Stephanie March Feels ‘Lucky’ as She Turns 50 and Plans Yearlong Celebration with ‘Wonderful Husband’ (Exclusive)

The actress and philanthropist will ring in her milestone birthday on July 23

This yr, is “saying sure.”

As prepares to ring in her fiftieth birthday on July 23, she tells PEOPLE that she’s greater than able to embrace this subsequent chapter of her life.

“I informed [my husband] Dan [Benton] — I warned him. I stated, ‘It’s not only a day, it’s a yr. I’m happening tour,’” she says with fun.

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March and her husband, a tech investor, will have fun their . The 2 initially met in 2015, although Benton admittedly didn’t know March from her days on SVU.

“He had [watched], however not so much. It’s humorous to go to one thing with Dan as a result of Dan labored a lot and by no means watched something on TV, so he doesn’t know who anyone is, which is sort of hilarious and nice,” she says.

Whereas March will have fun her fiftieth yr alongside Benton, she additionally has a number of getaways deliberate together with her many mates — an actual “collection of journeys,” she’s calling the journey.

“I like journey a lot, and I like prolonged time with individuals. It’s typically simpler than a celebration,” she says. “You’ll be able to have some actually good conversations and go to a bunch of various locations.”

March has been busy crossing off numerous spots from her itinerary, and he or she’s having fun with the liberty that comes with with the ability to have fun turning 50.

“My twenty first, I used to be most likely working. My thirtieth, I used to be most likely working. My fortieth, I used to be getting divorced [],” she says. “There weren’t a whole lot of milestone birthdays I received to grab upon. I stated, ‘Dan, that is it. I’m actually going for it.’”

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Above all, March says what she needs most is for individuals to donate to the organizations which can be close to and pricey to her.

“That’s all I would like,” says March, who serves on the board of each the and . “I’ve all the things else I might probably want.”

The philanthropist, whose causes are devoted to ending using sexual violence as a weapon of conflict within the Democratic Republic of Congo and rising entry to training and alternatives for girls and women in Kenya and Central America, can be concerned with the in her house metropolis, New York.

“It’s like a celebration in there. Younger individuals and artists are coming, they usually’re going to the museum earlier than they exit at evening. The concept we are able to make an funding in younger, cool, sensible individuals right here, too, is to me actually thrilling,” she says. “And it’s one thing that as you become older and you’ve got extra assets out there to you, I consider is your accountability.”

And, there’s one thing to be stated for the knowledge that comes with getting old, too. As she stares down 50, March is unabashed.

“I’m not shy about it as a result of the reality is, this present day, anyone is aware of your birthday, so there’s no level in not getting enthusiastic about it,” she says.

“It sounds just a little bit like a cliché, however the fact is, in my 40s, my mother handed away, and that was actually troublesome for me and a whole lot of issues modified in my life. And now I’m 50, and I really feel so unbelievably fortunate. I’ve this glorious husband. I’m on this great spot in my life. I work with wonderful individuals,” March says, citing legend .

March can be thrilled to proceed having fun with the corporate of her cat, a Maine Coon named and her shut mates at house — together with her former SVU costar.

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“I get to return over and play with Taco with me. I’ve so many fantastic alternatives, and I wish to make the most of all of them, and I’m fortunate to be right here to do it,” she says. “And I imply, the theme this yr is say sure. It’s like I’ve a greater automotive now, and I can’t wait to drive it.”

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