Julia Louis-Dreyfus covers the spring issue of New Beauty magazine to promote the fourth season of Veep, which starts in April. I’m struggling to realize that she’s 54 years old (just like Antonio Banderas). Julia looks fresh, but she doesn’t look like she’s been “refreshed.” If she’s using Botox, her doctor knows how to use it sparingly. There’s probably a sweet combination of good genes and healthy habits at work too. Julia looks fantastic. In this interview, she discusses how to cope with her 17-hour workdays during filming, which make staying on track difficult:
On makeup: “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. 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!”
On aging before an audience: “You’ve seen me age! I’ve been in showbiz for so long. From the first time people saw me on Saturday Night Live until now … it’s no secret that I’ve gotten older. I’ve gotten older in front of you and that is odd – it is still so strange to me that everyone has seen me age on a public stage. It’s totally changing and difficult.”
Making healthy choices: “It can get really hard on-set and the biggest challenge is getting enough sleep. 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. 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.”
On fitness: “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.”
[From New Beauty]
Julia gives some good tips here, and I think she’s correct about how a little foundation goes a long way. There are also some types of foundation that don’t settle into fine lines and wrinkles as much. Not that I would know, seeing as makeup is not my specialty. Lip stains and mascara are my jam.
Her recommendation about Kind bars is a good one. They’re a little pricey but can be found on sale (usually in bulk form). All of their sea-salt flavors are so good. Do you buy Julia’s claim to only do cardio once per week? Maybe she’s talking about structured cardio, and she hikes a lot too. Whatever Julia’s doing, it’s working for her.
Photos courtesy of New Beauty & WENN
That cover shot doesn’t look a thing like her.
Nothing at all – and how can someone say she looks ‘fresh’ but not refreshed. She looks like a different person.
My first was WOW.. she looks amazing on that cover shot. Then scroll down and you see the real her. This photoshop thing getting old. You can’t trust any photo you see and we all believe we should look so good.
I think the real her is pretty effing amazing for her age. And much lovelier than that cover shot.
Just…WHY??
She doesn’t NEED to be Photoshopped to look like a 20-year-old version of herself. She’s a beautiful, 54-year-old woman who looks INCREDIBLE.
Man, I am SO sick of magazines doing this sh*t.
Agree, it’s bizarre. Apparently the Photoshop people just cannot resist, even for people who have zero need for it. She looks a bit like an Andie McDowell/Penelope Cruz hybrid in that shot to me.
It’s kind of funny that she talks about how hard it’s been to age so publicly when she’s among those who’ve aged the least…or the most gracefully.
I hear her on overeating when she doesn’t get enough sleep, the same thing happens to me. For some reason I get really cold when I’m overtired and then eating comfort food is the only way to keep me going. She’s lucky she gets professionally made healthy choices, though, I just get my sad box of mac and cheese.
Yeah, I don’t think she necessarily had work done (or a lot of it), but the interview with that blatantly altered photo, to the point of making her unrecognizable, is so contradictory to the message she is delivering, it makes your head spin.
Yup. If I don’t sleep well, my body craves carbs on order to give me energy, which never works.
I think she’s had very subtle tweaking done.
She looks awesome though.
Kiddo…she almost looks like Penelope Cruz on that cover…I am the almost the same age as Julia, and I wish that I had someone to do my makeup and hair, everyday…I feel like I never get it right…I’ll go to Sephora and buy expensive crap, that some 22 year old, salesgirl, has picked out for me, and think it looks great in the store mirror…then I get it home and put it on myself, and its like I just bought a bunch of cheap makeup at dollar store…
I’ve always been a big fan of Julia’s, but I really hate when these famous, rich actors, use words like challenging and difficult or brave, etc. for aging, or not being able to wear masacara for a role (that’s right, Anniston, I’m looking at you)…Celebs need to drum it down on the adjectives they use….Remember Tom Cruise talking about Katie Holmes…I think he used the word “amazing” like 5 hundred, billion, times….puke…
If it’s any comfort, I have the same feelings about Sephora, the sales girls, and my purchased makeup, and I’m 32.
