How actor Lauren Holly found solace by moving to Canada and learning to take it easy on herself
Actor Lauren Holly was at one time married to famous Canadian Jim Carrey, who she co-starred with in Dumb and Dumber, but when we think of her we associate Holly with America. She was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Geneva, New York. Holly is also remembered for her patriotic American roles such as Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart on TV’s Picket Fences and Director Jenny Shepard on NCIS. So it may come as a surprise to many that Holly has lived in Toronto for over seven years.
“I didn’t want to raise my three boys in Los Angeles,” says Holly. “The mixture of cultures and open-minded attitudes in Toronto are a great example to my sons.” Living in Canada’s largest city also places Holly close to her upstate New York roots. Of course, the fact that Holly stars in Motive, which shoots in Ontario, also makes Toronto the perfect place to call home.
SIZING HER UP
At five-foot-eight, Holly admits that most people find her taller than they would expect. “For some reason people always expect me to be much shorter,” says Holly. “Physical stature doesn’t mean as much on the big and small screen – it is make believe, after all,” says Holly. Still, Holly isn’t always 100 per cent comfortable in her skin.
“I’m really not sure why,” she says. “I feel like my whole life I have spent getting comfortable in my skin; then I shed it for an updated version and so on. I’m a comfortable skin shedder and rejuvenator.” Perhaps it’s because actors constantly have to reinvent themselves on screen, so it’s difficult sometimes to stop trying to reinvent oneself in real life.
The 50-year-old actor has always been slender, however she feels she’s bigger now than earlier on in her career. “I feel good though,” says Holly. “I’m in shape; I’m enjoying life and I’m learning to embrace my more voluptuous self.”
Holly tries to think more about eating healthy and feeding her family healthy foods than focusing on losing weight. “That being said, a few extra pounds can creep onto my body without me even knowing it; then it’s time to stop eating. Seriously though, if I notice I’m gaining a little too much weight I start to drink more water and I eat really clean for a few days. Then cravings start to go away and I can return to healthy eating.”
WHAT DOES HEALTHY EATING MEAN TO HOLLY?
“There’s always lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in our house,” she says. And not a lot of meat. “I don’t eat meat anymore – I just don’t want to. I feel more energetic without it. I’m not sure if I will always stay this way. For now, however, my body doesn’t want it and I feel so much better as a vegetarian.”
Holly also swears by the vitamin and energy drink Verve! By Vemma. “It gives me a great boost,” says Holly.
FINDING BALANCE
Between a hectic shooting schedule for Motive and raising three boys, Holly says it’s a challenge finding time for everything in a day. “I struggle with letting things go,” she says. “I like that I’m busy and engaged; I think it’s a good example for my kids. They see me work hard, earn what we have, and they respect it. My family is a team, and we work at our life together.”
Still, as every working mom can attest, there are times Holly needs to be alone. “Even if it’s just to breathe deeply,” she says. “We all forget to do that. Focused breathing helps me de-stress and relax. I also really rely on silence. No sound, no conversation, and stillness for 10 to 15 minutes a day works wonders for balancing out my days and keeping a grounded sense of self.”
