Candace Cameron Bure on Turning 50: ‘You Care a Little Less About What Other People Think'(Exclusive)
Plus, the star shares which which ‘Full House’ character she thinks could take on ‘Special Forces’
Key Takeaways
- Candace Cameron Bure shares how joining 'Special Forces' challenged her.
- The actress shared what it's been like to turn 50 and enter a new era of life.
- She would love to bring her iconic 'Full House' character, DJ Tanner, back for a reboot.
Candace Cameron Bure won the hearts of millions when she landed her breakout role as DJ Tanner on Full House at the age of 10. After eight years on the sitcom, the actress went on to book several more popular roles, even reprising the beloved character for the 2016 reboot, Fuller House. Now, decades later, she is about to embark on a new adventure.
Bure has joined Season 5 of Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, something she knew would be a challenge. But, as the actress shared exclusively with Woman’s World, she enjoys a challenge.
“I am the kind of person that always says yes to the things that scare me because I don’t want fear to dictate my life,” she shared.
In Woman’s World’s chat with Bure, she shared why she decided to join the reality series, the new era of life she is entering and which iconic character she’d want to reprise.
Woman’s World: What made you decide to join Special Forces this season?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’ve watched this show and there’s something about a physical challenge that is really exciting to me. It’s also very scary… I turned 50 this year, and I thought, what a way to celebrate 50 then to see if I have what it takes to keep up with the Navy SEALs.
WW: What did you learn from your experience of being on the show?
Candace Cameron Bure: Certainly. The show really brings out the best and worst in you because you’re in this highly stressful, kind of fight or flight [situation]. You’re really risking your life, trying to save your life for an extended period of time, and you really learn who you are. I learned a lot about myself, so I’m really grateful for the experience. You see some of your strengths, but you definitely learn a lot more of your weaknesses, and those were shown to me. The show really taught me that I could be a better teammate at home, to my friends and it was really eye opening when push comes to shove. It’s really easy to be selfish and only think about yourself
WW: If you knew what you know about being on the show now, would you still say yes to joining?
Candace Cameron Bure: Absolutely. I’m glad that I did it, even though it was insane. I would encourage people to do the show as well if they ever got the opportunity.
WW: After joining this series, what would you tell someone who might be afraid to step outside their comfort zone?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’ll tell you the same thing that I tell my kids: is if it scares you, say yes. Do it because you don’t want fear to hold you back, and when you push through those fears, no matter how small they may feel, you realize that you can do it and that you made it through. Whether you win or lose, just the fact that you got through it gives you so much courage, and courage really stacks upon courage. You realize that life has so much opportunity, and there’s so many things that you may experience if you’re just willing to say yes and push through it.
WW: You recently celebrated your 50th birthday—what has been your favorite thing about entering this new decade and era?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’m in my ‘I am who I am, I don’t care what you think of me’ era, and I love it. I love people, I love relationships, but you realize that life is really short, so I’m gonna be me and do those things and if you don’t like what I’m doing, that’s okay. You don’t have to. You can move on. I’m still gonna be me, and it’s not gonna affect me if you don’t like what I’m doing.
WW: What advice would you give to other women approaching a new stage of life who may be nervous about it?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’ve loved every decade of my life because every decade has gotten better. You become more mature, you get a little wiser, and you care a little less about what other people think. But I was a little nervous about turning 50. That felt like a really big number, and I woke up on the day and it was really just like any other day. The truth is, I feel even more confident. So, don’t be scared. The years are beautiful. Enjoy that you get to live them, and know that you get to become wiser with every day that you’re alive, and use it to your advantage. Aging is a beautiful thing. It means you’ve lived life.
WW: You’re also about to become a grandmother for the first time—how are you feeling about approaching this new season of life?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I cannot wait. Candy Gram is my grandma’s name, and I have so much energy for my little grandchildren that are coming. I’m chomping at the bit. I want to be a fun grandma. We’re gonna eat a lot of ice cream and we’re not gonna tell mom and dad. We’re gonna play all the games and go on all the walks and have all the cuddles. I cannot wait.
WW: Tell me a bit about your upcoming tour starting in September! What are you most looking forward to for this 8-city run?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’m looking forward to connecting with everyone that’s going to be there. That’s really why I’m doing it. I’ve been on television for so long and I have my podcast, so this is a way for me to go beyond my microphone, beyond the television screen. I’ve been in your living room for over 30 years, if you’ve watched the shows or movies that I’ve been on, and this is a way that I get to connect with you in person. The show is going to have a lot of laughs, a lot of interaction, and games. We’re going to talk about women’s health. I’m bringing Dr. Tabatha Barber along and we’re going to talk about perimenopause and stuff like that, and going through a new season in life and those changes that we’re facing. My Christian faith is also so important to me, so we’ll be sharing faith stories as well.
WW: What made you want to take on this kind of a project?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’m a people person, and I love community. I think that’s such a big part of our lives, and we need community. We have a community online, and everyone does if you’re on social media, but to be able to gather like-minded people together and bring in new friends and introduce new topics is just a beautiful thing.
WW: Let’s talk about Full House. What did you love the most about playing DJ Tanner?
Candace Cameron Bure: It’s been a dream to have been a part of a show that has a real, true legacy. It’s never been off the air in over 35 years. Full House means so much to so many people. I was on the show from [age] 10 to 18, and you never know how something’s gonna go and what it’s gonna mean to people. So when I look back, I have so much appreciation. I love that I was chosen to play DJ, and then we got to continue that legacy with Fuller House, and it’s just a huge, special part of my life that still lives on. There’s always new fans and new generations that watch both of the shows, and it means a ton to me.
WW: Which of the Tanner sisters—DJ, Stephanie or Michelle—do you think would be the first to agree to joining Special Forces?
Candace Cameron Bure: Oh, DJ would. She’s kind of me. She’s like a little hyper version of me, but DJ was always into physical fitness too, so she would definitely say yes.
WW: You’ve played a ton of iconic characters over the years. If you could reprise any of your roles, which character would you want to bring back to life?
Candace Cameron Bure: Oh my goodness! Honestly, I would love to do the third iteration of Full House, like Fullest House or something. That would be the dream.
WW: Do you have any other upcoming projects you’d like to discuss?
Candace Cameron Bure: I have a new devotional out, Wild Hope, and I have another one coming out next month as well. I also have two Christmas movies that’ll be out this year on Great American Family Channel and Great American Pure Flix. One of them is called A Sweet Christmas Anniversary, and that’s the third installment of the Home Sweet Christmas series with Cameron Mathison, and we filmed it in Budapest during the real Christmas season, so that’s a really beautiful movie. Then I have another one called A Second Chance Christmas, which is a really sweet story about a divorced couple that celebrates Christmas together for the sake of their kids, but they grew over the time they were apart and see each other in a new light. My podcast is also always running The Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, and you can listen any time.
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