‘I’m not a gym person': the 3 simple rules Sienna Miller, 44, follows to stay healthy

Are we all excited about War, the upcoming legal drama that will see Sienna Miller and Dominic West playing characters going head-to-head in a messy divorce case? If it's not already on your watch list, we'd advise adding it sharpish. The moment it drops on 2 October, it'll be all everyone's talking about (apart from season 17 of The Great British Bake Off, of course).

And all eyes will be on Sienna Miller, who takes on the lead role as international film star Carla Duval. It feels like it's been ages since we've had the actor and model on our TV screens in Anatomy Of A Scandal (it has in fact been four years. Doesn't time fly?), and we're excited to watch the 44-year-old now tackle the drama of divorce.

In the time since Sienna was last leading a TV show, the actor has entered her 40s and welcomed her second and third children. That's quite a lot of change to go through, physically and mentally, so we were curious: how has the star looked after her wellbeing through this tricky transitional time?

The actor has revealed that her approach to health comes down to three simple rules. Let's break them down.

1. A good bath is a non-negotiable

Sienna Miller is a long-noted fan of a nice hot bath. When asked on the red carpet for the premiere of Anatomy Of A Scandal how she liked to unwind, Sienna said: 'I love a glass of wine in the bath. I'm that girl.' More than a decade ago, she similarly told The Guardian that her go-to method of relaxation is: 'hot bath, good book, red wine.' More recently, she told Glamour that baths are one of the things that's made a 'real difference' in her 40s, noting: 'If I have a bath with some magnesium salts in it, I’m high-fiving myself'. Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, the Factory Girl star also said 'the bath is my sanctuary', again crediting magnesium salts for the ultimate de-stress tool.

Guys... is anyone else getting the impression that Sienna Miller likes a bath?

Sienna is on to something with this particular preference. A warm bath has been shown to not only lower stress, but also to improve cardiovascular function. One study even found that time spent in a hot bath can deliver similar benefits to aerobic exercise, raising core body temperature and improving blood flow, which can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.

Baths may be especially great in midlife and later life. A 2021 study involving participants with musculoskeletal disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis found that 83.2% reported a significant therapeutic effect from regularly sliding into a nice hot bath.

The magnesium salts Sienna is fond of are a nice bonus, but not a necessity. While there's no scientific evidence to suggest magnesium can be absorbed through the skin in this way (so a magnesium-salted bath probably won't help with a magnesium deficiency), many people report that pouring magnesium salts in the bath helps with muscle relaxation and recovery. The science to prove this isn't there, but we know that a hot bath does indeed help with both of these things – and if some nice smelling bath salts will get you to stay in the tub longer, that can only be a good thing. Equally, if you're more of a bath bomb person, go wild.

2. Pair strength training with flexibility

Sienna Miller has previously spoken about how her fitness routine is the work of London-based personal trainer Matt Bevan. She aims to fit in three to four sessions of strength training with Bevan a week, made up of weighted exercises like dumbbell rows and deadlifts, along with bodyweight movements such as lunges and squats.

Along with this, Sienna has long been a fan of yoga, using this for relaxation and building flexibility.

In your 40s and beyond, a good balance of cardio, strength training and movement for flexibility and balance, is highly recommended. Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Jason Snibbe tells Good Housekeeping: 'We lose muscle mass every year. We also see an effect on balance as we age. These are two critical things that can be reversed through exercise and strength training. Make habits a social activity. Participate in these kind of activities with friends and family. This will improve your mental health and you can hold each other accountable. It’s important to strength train with resistance. Kettle bell and resistance bands can be an inexpensive way to increase strength and stay safe. Three times a week is a good habit.'

3. No extremes

Sienna has previously described herself as 'not a gym person', and told Harper's Bazaar: 'I've actually never been to a health farm or a wellness retreat in my life.' Her fitness routine is described as structured and consistent, but never with intense goals or excessive training. She has declared she doesn't diet, either.

This laidback approach to fitness is no bad thing. Dr Sirisha Vadali, an expert in women's cardiovascular health, tells Good Housekeeping: 'You don’t have to run marathons or do strenuous workouts to experience heart health benefits from exercise. Benefits can even be experienced when going from very little daily exercise to walking just 10 to 15 minutes a day. My recommendation is starting at whatever level you’re at and working to gradually build up to 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week, along with strength training twice weekly if it is safe for you. Consistency should always be the goal, not perfection.'