Italian actress Monica Bellucci has shared some of her secrets over the years for maintaining her figure while embracing the aging process with a sense of calm. Rather than following strict diets or intense workout routines, she favors a much more relaxed approach—one that includes pasta, desserts and the occasional glass of wine.
Bellucci, who turned 62 this week, has often spoken about how she takes care of herself and her philosophy toward food, exercise and aging.
In a 2015 interview, the actress offered a simple formula for living well:
“Eat well, drink well, have good sex and laugh a lot.”
She has also openly acknowledged her love of desserts and pasta, while occasionally enjoying a glass of wine and, very rarely, a cigarette.
Bellucci has been associated with a Mediterranean-inspired approach to eating, including vegetables, fruit, lean proteins, olive oil, nuts and avocado. She also pays attention to portion sizes, allowing herself to enjoy the foods she loves without overindulging.
Another part of her routine has been eating five times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with two smaller meals in between.
When it comes to exercise, Bellucci is not a fan of intense workouts. She has said that she practices Pilates from time to time, mainly for enjoyment and mobility, while swimming is one of the activities she prefers. At certain points, she has said that she would swim several times a week for around 45 minutes.
“I exercise, of course, a little, and I watch my diet a little when I have to work, but I’m not obsessed with it,” she has said.
Bellucci has also emphasized that she has always been a woman with curves and has never aspired to be extremely thin.
“I’ve always been a woman with curves. I’ve never been that thin; that’s simply my nature,” the actress has said.
For Bellucci, beauty is about much more than physical appearance. She has spoken openly about how she views aging, rejecting the idea that growing older should be seen as something negative for women.
“I want to age peacefully. When you are 50 or 60, you don’t have the same needs as when you are 20,” she has said.
According to Bellucci, growing older also brings a different perspective on life.
“Growing older means that you are lucky enough to be alive and that you still have a horizon ahead of you. Besides, maturity brings a wonderful gift: detachment.”
The actress has also discussed the pressures within the film industry and the expectation that women should always look young.
“If you age and accept the process with dignity, or you die. Looking at it that way, I would rather age a thousand times,” she said with humor.
For Bellucci, feeling beautiful goes far beyond how other people see you. It is also about accepting yourself, embracing change and finding confidence in every stage of life.
