For Glenn Close wellness is the 'real thing'

We often hear about amazing physical feats by actors -- how Hilary Swank trained relentlessly in the ring for her Oscar-winning role in "Million Dollar Baby" or that Taylor Lautner added 30 pounds of muscle to transform into a hunky beast for "New Moon." But the lesser-known reality of acting is that the vocation can be incredibly demanding on the body, even if you aren't playing an athlete or an Adonis.

And Glenn Close -- once nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony all in the same year -- discovered this during that amazing "triple threat" year in 1984 when she was doing the Tom Stoppard play, "The Real Thing," on Broadway.

"The play required that I sprint under the stage to go from one entrance to another, and it was very mentally challenging, too, because Stoppard's work is so intellectually compelling," Close tells USA WEEKEND. "With eight performances a week, I was overstressed and exhausted. I called my dad, who is a physician, and he told me that I needed to exercise. I was like, 'Dad, where am I going to find the energy to exercise when I have no energy to begin with!?' "

But she took his advice and hit the gym three days a week, spending a half-hour on a stationary bike and lifting free weights. She found that her energy levels immediately rose, better enabling her to meet the play's demands.

Today, with her Emmy Award-winning role in the FX hit "Damages," Close, 62, remains committed to wellness with regular exercise and proper nutrition. Even when she's busy, she makes time for brisk walks and stretching at home. She whips up apples, bananas, almonds, flaxseed and yogurt in the blender for an energy boost.

Mental health is also a priority for Close, who has co-launched Bringchange2mind.org to raise awareness about mental illnesses. (Her sister, Jessie, has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.) In addition, Close advocates "exercising" the brain by doing puzzles or reading. "Anything you can do that makes your brain more alert should make it feel better."