J. Andrews, at 90 years old, still radiates impressive energy and joy of life. At the beginning of October, the Oscar winner will turn 91. In an interview with Yahoo Life, she said she hadn’t found any magical formula for aging well, but simple habits she has followed for decades help her.
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Choosing ballet and yoga
Back in 1996, on the US talk show The Rosie O’Donnell Show, the actress talked about her routine: she dedicated about 45 minutes daily to stretching exercises, aerobics, and ballet exercises at the barre. J. Andrews described these exercises simply – they were “all the things I know work for me.”
Later she adjusted her program. In a 2000 interview with Woman & Home magazine, Andrews said she wanted to “exercise as little as possible but get the greatest effect.” Yoga and a bit of ballet – about 30–40 minutes every other day – helped her achieve this. Her goal was not to change her body but to “stay flexible.”
Walks strengthened legs for the theater
Long walks also strengthened her body. Many years ago, when she was preparing for challenging performances at London’s Palladium Theatre, she walked a lot around the English countryside.
“I started walking uphill towards the farm and around it because there are many hills and steep climbs there, which really strengthen the legs,” she said in a 1993 interview with Theatre Week. “Then I started jogging a little and walking a bit faster.”
This discipline comes from her childhood when she was already a professional stage performer. She told Yahoo Life: “I am grateful for the early years of my life when training was very disciplined and intense. It gave me a work ethic and motivated me to strive to be really good.”
Mental activity also supports youthfulness
Her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton believes that a large part of her mother’s energy comes from her inner attitude.
“I think it’s because Mom is a curious person at heart. She remains very interested and very curious about creativity,” she told Yahoo Life.
“Grandma hobbies” can reduce dementia risk
There may be truth to this, as shown by a 2022 meta-analysis published in the journal Neurology. It found that people who regularly engage in mentally stimulating leisure activities had a lower risk of dementia.
Neurophysiologist and longevity expert Gerd Wirtz recommends so-called “grandma hobbies” to keep the brain active instead of scrolling on the phone after work. First, he mentions knitting. Why? Calm, repetitive movements allow the mind to relax while also training concentration, fine motor skills, and memory.
However, according to Wirtz, it’s not necessary to pick up knitting needles right away. Other handcraft or creative activities are also beneficial for the brain:
drawing;
pottery;
puzzle assembling;
sewing;
gardening;
baking;
playing a musical instrument.
“I feel like I’m fifty”
It seems that the combination of mental and physical activities suits the actress very well. In 2024, on the podcast Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andrews revealed: “Actually, I probably feel like I’m fifty. As long as my brain works, I’m fine.”
Still, the actress, who will soon celebrate her 91st birthday, does not hide that age has its challenges. On the same podcast, she admitted that aging can sometimes be “tiring.” She would like to do more, exercise more. But instead of being upset about it, Andrews chooses adaptation as she ages.
Expert advice: how to exercise effectively while protecting joints
What Andrews has been doing for decades is also recommended by sports scientist Michèlas Gleich. According to him, so-called low-impact workouts, especially after 50, are often more effective than very intense sports.
His six recommendations:
Brisk walking – improves cardiovascular health while minimally stressing the joints.
Cycling – trains the heart and legs without impact load.
Swimming or water running – strengthens muscles and protects joints.
Functional strength training – helps maintain muscle mass and stabilizes joints.
Pilates – strengthens deep muscles and improves posture.
Moderate-intensity interval training without jumps – increases capacity without overloading the body.
Gleich’s conclusion is simple: progress depends not on maximum load but on regularity and a training style that can be maintained for a long time.
