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We lusted after her, we admired her, and all us watched her-Lynda Carter, playing that gold-bangled, lasso-wearing superheiro Wonder Woman. What's she up to now?

The home where Lynda Carter was born and raised in Phoenix, Ariz., was a long way from Hollywood. With her family facing financial hardship, Career began singing in a local rock & roll band at the age of 14 and went out on the road three years later. At 20, she decided to pursue an acting career, taking a short detour to win the Miss USA beauty title in 1972. Carter was 21 and down to her last paycheck when Wonder Woman came along. The show only ran from 1976-79 but has been in syndication ever since and has made Carter an international icon.

Carter now lives in Washington, D.C. wich her husband, lawyer Robert Altman, 49, and their two children, James, 8, and Jessica, 6. In 1991. Altman became a pivotal figure in the savings-and-loan scandal, when he was accused of helping his client B.C.C.I. illegally purchase First American Bank. He was acquitted in 1993. Carter stood by her husband throughout the trial. Here, Carter talks to Swing about her status as a sex symbol, her legacy as Wonder Woman, and why family is more important than fame.

Swing. I don't know whether you realize what an impression you made on people our age. You were the fast crush for most of my male friends, and my female friends wanted to be you.

Lynda Carter. It's kind of a phenomenon. I've actually been interviewed for senior theses and that sore of thing. Of course, you have to realize that when I did this, I was around 20, myself. And I had no idea that I was going to have this kind of impression on people. It was like all other shows, you know, it was intended to make money for the studios. It's just sort of taken on a life of its own.

Swing. Well, for the guys, I'd have to say the main erect was a sort of hormonal shock wave.

LC: I just can't imagine some of the fantasies that probably went through those young boys' minds. The male fantasy was definitely a part of ir: the beautiful, voluptuous woman. But then there was the role-model aspect for the girls.

Swing. caring. Why was Wonder Woman a role model?

LC: At the time, there were basically no women on television except for Mary Tyler Moore, Angie Dickinson, and Carol Burnett. It was The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman that really broke the ceiling for a woman to carry a show.

Swing. And it wasn't just that you were a woman. You were a hero.

LC: It was kind of ground-breaking at the time, being a superhero and also the way I played it. I didn't really play it tongue-in-cheek, like Batman. I played it for real, as a person. She had a real job, she was beautiful, she was young, she was strong, she stood for something, and she took care of herself. I think that is was the first thing that was or television that showed a woman could be all those things. So I chink that held a very positive image: both for girls and for boys.

Swing. You've said that at one point being famous was the most important thing to you.

LC: Absolutely. But it's not anymore.

Swing. So you met your husband and said. "That's it. I'm outra here"?

LC: Well, I did another show, and I did movies. But when I had my babies, I really quit. I wanted some substance in my life. I wanted to have a real life with a family. And I was unhappy with my work, too. I didn't feel I was very good, and I was afraid of being thought of as untalented. So I started studying acting again.

Swing. How did your husband's trial affect your life.

LC: Looking back on it now, it was nightmare that we lived through. But I an married to the most remarkable man I haut ever met in my life.

Swing. So what is your life like now.

LC: I've been really busy. I did a movie ir November, I did another movie in January, ant now I'm about to do another called Family Blessing about an older woman and a younger man.

Swing. What's it like now that you're 40-ishy?

LC: I love it. Sometimes I can't believe it, but 1 stay in shape and I love the way I am. Swing. Any advice for young people?

LC: Definitely. I think that if you have a passion in your life, find a way to make a living at is because that's what you're going to be spending most of your time doing. Don't let people dis courage you.