Laura Whitmore: I never go to the gym — here's how I keep fit

Laura Whitmore is too busy to go to the gym but finds time for Pilates and to visit a clinic to strengthen her pelvic muscles

Laura Whitmore: "I love Pilates. It’s something that I was recommended post-birth." Pic: Dan Kennedy

Media personality Laura Whitmore hops on a Zoom call from rainy Dublin. 

The Bray native is based in the capital — rather than her adopted home of London — during the run of 2:22: A Ghost Story in the 3Olympia, where she plays the character of Lauren.

Despite having a run of shows every night, and sometimes during the day, Whitmore is enjoying the regular routine. 

“It’s kind of like an office job,” she says. “My day starts quite early, as I have a [three-year-old] child and a dog, so the morning routine is probably like walking the dog and coffee.”

Her lifestyle helps keep her fit as she’s always on the go, but as an ambassador for Therapie Clinic, she’s recently been getting into Core to Floor, which helps strengthen pelvic muscles.

“Your core muscles and your actual pelvic floor and the muscle there need to be tightened and strengthened the same way a bicep would need to be.

“It’s just really lovely that there are these facilities now and options that aren’t intrusive. It’s like doing 100 sit-ups while lying down or sitting on your arse and doing nothing.”

How do you keep fit?

I live quite an active lifestyle. I don’t really have much time to sit still, or I’m just one of those people who don’t sit still. I don’t go to the gym. I find it hard to find that time, so I have to find things that work for me and don’t freak me out too much. I love Pilates. It’s something that I was recommended post-birth.

Core to Floor [helps] your core strength, abdomen, and pelvic floor health, which I think all women should be looking at, whether it’s post-birth, pre-birth, or just sexual health in general.

What is one thing you do every day?

Make your bed. I know it sounds basic, but I remember reading somewhere that making your bed represents so much in your life. It means you go to bed at night in a made bed, which is meant to be really good for the mind. If you achieve that first thing in the morning, [it] means there’s nothing you can’t do for the rest of the day.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

I’ve always been a weirdo with food. When I was a kid, I used to eat raw vegetables like they were sweets. My mom used to put chopped-up raw broccoli in my lunch box—before crudités were a thing. I used to love raw broccoli, carrots, and peppers, which, apparently, are better for you because when you boil them, all the goodness goes into the water.

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What are your guiltiest pleasures?

I feel like pleasures shouldn’t be guilty. I love cheese. People say we can only eat so much cheese, but I would eat a whole baked camembert.

When was the last time you cried?

On stage every night, which is a lot to tap into and leave behind you. I’m quite emotional anyway, my emotions are quite close to the surface.

What is the best health advice you’ve ever been given?

Just do what works for you rather than trying to emulate what someone else is doing.

What traits do you least like in others?

Disloyalty. I’m a Taurus and apparently Taureans are very loyal. Also, a lack of kindness — there are a lot of good people out there, but there are a lot of not-so-good people out there, too. We’re all the one human race, so we all should be really in it together and be good to each other.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

Again, classic Taurean: I’m loyal, but I’m impatient. I like things done straight away. My husband [Iain Stirling] doesn’t work at the same speed, so I need to learn to be a little bit more patient. Good things come to those who wait.

Do you pray?

I’m not necessarily religious, but I’m spiritual. There’s a lyric in a song by The Script “Pray to a god that I don’t believe in”. I think that’s true for me, maybe that makes me a hypocrite in a way. 

I believe in prayer, but I sometimes don’t know what I’m praying to or who I’m praying to. It’s still nice to pray because it’s sending good intentions out into the world for somebody.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

I’m really enjoying being back in Dublin. I haven’t been in Dublin for longer than a week in about 15 years because I live in London, so being home for eight weeks is quite a rarity. 

Yesterday was a scorching sunny day, and we got into the sea. I love it when you can see the skyline where the Poolbeg chimneys are. It’s iconic Dublin with the red and white stripes. My granddad used to work in one of them, so I feel very homely.

What’s something nobody knows about you?

I can touch my tongue to my nose. Handy for a party trick.