Julia Stiles has given fans a rare and refreshingly candid glimpse into her everyday life, sharing a makeup-free "get ready with me" video ahead of what she described as an unusual night out.
The 10 Things I Hate About You actress, now a mother of three, kept things simple as she filmed the speedy routine, joking that she had to move quickly before one of her children inevitably interrupted.
© Getty Images"Get ready with me for a rare night out in under three minutes," she wrote alongside the clip, which showed her applying minimal products while chatting openly about ageing, motherhood and the pressure women often face to maintain a certain appearance.
Julia revealed that her outlook on beauty had been shaped early on by her family. "My grandmother always used to say, 'Don't gild the lily,'" she explained. "Meaning don't put paint on a flower. And I'm really lucky that I came from a long line of women who appreciated natural beauty."
© Getty Images for NETFLIXThe Save the Last Dance star also reflected on the realities of getting older, sharing a light-hearted regret about her younger years. "Note to self, note to my 20-year-old self – wear sunscreen," she said. "Why didn't you wear sunscreen? Why were you sitting in the sun for peak hours of the day for so long? Now you see it."
She went on to joke about finally leaving acne behind in her thirties, only to notice wrinkles appear almost immediately afterwards. Still, Julia was philosophical about the changes, telling viewers: "But that's ok. We should be lucky to grow old and have wrinkles, right? We just need a little help covering them."
© Getty ImagesThe actress admitted that she rarely commits to social plans these days, revealing that she has embraced a more protective approach to her time. "Tonight's one of those rare times I said yes," she said. "This is the year of no – protecting my time."
Julia also took a nostalgic moment to revisit her breakout role as Kat Stratford in the beloved 1999 teen film. "What a fun character she was to play," she said. "She wasn't driven by everyone else’s judgement of her. How awesome that, like 25 years later, different generations of women are still responding to her and that movie."
Now, she revealed, her creative energy has shifted behind the camera. "I've never been more energised," she said, adding that as a teen she loved walking around New York listening to music and imagining scenes in her head.
In a particularly empowering reflection, Julia addressed societal expectations around ageing. "There's a lot of talk about how men aren't going to look at you that way anymore," she said. "I'm like, f***ing great. I've never felt more comfortable in my own skin. When I get dressed up or put make-up on, it's for me."
Fans quickly flooded the comments with praise, with one writing: "We need more no-nonsense Julia storytime content," while another joked: "Men aren't going to look at you that way anymore – love this!"
Wrapping up the video, Julia smiled at the camera and said: "That was quick! I have three kids… and someone’s going to be banging on the door soon asking for a snack."
