‘I was shocked’: All My Children’s Susan Lucci, 71, on THOSE swimsuit pictures of her on the beach

She played Erica Kane on the hit soap All My Children for 41 years and at 71, Susan Lucci still looks incredibly beautiful.

And proof of that fact spread around in the world in February this year when the actor was photographed on a beach wearing a strapless coral-red swimsuit.

The pictures quickly spread around the globe as people marvelled at her youthful visage and trim, taught figure.

And on Friday, Susan appeared on Channel Nine’s Today Extra and spoke of her reaction to the overwhelmingly positive response she got to the pictures.

‘I was so shocked’ [at the positive response],’ the brunette beauty told hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger. 

‘But they were such nice pictures.’ 

Grateful: ‘I was so shocked’ [at the positive response],’ the brunette beauty told hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger. ‘But they were such nice pictures’

She added, laughing: ‘They [the public] said really nice things. And I thought, “Let me find these paparazzi and thank them!”‘

Susan was nominated for an Emmy 19 times before finally winning one of the gongs in the Best Actress category in 1999 for her portrayal of Erica Kane.

Susan added: ‘They [the public] said really nice things [about the red bikini shots]. ‘And I thought, “Let me find these paparazzi and thank them!”‘

Workout regimen: Susan recently revealed that she hits the gym six times a week to maintain her remarkable figure

She recently revealed she hits the gym six times a week to maintain her remarkable figure.

Susan told Women’s Health: ‘I try to take one day off, because you’re supposed to take a day off. But I’ll always do something, because I find my body craves it.’ 

The brunette beauty said she works out ‘first thing’ in the morning, as it is a positive start to her day.

Early bird: The brunette beauty said she works out ‘first thing’ in the morning, as it is a positive start to her day

Star power: Susan is an All My Children icon, having played Erica Kane for decades (pictured in 1970 at age 23)

‘Because then I know, no matter what happens for the rest of the day, I’ve done something good for myself,’ she told the magazine.