Heather Graham is making the most of the European summer, sharing a series of stunning photographs on Instagram from a sun-soaked getaway to Italy over the weekend.
The 56-year-old actress looked incredible as she posed in a succession of string bikinis against the spectacular backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, showing off her toned figure as she soaked up the sunshine and swam in the crystal-clear Mediterranean.
In one striking image, Heather posed in the shallows wearing a brown polka-dot halterneck bikini and oversized black sunglasses, while another saw her strolling along the beach in the same two-piece, adding a wide-brimmed straw hat.
© InstagramThe Austin Powers star switched things up with a chocolate brown bikini as she posed in front of Positano's famous pastel-colored buildings before slipping into a vibrant cobalt blue two-piece for another day beside the water.
But while Heather's age-defying appearance regularly attracts attention, the actress has been refreshingly open about the fact that her approach to getting older is about far more than maintaining her figure.
© InstagramHeather Graham's approach to ageing at 56
Heather revealed that health has become her biggest priority as she has grown older, even ranking it above her successful Hollywood career.
"I'm not saying I'm always happy, I feel like I've figured out how to enjoy my life more as I get older," she told Us Weekly.
© Instagram"Career is important, but if you don't have your health, you don't have anything. I'm lucky to be alive and healthy. That's number one, over my career and over everything else."
Sleep is also non-negotiable for the actress, who has previously admitted that she can happily clock up considerably more than the recommended eight hours a night. "Sometimes people make fun of me. I can get 10 hours, sometimes 11. I love sleeping," she said.
© InstagramHeather Graham's diet
Heather's relationship with food has evolved over the years, too. She has spoken candidly about previously having "unhealthy eating habits," which included skipping proper meals in favor of sweets.
"I would be like, 'I don't want to eat dinner. I'm gonna go to the grocery store and buy, like, eight candy bars or a pint of ice cream,'" she recalled.
She has since adopted a more balanced approach, while generally limiting refined sugar and white flour. Speaking to Refinery29 in 2013, Heather explained: "I've become one of those annoying people who's like, 'I'm not gonna eat white flour and I'm not gonna eat sugar.'"
© InstagramShe added that while she does still occasionally eat both, reducing sugar in particular had made her "feel a lot better."
Her meals aren't about deprivation, however. The actress has previously revealed that she enjoys making healthier versions of comfort foods, including baked sweet potato wedges, alongside nutrient-packed salads.
"I'm also making sweet potato fries, but I make baked wedge fries so they're healthier," she said. "I make a really good salad with kale, chopped raw brussel sprouts, and toasted almonds."
© InstagramThe workout Heather Graham 'is obsessed with'
Her exercise routine is similarly focused on activities she genuinely enjoys rather than punishing hours in the gym. "I'm obsessed with yoga," Heather previously revealed. "For fun, I would go on a yoga retreat and do four hours of yoga a day."
Pilates is another favorite, while the actress also incorporates a rather more energetic form of cardio into her lifestyle. "I also like going out dancing," she said.
It is an approach that appears to be serving her well, with Heather's latest photographs showing her looking relaxed and confident as she enjoyed the Italian sunshine. And for the actress, embracing ageing appears to be less about trying to turn back the clock and more about appreciating the life she has now. "I'm lucky to be alive and healthy," she said. "That's number one, over my career and over everything else."
