing it for her character, Gabrielle, who has had two children and has “let herself go.” Longoria is said to be desperate to have children herself, and if recent photos are any indication, she’s already well on her way.

The next season of Desperate Housewives premieres on Sunday, September 28.

Dana Delaney is shown on 7/17/08 at the ABC and Disney “TCA – All Star Party.” Credit: Glenn Harris / PR Photos

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22 Responses to “Dana Delaney: there’s “dieting competition” among Housewives cast”

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  1. elisha says:

    I hate that forced clevage look. Looks gross.

  2. CinPin says:

    When did Gabrielle have 2 kids? Am I missing something?

  3. All Adither says:

    Aw, Dana, you look great without the pushup bra. A nice, elegant look for you might be a little more drapey and a little less squished.

  4. mamalama says:

    From a distance, all looks OK, but close up the boobs are scary and the lipstick is the wrong color – makes her teeth look yellow. But I love the dress!

  5. Celebitchy says:

    CinPin she’s having 2 kids next season. Should I put a spoiler alert ahead of that, because a lot of other outlets have reported it and that’s why I thought it was common knowledge now, sorry!

  6. ronnie says:

    Dana looks incredible for a 52 year old woman. Cleavage, shmeavage….who cares? Stop nitpicking the details & let’s celebrate the positive!

  7. Blackalicious says:

    Wow. An actress who doesn’t have teeth so blindingly white they’re tinged with blue.

  8. Aspen says:

    So she’s got some baseball boobs…it’s that or leave the girls a’floppin. I think I like the version she went with. Hee hee. Seriously, if I look that hot at 52, I’ll probably pee for joy.

  9. Orangejulius says:

    Love the dress and love her contrariness. Where exactly did she gain the weight? She looks terrific.

  10. KateNonymous says:

    Oh, good. It’s Ally McBeal-itis all over again.

  11. daisy424 says:

    I am looking forward to the next season. I enjoy the crazy crap that goes on at Wisteria Lane. 😉 Lynette is the character I relate to the most. Although I do have Bree’s OCD cleaning habits. I hope that Teri Hatcher has gained some weight and layed off the botox this season, she is scary looking. Trannyish.

  12. JoGirl says:

    Seriously, they could all stand to gain some weight! There’s definitely a “lollipop” phenomenon going on with most of the cast, both male and female.

  13. Blanche says:

    Ronnie, I agree she looks fabulous but, c’mon…
    “celebrate the positive!”
    This is the Internet, remember? 😀

  14. Nan says:

    She hasn’t aged well. Didn’t meet up w/Botox early as had Marcia Cross (who is so cool looking BTW).

  15. czarina says:

    Does anyone remember that great Vietnam drama that Dana Delaney starred in years ago? I can remember so much about the show, but not the blessed title!
    It was one of the best television series I have ever seen (which, naturally meant it didn’t last long…all that quality getting in the way of canned-laughter sit-coms)
    Anyway, I became a huge fan of Delaney watching that show. I am sorry her career never really took off…I always thought she was an excellent actress.
    Hope she does fabulous on DH.

  16. coconut says:

    the vietnam show in which dana was the protagonist was “china beach.” would’ve aired in the late 80s or early 90s. i loved it too. marg helgenberger from CSI was in it too.

  17. Gigohead says:

    Dana looks FABULOUS! I wish I can look that great when I’m 52!

    Good for her for not dieting like the rest of those broads on the show. Teri Hatcher looks like a grasshopper. She is really scary. YIKES. 😯

  18. Cynizen says:

    Not aging well? She looks amazing! Her face looks younger than many of our starlets today.

  19. Michele says:

    LOVE Dana Delaney! She has had a very nice career…not sure where you’ve been czarina. Also, to all of those who complain about her teeth or boobs, it just sounds like ignorance and/or jealousy. She’s beautiful for 52. You should be so lucky at her age.

  20. aladyvixen25 says:

    (To Coconut) The show Dana starred in was “China Beach”.
    To the people complaining about boobs & teeth: Get real! Not everyone in Hollywood is fake!It is the shows that are make believe, these are actors, not all of them have cosmetic surgery and extensive dental work done… some of them are actuaaly authentic humans!

  21. bobbie says:

    She looks like the typical hollywood botox queen. Try scrubbing those ugly teeth and invest in a boob job.

  22. billiebob34 says:

    nice looking babe, Delany Decolleur should be on as her daughter…hotness.