When she debuted on SNL in 1999, Sally O’Malley was famously 50…which would make her 76 today (credit to all those kicks and stretchhhes—we have no doubt she’d still be a minx). Now 61 herself, Molly Shannon is using her voice to bring awareness to a more serious conversation about health, especially for aging adults.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year about a million Americans are diagnosed with shingles, a viral disease that strikes one in three people during their lifetimes. “Anyone who’s had chickenpox can develop shingles,” say the Cleveland Clinic, with people who are older than 50 or immunocompromised at a higher risk.

To help change that story, Shannon has teamed up with pharmaceutical company GSK for their Thrive @50+ campaign, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about shingles and encouraging women to step into midlife with strength and wisdom. As she prepared for the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, held earlier this month, the Emmy-nominated star opened up to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest about staying healthy—plus, which role’s been her all-time favorite.

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Molly Shannon Talks Life After 50 Gsk Group Photo
COURTESY GSK

The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Molly, it’s so great to talk to you again. What inspired you to partner with GSK, and what message do you hope people in midlife take away from it?

Molly Shannon: I work so hard in my career and as a mom, and I’m at the point where I really want to enjoy my life. I think it’s so important to be proactive about your health. This is a time to really enjoy these special moments.

I also love the campaign and the messages of being aware of shingles. It’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist about your risk for shingles and prevention. As women over 50, you need to know that you have an increased risk for shingles because the immune system goes down. I remember years ago, David Letterman had missed the show because he got shingles, and I remember thinking, Oh my God. So that’s something I do talk about with friends. I have a friend who’s a doctor, so I always text her for advice.

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The Healthy: What has been the biggest surprise about this stage of life—physically, mentally or emotionally—that you didn’t anticipate?

Molly Shannon: I think more about my time in life. You have to take that seriously, because it is your time, and [it’s important] not to give it away so easily. Personally, I can give a lot and I think, Do I really want to do that? One habit that I used to have was being overly loyal to somebody I don’t know that well. Or, little red flags, like if somebody’s kind of negative, or maybe saying something to knock you down. I’m taking care of myself better, probably better than I did when I was younger.

The Healthy: What are your favorite exercise routines?

Molly Shannon: I hike and listen to podcasts, and walk. It’s almost like a walking meditation. I do it almost every day, and it makes me feel so good. You get that dopamine rush, and it makes me feel happy. Sometimes you’ll feel like you can solve a problem while you’re walking.

Sleep is really important. Exercise helps me sleep. So I always feel like if you’re well rested, you’re just better. If you’re feeling maxed out, just have a quiet time where you relax. It’s important to know yourself that way.

The Healthy: Looking back over your career, which of your characters is your all-time favorite?

Molly Shannon: I guess [Shannon’s SNL character] Mary Catherine Gallagher is closest to my heart, because it’s an exaggerated version of how I felt when I was a little girl. I couldn’t believe that I wrote it, got it on television, and had so many people relate to it.

The Healthy: If you could give a message of encouragement to someone entering their fifties or sixties about aging, thriving or body confidence, what would it be?

Molly Shannon: I would say, “There is no ‘the one.’” You’re the one, and whatever you think you want from someone else, you can give yourself. You can take yourself on a nice date and go out for dinner and get a glass of wine and find a good article on your phone and take yourself out so you come into a relationship loving yourself and knowing how to care for yourself.

The Healthy: What’s one self-care habit you refuse to skip?

Molly Shannon: I am a person who is very grateful. I get down at night and I pray and I thank God for the good things that happened that day. Also, remove yourself from people who are emotionally harmful. We turn our back on emotionally harmful people. It’s not good. There’s no reason to be around them. Guilt-free, absolve yourself, and move away from people like that.

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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.