I don’t get it… I don’t see that she looks all that different. I mean they’ve lighted her from all angles instead of straight on flash but other than that what looks different? :/
I love her so much. Veep is awesome. And if she’s getting any work done, it’s so subtle that it works. Could easily pass for just good genes and lots of water, you know? And awe, I hate taking off my makeup too. It’s my security blanket. But I never ever ever sleep in it.
Veep is Hilarious and I’m so happy that is happening for her and her cast mates everyone kills it there
She also has a very very petite frame and a face bone structure that is more forgiving than most as she ages so there is that
I love Veep too, it’s hilarious, and she is fantastic on the show. I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time, so it’s great to see her have such continued success.
I love VEEP! I love her office style on that show and she’s hilarious.
Yeah, I love her too. People forget that she’s the proto-Tina Fey. And while I think Veep is funny, she’ll forever be the pugnacious Elaine Benes to me (which her character in those Old Navy commercials is recalling nicely).
She looks phenomenal! She just gets better with age.
There was no need for the photoshop fiasco on the cover. Julia is rocking 54! She reminds me of my mom who is now 77 but looks early 60’s. Born with great genes and has always taken care of her body.
Agree with Julia – you have to keep working out to stay fit whatever age – however, it’s not so hard to do now – it’s a lifestyle. Agree with Bedhead – lips and lashes are the way to go because in my mind, I look like a bar-sop with too much more – I’ve had to dial it back, as I’ve gotten older – I like highlighting though. As far as “work”. I won’t let anyone touch my face – it is my means of communication with the world!
Underneath it all, I’ve come to realize that like all living things, my life has a life cycle – and I am thrilled with mine – I have so much to harvest. One needs never to worry about men – they are always everywhere, wanting in. It’s still a preference ball. Who cares what magazines say?
A lot of women get their faces done, then you see their real age. Her neck is amazing for 54! I think there are just some good genes at work.
Yeah, I have major neck envy. My dermatologist told me I have the kind of skin that’s prone to sagging, especially in that area. Lucky me.
I’m a bit confused by her comment, “I’ve gotten older in front of you and that is odd – it is still so strange to me that everyone has seen me age on a public stage. It’s totally changing and difficult.” Why? She makes it sound like NATURE is a freak thing. She was younger on SNL and now she’s older. Why is that strange? Nobody is criticizing her. She’s a human woman!
She looks amazing. She has aged very, very well. Probably better than 99% of the actresses I see who still look bad with plastic surgery and botox. It’s a combination of healthy living, getting enough sleep, genes, and bring rich her entire life.
I have loved her since SNL and Elaine Benes is my dysfunctional soul sister. I hate how they photo shopped the cover on the mag to make her look 20 year younger tho’. She looks really good for 54 years old. I get where she’s coming from with lack of sleep and the resulting food choices — everything hinges on sleep for me too. If that suffers, I make terrible life choices all around.
Doesn’t she have one of those rare 20+ year HW marriages too? I was thinking that her kids with Brad are now college age or older.
IMO she looks better as she gets older. Her jaw line as softened & she looks older…..but not stretched or pulled like other women in the spotlight. If she has had work done, she has chosen the right people to ‘work’ on her. gorgeous.
My jaw line “softened” too – however, no one will touch it – it is my face!
It can look good on women that have really strong/pointed jaw lines when they’re younger. Julia’s looks better now.
I think she looks great for her age, and don’t think she’s had any work done, to be honest. It was nice to see her in that film Enough Said, playing an older woman in a new romantic relationship who actually looked like an older woman. And her co-star Catherine Keener is about the same as Julia and is also someone who has always looked good. But I agree with her about make-up, if it wasn’t a bit of adult acne here and there, I wouldn’t wear foundation at all. And as you get older, less is more.
She looks wonderful.
But she’s worth at least half a billion dollars, having inherited scoodles of money from her family (her dad was the “Dreyfus” in the Dreyfus fund).
If I had that sort of money, I’d look great, too.
She looks stunning. When I saw her in Enough Said, growing into a mature woman didn’t seem so scary. If we’re fortunate, life goes on. We date, fall in love, work, etc. after our children grow up. She looks healthy and that’s what really matters.