"How I stay fit, healthy, and body confident": how does a nice girl from New York keep her sanity in Hollywood? Jennifer Esposito reveals her three favorite tricks for living the truly good life

Shape, April, 2008 by Claire Connors

On her hit comedy, Samantha Who?, Jennifer Esposito plays Andrea, an outrageous party girl whose idea of dinner is putting an extra olive in her martini. But in real life, Jennifer couldn't be more different. After a pot of tea and a chat at a neighborhood bistro in Los Angeles, Jennifer announces she's starving and orders a healthy nicoise salad. "I love to eat," she says, drizzling olive oil on her dish. "If I hear about one more young actress who doesn't eat enough, I'll go nuts. You'll never read about me in the tabloids being too skinny."

Moderation is key for Jennifer, who turns 35 this month. In addition to salads and lean proteins, she treats herself to classic comfort foods like pasta and bread, but balances them out with regular exercise (turn the page for her speedy ab-toning plan). Of course, she's the first to admit there are times--for a role or a special event--when she has to be more disciplined about what she eats. "I'm being a little more careful right now because I'm about to put on a bikini for the Shape cover shoot," she says. "But I refuse to get obsessive about my diet. I don't stuff myself, but food is too important a part of my life to not totally enjoy it." Here, Jennifer reveals her top strategies for staying slim (and sane) in Hollywood.

1 LISTEN TO YOUR MOM

Growing up in Brooklyn, Jennifer always dreamed of moving across the East River to Manhattan. "When I was 6, I told my mom I wanted to be an actress, live in New York City, and have two dogs," she recalls. Her mother, who was married and pregnant at 18, encouraged her daughter to follow her heart. "She told me, 'You go girl! You can do whatever you set your mind to. Don't settle, and don't depend on anyone but yourself.'" With those words of encouragement, Jennifer enrolled in the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Manhattan, supporting herself as a fitness instructor at a local gym while waiting for her big break. All along her mother gave her support, even when Jennifer considered giving up. "I remember calling her at 2 in the morning, hysterical," she recalls. "I was going through a rough patch in my career, my boyfriend and I had broken up; it was bad. And my mom said, 'You can do this.' At my lowest point, she always says the right thing." Even now that Jennifer has a successful career, her mom is still her biggest cheerleader. "She called me recently and said, 'You're going to win an Oscar for Samantha Who?' and I had to tell her you don't win Oscars for TV roles," Jennifer says, laughing.

2 JUST SAY NO TO FOOD GUILT

Considering that Jennifer, like most actresses, is often judged by her looks, she's remarkably relaxed about her body and weight. Her philosophy: You gain some, you lose some. "I like to get cozy at home, make pizza, and drink wine," she says. "I never feel guilty about indulging because I have a good attitude about myself. I come from a family where cooking and enjoying meals is a healthy part of our lives. If I want to have comfort foods every now and then, I do. And if I put on a few pounds, I don't sweat it." When it's time to get back to her camera-ready weight, Jennifer eliminates everything white and refined from her diet, like flour and sugar, and cuts back on any carbs that aren't vegetables. She also works out more, adding extra cardio to her Pilates and yoga routine. "I do at least 30 minutes on the treadmill and the elliptical, plus some weight training," she says.

3 LEARN TO QUIET YOUR MIND

Over the past year or so, Jennifer has experienced many ups and downs. She received accolades for her performance in the Oscar-winning movie Crash and landed her role as Andrea. But her personal life was rocky. To relieve some of her stress, she started taking meditation classes. "I have found such peace in the process," Jennifer says of her now-daily ritual. "It's changed my life." Her friends have even noticed a difference in the way she looks, saying her face appears younger and fresher. "They always ask me what my beauty secret is, what makeup I'm using. And I tell them the makeup isn't different, I'm different. I always say, 'Sit, be quiet, and be happy for five minutes a day. You'll feel better about yourself, and you'll have a better outlook on life.' I do."

RELATED ARTICLE: ON MY PLAYLIST NOW

"I used to watch TV when I worked out, but now I love listening to these songs, especially when I run."

* Mary J. Blige

"No More Drama"

* Ludacris (featuring Mary J. Blige)

"Runaway Love"

* Timbaland (featuring Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake)

"Give It to Me"

* Citizen Cope

"Bullet and a Target"

* Audioslave

"Show Me How to Live"

Buy and download this playlist at shape.com/playlists.

RELATED ARTICLE: "A few of my favorite things"

Lambertson Truex Sasha sandals ($525; 888-800-0970) "I got these shoes in Paris. I wear them all the time!"

Patricia Wexler M.D. Intensive Night Reversal and Repair Cream ($43; patriciawexlermd.com) "When I use this, I wake up in the morning and my skin is glowing."