Joan Collins has spent more than seven decades in the spotlight, but at 93, the Dynasty legend says her approach to staying healthy and happy is surprisingly simple.
The actress, who is currently starring in the new film My Duchess, recently opened up about the habits that help her maintain her vitality, revealing that a love of life remains at the heart of everything she does.
"I just love life," Joan told The Independent at Variety's Women of Power event. "I wake up every morning and breathe the air, try to get a good night's sleep, drink lots of water and take care of myself."
© GettyFor the Hollywood icon, ageing well starts with gratitude and a determination to embrace every day. Joan has long been admired for her glamorous appearance, but she insists looking after herself has always been about much more than appearances.
Speaking exclusively to HELLO!, the Emmy nominee revealed she has one strict rule when it comes to her diet. "Never, not before I go to bed," she said when asked about snacking. "I believe our body is a factory; it needs to be fed the right things. If you have a great car, you don't put inferior petrol into it. I'm very fussy about what I eat."
© Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/WireImaThe actress also remains committed to exercise, although she admits her routine is relatively low-key. "I work out with my trainer a couple of times a week," she previously told The Telegraph. "Just basic Pilates-type exercises rather than using one of those Pilates machines."
When it comes to walking, however, Joan is less enthusiastic. "It bores me," she admitted. "I'll walk around my apartment tweaking the flowers, but that's about it."
© GettyJoan is the first to acknowledge that genetics have also played a role in her longevity. "My father lived to be 87, and for somebody born in 1903, that's pretty amazing," she explained. "My mother took incredibly exceptional care of me and my sister. When we were growing up, she gave us all kinds of supplements when nobody was taking supplements."
Another important factor in Joan's happiness is her marriage to husband Percy Gibson, whom she wed in 2002.
© GettyDespite a 32-year age gap, the couple have enjoyed more than two decades together, with Joan previously describing Percy as her perfect match.
"First of all, we were great pals before we got married," she told Fox News Digital. "We worked together on a play. We enjoyed each other's company. We hung out together. We saw each other the following year. We wrote love letters. It was a gradual thing."
The actress said their friendship provided the foundation for a successful marriage. "He is a really nice, kind, grounded person," she shared. "Many of the people that I've been with have been either neurotic, slightly unbalanced or gotten into different things."
For Joan, the age difference between them has never mattered. "That's how we both feel," she said. "And we were friends first, above anything else."
Her enthusiasm for life is something she believes has stayed with her since childhood. "I was born with a tremendous enthusiasm for life," she explained. "My mother used to say that I never kept still when I was a child."
That outlook continues to guide her today. "Life is a gift," Joan said. "That's why they call it the present. It's a gift. And so many people waste it. It's so sad. It's a gift, and it does not last very long."
