Tell Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Emmy-winning star of the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, that she looks better now than she did 11 years ago on Seinfeld and the actress bursts out laughing. “Well, thank you very much,” the 48-year-old says modestly. “Of course, I was pregnant twice on Seinfeld, which might have something to do with the way I looked!” Today Julia is in truly remarkable shape, with a sleek, fit body and gorgeously smooth skin. How does she do it? Skeptics might say she’s had a little nip/tuck action, but this is one Hollywood star whose beauty is au naturel. “Of course if things start to fall, I may have to do something to pull it all up,” says Julia with a laugh. “But seriously, the whole idea scares me. My mom never had it done and she looks fantastic. Hopefully I’ll follow in her footsteps. I don’t judge anyone who’s had plastic surgery, but I don’t see it in my future. And my husband [writer/producer Brad Hall] is 100 percent against it!”

And why should Julia consider it when she’s found the fountain of youth the old-fashioned way: through healthy eating, regular exercise, and a fulfilling career and family life. True, keeping the balance isn’t always easy, but Julia’s learned a few tricks over the years, including some eco-conscious tips, that she shares exclusively in the April issue of Shape.