Fit: University of Virginia

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WRINKLY FOREHEADS are an endangered species in Hollywood, but most stars deny that their youthful appearances come from anything other than expensive creams and perfect genes.

Virginia Madsen's rare candor — yep, she's used Botox for years — has gotten her a new off-screen gig: Spokeswoman for the "Keep the Wisdom, Lose the Lines" campaign. It's sponsored by Allergan, the maker of Botox (an injectable line reducer for the forehead) and Juvederm (a facial filler).

» EXPRESS: Why did you start using Botox?
» MADSEN: My doctor recommended it because I'd been a bad sufferer of migraines. My son was 5 years old, and I was doing a lot of things to change my life. I started doing Pilates, was eating right, not smoking. And I had to rid myself of the headaches. But when my doctor suggested it, I was horrified. I had the dilemma that I didn't want my forehead to be frozen. I'm an actress — I want my eyes to crinkle. But I did research online. The first dermatologist I went to scared me. But I met other people, and I settled on a husband and wife who suggested conservative use of the product. I wasn't going to let them come at me with a needle until they answered all of my questions.

» EXPRESS: That helped with the headaches? And had an aesthetic effect too?
» MADSEN: Yes, I lost the 11 between my eyebrows. I liked that.

» EXPRESS: But a lot of people in Hollywood don't look good after Botox. Why?
» MADSEN: I've gotten invited to Botox parties. One was at a hair salon. Why would anyone let some Doctor Feelgood inject them with something? I talked my friend out of going. Go to a doctor's office and get this done in a medical environment. The frozen look is the exception, not the rule. I don't like the message that women shouldn't have expression.

» EXPRESS: How often do you get it done?
» MADSEN: Twice a year. Mine lasts a long time now because your muscles forget how to frown. But I have to remember to do it before I need it or the headaches return.

» EXPRESS: Does it hurt?
» MADSEN: You're getting an injection, so it depends on your pain tolerance. I'm a real baby when it comes to pain, so I use a numbing cream.

» EXPRESS: What else do you do to look good?
» MADSEN: The main thing is that I exercise. Sweating opens your pores and keeps you younger-looking. I don't need to look like I'm 25, but I want to look like me. So I don't smoke — and I love smoking. I just can't do it anymore. And I exfoliate.

» EXPRESS: Have you always been concerned about your skin?
» MADSEN: I was never one of these people who lays in the sun in baby oil. My parents were fanatics about suntan lotion and it really protected my skin.

» EXPRESS: You've also used Juvederm, right?
» MADSEN: I started when the quotation marks around my mouth turned into parentheses. It's a sugar-based product we have in our bodies that I'm simply replacing. I never wanted to do anything else, but we'll see. Whatever it is, it has to be subtle. A lot of women have these cookie-cutter face, and I think if I suddenly looked altered like that, I'd ruin my career.

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