TV’s consummate comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus confesses how she stays healthy during 17-hour workdays on set, the best makeup tip she’s learned over the years, and the truth behind her totally toned figure.
On-Set Rituals
While filming Veep, Julia says some days on-set are incredibly long ones that can hit the 17-hour day mark, making staying on the health track difficult. “It can get really hard on-set and the biggest challenge is getting enough sleep,” she says. “And, when I don’t have enough sleep, my metabolism goes crazy and my decision-making when it comes to good food choices is not the best—it’s very easy for me to go off the wagon as the hours of the day get longer. I am lucky that we have a really great craft services that does give us healthy choices and high-protein options, which helps me not make the bad food mistakes.”
And when she’s traveling? “I try to have some healthy choices on hand. I like Kind Bars and I recently found Santa Barbara Bars. I also always have almonds with me.”
Makeup Magic
“As I’ve gotten older, I realize that less really is more—especially when it comes to makeup. I’ve found that a huge mistake you can easily make that ages you instantly is putting on too heavy foundation. All it does is define the lines you have.”
“I’ve worked with the same makeup artist, Karen Kawahara, for 20-plus years and she goes light, light, light on my foundation. It’s so key and your skin looks great doing it like that. But the one thing I absolutely hate doing is taking my makeup off. I’m not someone who can fall asleep with my makeup on, that’s disgusting to me, so I have to take it off. But I really hate it!”
Fitness Fix
“Besides hiking, I like spin classes and I like doing cardio. But I have to admit, I am not so great on a bike. But I do try to do cardio—or anything aerobic—one day a week if I can because I think it’s so important and anyone feels better after they do it. I’m admittedly a lot better in smaller classes and groups though; when there are gobs of people, I start to get self-conscious.”
To read more, pick up our Spring issue on newsstands March 31.
Styling: Cristina Ehrlich; Hair: David Gardner for Sexy Hair at Grid Agency Makeu; Makeup: Karen Kawahara for DiorShow at Grid Agency; Manicure: Emi Kudo at Opus Beauty using Dior Vernis
