Some of the 12 million people who watch begowned Vanna White turn letters each night on “Wheel of Fortune” might wonder what she’s like in real life — since her role on TV’s biggest game show doesn’t require much on-air banter with host Pat Sajak.
“I’m probably the opposite [off-camera] of what you see on TV as far as glamor,” says White, 60, who’s in her 35th year on “Wheel of Fortune.” “I’m jeans, a sweatshirt, no makeup and Uggs or tennis shoes. I just don’t like to get dressed up, maybe because I have to get dressed up for work.
“And I live a simple life,” she says. “During the week I usually stay home and cook a simple dinner. I go to bed early, get up early, exercise and then on weekends I’ll go out to dinner.”
White talked to The Post about “Wheel of Fortune,” the slippery slope of social media, her future plans and, of course, those gowns.
You and Pat have been a team for 35 years. Are there ever any bad days, when you’re just not clicking?
No, and that’s because we don’t do [‘Wheel of Fortune’] every day. We only tape it on average four days a month, but we travel a lot throughout the year … when we go on location. We’ve never had one argument in 35 years. There have been days where you don’t wake up on the right side of the bed … and being with someone for that long, I can tell if [Pat] is not in a great mood, just by looking at him. We know each other very well.
Have you ever lobbied for more of a role on the show?
Not really. I’m really happy with the way it is. I take the job for what it is. People make fun of my job and that’s fine, too. It is what it is and it’s a crazy job — I literally touch letters and wear pretty clothes, and how do you describe that job? It’s weird, but I’ve been doing it for a long time and I’ll be first to make fun of it, I really will, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in world. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Have you ever worried that you could be replaced by a computer?
Wait, they can do that? (laughs). I know, I am afraid of that. I can absolutely be replaced by a computer any day, any moment, but fortunately they haven’t, so … [Pat and I] are a team. I think a lot of people watch the show to see what I’m wearing, with me just turning the letters. Women write to me — “Where can I get that dress?” I think it all works, all the moving pieces.
Is it true that you’ve never worn the same dress twice in 35 years?
That is true. I’ve worn over 6,700 gowns. They’re all borrowed gowns, designer samples. I wear them and then they go back, like the [gowns] models wear on the runway to show a new line, or whatever. I borrow them, wear them for 30 minutes and then they go back. So I don’t get to keep them, either.
There have been false stories about you online — one recent story said you were fired from “Wheel of Fortune” for a gambling problem.
The current thing going around is that I have a skin-care line and I’m being fired from the show, or leaving the show, because I’m old and wrinkly so I have my own skin care line. And that is so untrue. People are writing to me saying, “I sent in for my free trial and I want my money back and they’re not giving it to me.” There is a product and they have attached my name to it for some reason … they’re using my name to sell their product. There’s no phone number, no physical address, only a P.O. box. For me it’s the lies that are told, always saying, “No, it’s not true.” That’s the hard part for me — standing up for the truth. Unlike what they say, I am not leaving the show. Everything’s good.
Did you ever have a #MeToo moment?
Oh my gosh, you know … here’s the thing: I don’t want to get into it, for or against it. You can’t win. When I came to this town [LA] in 1980, there was the casting couch, that’s what it was called. Have I gone to some of those places for interviews or whatever and could’ve been taken advantage of? Yes, of course. But I never put myself in that position.
What’s next for you?
Pat and I currently have two-and-a-half years left on our current contract. I love my job and have no desire to leave, so we have to see. Who knows? Maybe they won’t even come back and ask us to renew. I’m very happy and I’m not going anywhere.
I will say that when I retire I will probably do something to help others. I don’t know know what it will be … probably I’ll get involved in some charity.
You have your own line of yarn. Have you always crocheted?
My grandmother taught me [to crochet] me when I was about 5 years old. And then 35 years ago, when I started the show, my hairdresser was pregnant and she was crocheting a blanket for her baby and I said, “Oh, that’s what I used to do when I was a kid. I’m going to pick it up again.” And then I was on Johnny Carson one night and I was talking about my love of crocheting and Lion Brand Yarn Company saw the show and they sent me a big box of yarn. Oddly enough, I loved their yarn and used their yarn. We started a relationship and I became their spokesperson. About 10 years ago they said, “You should have your own line of yarn.” I donate half of my proceeds to charity. I chose St. Jude; I went to Memphis and looked at their facility and saw everything they did and just fell in love with them. To date, I’ve donated $1.8 million to St. Jude and it feels so good. I love it.
You made a TV movie [“Goddess of Love,” which aired on NBC in 1988]. Will you ever star in a movie again?
Ummm … probably not, since I don’t consider myself an actress. Guest-starring on some fun show might be fun. I did want to be an actress years ago but I realized after I had kids and became a mom [that] they became my priority and I really didn’t care much about acting anymore. And of course I had “Wheel of Fortune” so to me, being on TV, that was great. It was all I needed. I kind of reached my goal.