Skins Star Laya Lewis Shares Swimsuit Photo From Italy

1. Swimming In the Sunshine

One look at Lewis’s social media shows just how much she loves swimming and the beach. “Swimming is one of the few activities that work your whole body,” says the British Heart Foundation. “Breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl, butterfly and even doggy paddle get your legs and arms moving. This in turn works your back and core muscles.”

2. Proud of Beverley

Lewis was proud to portray a biracial character in 2015 film Beverley. “I really loved that it was about a mixed race young girl,” she says. “You know, you get a lot of movies, different narratives that kind of circulate around the 80s, Margaret Thatcher, etc. But to be of mixed race, that’s often not covered and to be a mixed-race girl it’s kind of like you don’t know where you stand in society. You’re still a teenager as well as dealing with all those other troubles anyway… I just thought it would be really great to live through that, and being mixed race myself, I faced issues like bullying and stuff when I was in school – about the color of my skin. So, I thought it would be interesting to share that story and try to become part of it.”

3. No Drama School

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Lewis never formally trained as an actress, and got her role in Skins from an open audition. “I didn’t go to drama school,” she says. “I was one of those people who was quite stuck with that. When everyone else was applying for university, I did apply, but I wasn’t too bothered about it, because I knew that I didn’t want to go at that time. I think my plan was to save and travel and do some volunteer work. I knew I wanted to eventually do a degree in media and cultural studies, which is what I’m doing now. But at the time I was just thinking of maybe traveling for a year and sort of deciding over that period what I really wanted to do.”

4. Vegan Meals

Lewis enjoys plant-based vegan meals. "You can be overweight and be a vegan; you can be malnourished and be a vegan," says cardiologist Jeffrey Soble, MD. "Whatever your diet choice, you have to know which foods to avoid and which foods to seek out... Refined grains, sweets and junk food are troublemakers for everyone, not just vegans. And vegans and nonvegans alike can fall into the habit of making these items the mainstays of their diet."

5. Media Studies

Lewis studied media and cultural studies alongside acting. “In a way, I find it’s quite separate from acting – not separate from the industry, but from acting itself,” she says. “The two can mesh, but now it’s like two separate things, which is nice, because it breaks things up. At this age, you’re getting jobs in dribs and drabs, at other times you’re working non-stop. So, it’s nice to have something separate to work on in my own time. I’m just enjoying learning as well. A lot of it is theory-based and to do with different cultures, so it’s nice to be doing that well."

How I Met Your Mother star Morena Baccarin spent September chasing the sun at the gorgeous St. Regis Kanai Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Baccarin, 44, shared a selfie where she’s posing in a swimsuit by a beautiful pool, against a background of palm trees and blue skies. “Thank you @stregiskanairesort for the amazing stay. The only [part] I didn’t like was leaving,” she captioned the post. “Have a lovely vacation amazing Morena!” a fan commented. Baccarin works hard while raising her family—here’s what her health and beauty routine looks like.

1. She Loves To Swim

Baccarin is a big fan of swimming and Pilates. “I love swimming laps,” she says. “That’s my main go-to for exercise. I’ll go to the YMCA and swim whenever I can. Sometimes that takes a little more time than I have, so walking or running somewhere—as opposed to taking a quick Uber—is always a really good alternative if you don’t mind showing up sweaty or in leggings. I also love Pilates, and I do a combo of that and training with a personal trainer when I have time. Lately, it’s just been a very sporadic mix!”

2. Beauty Experiments

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Baccarin loves to experiment with makeup. “I love trying beauty products,” she says. “I’m always very curious about them. When I do photo shoots or glam for an event, I’m always asking my makeup artist ‘What’s that?’ I’m into a few things at the moment: My facialist Joanna Czech has a new line that just came out and it is phenomenal. I’m very much into her cream, specifically. I love it because it’s a one-stop shop. I wash my face, I put that on, and I’m done.”

3. Skincare First

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Baccarin is diligent about keeping her skin clean and healthy. “I have to wash my makeup off,” she says. “That has to come off, all that heavy stuff, whether you put on a lot or a little. I don’t feel good until I’ve completely scrubbed my face, and I have to use makeup remover and facial wash. I like something that is soapy, not oily—I don’t like that texture, and it’s something that I feel like I have to put all over my face, including my eyes. I just scrub it all and splash water on it, and all of it comes off at once. When I’m in a pinch, Koh Gen Do has this Cleansing Spa Water, which is a makeup remover and face refresher that does remove everything really quickly. So if it’s 3 in the morning and I’ve just gotten off work, I wipe the makeup off in my van and moisturize when I get home.”

4. Self-Care Needs

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Baccarin’s ideal self-care is going to a retreat. “I find it frustrating when I’m in the city and I go to the Baccarat Hotel, an amazing spa,” she says. “I go there, I spend 3-4 hours, I get a massage, I get a facial, whatever it is, and I come home and I feel like all of the effects fade so quickly the minute I walk through the door. [Laughs.] So my ideal spa would be a retreat in Arizona or wine country where I can luxuriate in the spa and then go to my hotel room, lay in bed, and watch a movie.”

5. Staying Down-To-Earth

Baccarin says her family keeps her grounded. “Kids show you quickly what life is all about,” she says. “It’s been great for me. I had my first kid in my 30s, and now I have had my third, and it all comes back to them. Watching these little people mature, grow, learn, and looking at the world through their eyes is so magical. It puts everything into perspective. When you are at work and you are feeling glamorous and then you come home and you instantly have throw up on you, you are changing a diaper, or there is screaming happening and you are trying to get everyone to sleep (laughs). They have a way of keeping you real.”