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Mackenzie Phillips is looking back on her One Day at a Time years with honesty and perspective. The actress, who played Julie Cooper on the hit sitcom, recently spoke about her time on the show and the bond she shared with co-star Valerie Bertinelli. According to Fox News, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli became household names while playing sisters on the CBS sitcom, which ran from 1975 to 1984. Phillips said their friendship grew during those years, even as fame, youth, and personal struggles shaped what happened behind the scenes. Mackenzie Phillips Opened Up About Sitcom Years With Valerie Bertinelli ONE DAY AT A TIME, (from left): MacKenzie Phillips, Bonnie Franklin, Valerie Bertinelli, 1975-84. Phillips recalled that she and Bertinelli were close in age when they rose to fame on One Day at a Time. On the show, Phillips played rebellious older sister Julie Cooper, while Bertinelli played younger sister Barbara Cooper. Their chemistry helped make the sitcom feel warm, familiar, and believable to viewers. Looking back, Phillips also spoke about substance use during that period. She said drugs were present behind the scenes, but she made it clear that her own addiction was different from Bertinelli’s experience. Phillips also expressed gratitude that she eventually got caught, because it became part of the path that led her toward recovery. Their Friendship Lasted Beyond The Show ONE DAY AT A TIME, from left: Mackenzie Phillips, Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington, Valerie Bertinelli, 1975-84. The friendship between Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli continued long after their sitcom years ended. Phillips once said they were teenagers when they first became close, but they grew into women who still cared deeply for each other. She described the cast as a family and said the love between them remained meaningful. Phillips also admitted that her addiction affected the friendship for years. During earlier stages of sobriety, she reached out to Bertinelli with updates, even when she knew the relationship needed time to heal. In 2025, she celebrated Bertinelli’s 65th birthday with a loving message, showing that their bond had endured through time, distance, and personal repair. LOS ANGELES - NOV 21: Mackenzie Phillips at the Paley Honors: A Special Tribute To Television's Comedy Legends at Beverly Wilshire Hotel on November 21, 2019 in Beverly Hills, CA/AdMedia Phillips now speaks about her past with a sense of resilience. She has said that faith, family, recovery, and purpose helped keep her grounded. Instead of wanting pity, she sees her painful experiences as part of what shaped the woman she became. Today, Phillips continues to act while also working in addiction recovery and counseling. Her story remains tied to Hollywood history, but it is also a story of survival, honesty, and healing. For fans of One Day at a Time, her reflections offer a deeper look at the real friendship behind two familiar television sisters. NYC 11/01/03 Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin and Mackenzie Phillips on the red carpet for "CBS AT 75" in Manhattan Digital Photo by Adam Nemser/PHOTOlink www.photolink.org 305-695-3935 MANDATORY DOUBLE CREDIT ONE-TIME REPRODUCTION RIGHTS ONLY