Even before athletics, aesthetics became a thing. Hollywood actors turned heads with their toned physiques, despite not spending much time in the gym. Nor did they follow strict dietary schedules.

So what was the secret? It lies in functional strength.

Marilyn Monroe

Take Marilyn Monroe as an example. She was a star who pioneered female weight training decades before it became mainstream. However, instead of brutal gym sessions, she relied on a simple routine: “I spend at least 10 minutes each morning working out with small weights.”

“I have evolved my own exercises for the muscles I wish to keep firm, and I know they are right for me because I can feel them putting the proper muscles into play as I exercise.”

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn’s zero-figure physique came from years of ballet training rather than heavy workouts in the gym. Her fitness revolved around pliés and arabesques.

She began as a ballerina as a child in Amsterdam and Arnhem; however, her teachers felt that although she had strong artistry, she lacked physical power. It was a setback, but she adapted quickly and became a big name in Hollywood.

Katharine Hepburn

Long before Hollywood embraced its sporty side, Katharine Hepburn was rocking it. Even though most of the leading ladies during that time avoided vigorous training to keep their petite side intact, Hepburn was more than willing to break a sweat.

She enjoyed a wide variety of sports, especially swimming, tennis, and golf. An interesting fact about her is that Hepburn is said to have even played golf on Sundays when her golf club restricted women from doing so.

Jayne Mansfield

The Girl Can't Help It star approached fitness directly. Her primary focus was on flexibility through elegant stretching routines.

From the Long Island Star-Journal, Nov. 3, 196, she gave her workout routine: “To slim your waistline: kneel on the floor and raise a broomstick high above your head with both hands, one on each end of the stick. Now, keeping your back straight, bend slowly to the right side until the end of the broom touches the floor; then alternate to the left side. Start with 25 and work up to 50."

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

The couple made wellness look like a lifestyle rather than a chore. Apart from training inside the gym and following a diet, the duo turned their home into a yoga zone where they practiced daily

Rita Hayworth

Gilda, Cover Girl, The Lady from Shanghai, and many more; these are just some of the best movies by Rita Hayworth. Was she the ultimate fashion icon known for her amazing physique and her secret? It's dancing.

Before becoming a prominent actor, she was a professionally trained dancer. Even after transitioning into acting, she danced for eight hours a day to stay in shape.

Some of the most iconic stars in Hollywood made sure their fitness revolved around real-world functional habits rather than gym workouts.

Any other Hollywood icon whose routine you like? Share with us in the comments.

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Joyita Das