6 Secrets From Meryl Streep for a Timeless and Fit Physique

Meryl Streep is considered the most talented actress working today. She’s won three Academy Awards, and has been nominated for 21 Academy Awards and 32 Golden Globes. Streep’s credits include Sophie’s Choice, The Iron Lady, Julie & Julia, and Kramer vs. Kramer. She will also appear on the third season of Only Murders In The Building. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 6 ways Meryl Streep stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Overcomes Doubt

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Streep opened up about her career in an interview. She admits that she sometimes has doubts when she is working on a project. However, she also has a way of overcoming this. “I can't help but start worrying about how I'm going to pull this off and I lose confidence in myself. And each time this happens, I tell my husband that I'm going to have to [tell] the producer that I can't do the film after all. And each time my husband tells me he's seen it all before and I never make that call."

2. She Was Taught To Work Hard

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In the interview, Streep talked about how she developed her work ethic. She says that her mother inspired her to work hard and go after things. “My mentor was my mother, because she said to me, 'Meryl, you're capable… You can do whatever you put your mind to. If you're lazy, you're not going to get it done. But if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.' And I believed her."

3. She Doesn’t Let Go Of Her Pain

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In an interview, Streep opened up about the death of her partner, actor John Cazale, and how it affected her. She says that she is embracing the pain, without letting it overcome her. “I didn't get over it, I don't want to get over it," she says. "No matter what you do, the pain is always there in some recess of your mind, and it affects everything that happens afterwards. I think you can assimilate the pain and go on without making an obsession of it."

4. She’s Enthusiastic

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Streep says that one of her secrets to her success is being enthusiastic with every role she takes on. "I feel the same excitement and enthusiasm when I'm working today as when I started out. Every character that I play has the same importance as the first one I interpreted. Acting still gives me tremendous pleasure and I love my job as much as ever… I still feel this guilty pleasure when I start imagining myself in the life and feelings of a character."

5. She’s A Feminist

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Streep is open about being a feminist and wanting to support women’s rights. “We should be careful not to overestimate the actual freedom of women today,” she said in an interview. “It's still more difficult for women to achieve their goals and reach higher level positions in society than it is for men, although we are making progress. I remember when I was 20, my mother said to me, 'Never learn to type, otherwise you will end up a secretary.' I still have vivid memories and impressions from when I was starting out that it was difficult for women to pursue their ambitions, and young women were constantly being valued much more for their beauty than for their intellect. We have to change that dynamic."

6. She Doesn’t Touch Her Face

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Journalist Fi Glover revealed one of Streep’s biggest skincare secrets on an episode of the Fortunately podcast. “We were talking about beauty tips, it was a fascinating evening full of political discussion and engagement. She said that her one beauty secret was never to touch her face. She never touches her face.”

Jennifer Lawrence is known for her down-to-earth and decidedly non-Hollywood approach to health and fitness—and she’s open about the hard work it takes to transform for roles. Lawrence, 32, is focused on workouts and not dieting, feeling good over feeling restricted and has no interest in real-life Hunger Games. Pizza will always be part of her diet, but she makes it work. Here’s how the actress stays her fittest—and happiest.

1. Feelgood Endorphins

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Lawrence genuinely loves how exercise makes her feel. “I hate saying, ‘I like exercising’,” she says. ‘But it's nice being in shape for a movie, because they basically do it all for you. It's like, ‘Here's your trainer. This is what you can eat’. I don't diet. I do exercise! But I don't diet. You can't work when you're hungry, you know?”

2. No Restrictive Dieting

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Balance is key for Lawrence when it comes to her diet, both during shoots and in her down time. “I don’t like when people say, ‘I only do this or eat this,’” she says. “Because I eat. I’m not very strict with my diet: If I want a piece of pizza, I eat a piece of pizza. For me, it’s easier to put that extra effort into the gym instead of putting the extra effort into: Oh no, I can’t eat that.’”

3. Yoga Sessions To Cap the Day

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Trainer Dalton Wong worked with Lawrence on the X-Men movies, and says she would finish each day with yoga. “It's just to help relieve the body so you can sleep better but also be able to be more resilient and be able to train and work the next day,” he says in his book The Feelgood Plan. “Inhale through the nose, filling your lower belly, lower rib cage, then up to your chest and throat. Exhale through the nose for a count of three. Keep a steady rhythm as you repeat the movement.”

4. Pilates and Weight Training

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Professional dance coach Kurt Froman trained with Lawrence for her role as a dancer in Red Sparrow. “I worked with Jen six days a week, three hours a day for three months,” he says. “As well as doing cross training in the form of Pilates, or toning and weight-training, or gyrotonics… Weight training and doing a lot of cardio is very good. The human body is amazing when it comes to support – we have to fully shock it. It’s about constantly diversifying your workout.”

5. Gyrotonics Sessions

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Gyrotonics was a core part of Lawrence's dance training. “Gyrotonics is really amazing for strengthening the upper body,” Froman says. “It’s a form of Pilates based on functional strength through rhythmic movements. It’s similar to ballet because it’s very lengthening and you’re constantly using your breath, and it requires a lot of core work as well.”

6. Healthy Snacks

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Lawrence likes to keep healthy, delicious snacks on hand. "In Jennifer's trailer, we would always have some full-fat Greek yogurt, some dark chocolate, some hummus and vegetables," Wong says. "It's always food that is working for us rather than against us."

7. She Works Hard For Physique

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Lawrence says society has a skewed perspective of what ‘normal’ looks like. “Everybody says, ‘We love that there is somebody with a normal body!’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t feel like I have a normal body … I do Pilates every day,” she says. “I eat, but I work out a lot more than a normal person. I think we’ve gotten so used to underweight that when you are a normal weight, it’s like, ‘Oh, my God, she’s curvy.’ Which is crazy. The bare minimum, just for me, would be to up the ante.”