Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips Were Equally ‘Jealous’ of Each Other on ‘One Day at a Time’

One Day at a Time costars Valerie Bertinelli and Mackenzie Phillips had a complicated relationship growing up as teenagers on the CBS sitcom.

Phillips joined Bertinelli, both 66, on the Monday, September 7, episode of her podcast, and the two discussed the highs and lows of their longstanding relationship after having played sisters Julie and Barbara on the TV series.

“We were 15 when we met. I still can’t get over that,” the Food Network host began. “We’re nowhere near the same girls we were then.”

The actresses, who are almost six months apart in age, talked about why they didn’t always get along on set of the series, which ran for nine seasons from 1975 to 1984.

“I was so jealous of you,” Bertinelli admitted. “You had the perfect body. You were like this gorgeous, tall string bean, and all the clothes fit you perfectly, and my hips kept getting bigger and bigger.”

While Bertinelli said she looks back at her 110-lb body and wonders why she’d ever complain, she said: “We just had different body types. Really, it’s that simple.”

“I hate that people compare themselves to others because I was one of them that did that,” she continued. “Is it just because we were two teenagers together? Because I know you had some issues with me, too.”

Phillips then admitted, “I was so jealous of you. Perfect skin, perfect hair.”

“I remember I constantly had craters on my face, and they would put that thick makeup on, and then you could just see bumps covered by really thick makeup,” said Phillips. “It was horrible.”

Phillips said something like that “destroys” your self-esteem, especially as a young person growing up with acne.

Both costars kept going back and forth with reasons as to why they were jealous of one another, with Phillips saying: “I wanted to be like you.”

“And I wanted to be like you,” said Bertinelli. “It’s so silly. Don’t want to be like someone else. Just be yourself. You finally get that at this age.”

“And if you can’t be yourself,” Phillips said jokingly, “be a monkey.”