'Modern Family' star Julie Bowen opens up about heart disorder, 'Happy Gilmore 2' role
In an appearance on the "Inside of You" podcast released on Tuesday, July 1, the "Modern Family" star, 55, discussed being diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome, a heart disorder that caused her to have a low heart rate.
Bowen noted she was diagnosed soon after graduating college thanks to her sister, who was in medical school at the time. The actress always had a low heart rate, but when her sister listened to it with a stethoscope, she told Bowen, "You need to go to a cardiologist immediately."
Bowen subsequently received her diagnosis and got a pacemaker under her armpit, right after shooting the pilot of her early 2000s NBC series, "Ed."
"I was like, 'Oh my God. My life is over. This is so weird. I'm going to die.' I don't know what I thought it was," Bowen said. "I was 29 years old."
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The actress explained the condition would give her a feeling of lightheadedness − as if she had been holding her breath − whenever she was relaxed. Before receiving her pacemaker, which she has had replaced a few times since, doctors warned that this could result in Bowen passing out while behind the wheel of a car and causing an accident.
According to the Mayo Clinic, sick sinus syndrome is a kind of heart rhythm disorder that causes heartbeats that are "too fast, too slow, interrupted by long pauses — or an alternating combination of these rhythm issues." The condition is "relatively uncommon."
"The risk of developing it increases with age," the clinic notes. "Many people with sick sinus syndrome eventually need an implanted device called a pacemaker to keep the heart in a regular rhythm."
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Bowen previously discussed the condition in a 2011 interview with WebMD. She said at the time that her pacemaker "serves as a monitor for me," adding that she is grateful "to live during a time when the technology exists to treat my condition."
She also noted that she doesn't "hear or feel" the device.
In fact, when Bowen's pacemaker was brought up on the "Inside of You" podcast, she said, "That's right. I forget about that all the time."
During her "Inside of You" appearance, Bowen also reflected on reprising her "Happy Gilmore" character Virginia Venit in the upcoming sequel "Happy Gilmore 2." The actress said she was initially surprised there was still interest in featuring Venit, a pro golf tour public relations director who becomes the romantic interest of Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore.
"I didn't think they'd bring me back at all," Bowen said. "I mean, who am I supposed to be? He's got to have a younger woman in this one." Although Bowen reportedly has a smaller role, she said Sandler encouraged her that Venit is "the heart of the movie."
"Happy Gilmore 2," set for a July 25 release, will also include appearances from Christopher McDonald and Ben Stiller, who played Shooter McGavin and Hal L., respectively, in the 1996 cult comedy classic. The star-studded cast is rounded out with additional performances by "The Substance" actress Margaret Qualley, reggaeton singer Bad Bunny, rap superstar Eminem and NFL player Travis Kelce.
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Despite her starring role in the original "Happy Gilmore," Bowen said she didn't anticipate landing the gig because she thought filmmakers were looking for a "hot girl" to portray Venit.
"I read, and they were relieved," Bowen recalled of her audition. "They were visibly relieved. I go, 'What's going on?' They're like, 'Yeah, some of these girls are just so aggressively sexy.' And I was like, 'That's a bad thing?' I thought you guys liked that."
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Julie Bowen discusses heart disorder, 'Happy Gilmore 2' role
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