Whether reporting from the red carpet in Los Angeles, talking about otters in Bristol or striding across hill and dale on one of her many walking programmes, she exudes an irrepressible energy and joie de vivre that is as full-on behind the camera as it is on screen.
She is, she agrees, a “glass-half-full” person, a result of a happy, secure childhood spent in rural Rutland and urban Sheffield with her Greekborn mother Chrissi, father Michael and older sister Gina.
“Having explored myself a little bit, I think I have a need to please and that’s my natural personality to survive and get through stuff,” the former Countryfile and Watchdog presenter tells us. “That’s what I put on for the world because it’s my survival mechanism.
“We could go down a whole rabbit hole about that, but I had a very loving childhood and I thank my parents, because they gave me the ability to express my confidence. Being loved allows you to do that and to make mistakes, because even if you royally cock something up, you’re still going to be loved.
“I realise that’s a privileged position and not everybody is going to have that. But the love of my family is something I hold very dear to me and I genuinely think it’s helped me through life.
“I’m sure it’s added to some of the complications as well,” she adds with a smile.
CHANGING PRIORITIES
With World Happiness Day falling on 20 March, Julia is the ideal person to discuss happiness and how her pursuit of it has changed over the years.
A breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 and her recovery from a mastectomy and breast reconstruction have profoundly affected her understanding of what brings her joy.
This story is from the March 25, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.
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This story is from the March 25, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.
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AS 'THE DIPLOMAT RETURNS KERI RUSSELL
ON HAVING FUN WITH RUFUS SEWELL, MEETING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND BEING STRAPPED TO TOM CRUISE
FROM HIS CHALLENGING CHILDHOOD TO HOLLYWOOD'S HOT LIST BARRY KEOGHAN
ON BEING DRAWN TO STRONG WOMEN AND ENJOYING LIFE WITH HIS LITTLE BOY
AS 'THE SUBSTANCE' IS RELEASED MARGARET QUALLEY
ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM BALLET TO HOLLYWOOD
BUSY MUM-TO-BE AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE
TEAMS UP WITH SISTER PRINCESS EUGENIE TO SUPPORT THEIR FATHER IN HIS EXILE FROM ROYAL LIFE
CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S HEALTH THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH
HONOURS 60 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING CHARITY
AS ONE DIRECTION REUNITE TO BID FAREWELL TO FORMER BANDMATE LIAM PAYNE
HUGS AND TEARS AS MOURNING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
CELEBRATING HER GAME-CHANGING NEW CONCEALER VICTORIA'S SECRETS
THE DESIGNER SHARES HER TOP SKINCARE TIPS AND REVEALS WHICH PRODUCTS HARPER LOVES TO STEAL
CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN
JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'
CONTINUING A FESTIVE TRADITION - WITH A TINY NEW TREAT TO DELIGHT VISITORS WINDSOR CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS
STAFF DECK THE HALLS - AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROYAL DOLLS' HOUSE
SNAPPING UP RECORD-BREAKING £60M MANSION IN MIAMI THE BECKHAMS
WE GO INSIDE THEIR BILLION-DOLLAR LIFESTYLE AS THE FAMILY PREPARE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAND