'I don't like being too skinny': Jennifer Love Hewitt on how she learned to accept shape and the secrets to her bombshell figure

PUBLISHED: 10:21 EST, 23 May 2013 | UPDATED: 11:12 EST, 23 May 2013

Jennifer Love Hewitt spends most of her time in lingerie on her racy TV show The Client List.

The actress has revealed that her confidence onscreen is derived from feeling comfortable in her own skin.

But it hasn’t always been easy for the 34-year-old, who had to learn to embrace her naturally curvy body in an industry that cannot make up its mind about what it wants from women.

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Curvy girl: Jennifer Love Hewitt revealed she has learned to embrace her body and natural curves in new issue of Women's Running

Gracing the cover of Women’s Running, Jennifer opened up about her body image and fitness regimen.

‘I'm an actress, I live in L.A., I work in Hollywood,’ the star explained. ‘But I've learned that if you're too skinny, they'll say something about it. If you're not skinny enough, they'll say something about it.’

Adding: ‘I just try to feel good in my own skin as much as I can.’

Part of what makes Jennifer feel good is regular exercise.

Her toned physique is kept in shape with regular yoga, Pilates, and running on an incline.

She explained that going ‘back and forth between all those things’ helps to keep her body guessing as she heads into her mid-thirties.

Mixing it up: The 34-year-old does yoga and Pilates to keep fit, pictured on her show The Client List

But Jennifer’s most significant inspiration is her mother Patricia, who died of cancer in June 2012.

Of her late mother, the Party Of Five actress said: ‘I enjoy running, but she was a runner.

‘She loved it and was able to go miles and miles and miles.’

Jennifer also finds that competition helps to motivate her: ‘The first time I did a big run was the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon Los Angeles [in 2010].

‘It was a blast -- I absolutely loved it. What you put your body through is incredible, how sore you are the next day is quite crazy.

‘But the benefits of it, cardiovascular-wise, body-wise, toning-wise, all of that, there's nothing really that gets you in shape like [a race].’

Ready to inspire: Jennifer admitted she wasn't always so comfortable with her body image, pictured in a racy episode of The Client List

But the television star does not want to over exercise and lose her curves: ‘I do find that as a curvy girl, as I guess I've sort of been deemed, I don't think you want to run your curves off, because then you're just not yourself.’

But she was sure to add that regular running: 'Definitely helps your butt, that's for sure. It helps with the badonk-a-donk!’

And Jennifer believes that her role as Riley Parks on The Client list - where she plays a mother of three who becomes a prostitute to make ends meet - can be an inspiration to other women.

Of her character she said: ‘I want women who watch the show to go, "Oh I'm going to put on a sexy bra and a pair of panties and work it for my husband.” So I try to inspire people with the lingerie not make them feel weird about it.’

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I don't like you being too skinny either Jennifer. lol. Women need to understand that the Skeletor look with knees that can injure someone if not careful, it's not awesome. Stay curvy ladies stay real. :)

- Chris M. Tatum , Paris, France, 23/5/2013 18:22

Click to rate Rating 1

just as well, 'cause you ain't

- ukstern , Glasgow, United Kingdom, 23/5/2013 17:57

Click to rate Rating 10

Allyoop, what stick figures? People always seem to claim actresses are thin but most are average. Maybe it's perspective, but I haven't seen many thin actresses. It's a myth. She's relatable, average, curvy.

- Candy M , austin, United States, 23/5/2013 17:57

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Sure. I bet she really believes that. Like all actresses, average looking. Doesn't really have any talent either, guess she's relatable like Oprah, jennifer aniston- explains her fame.

- Candy M , austin, United States, 23/5/2013 17:23

Click to rate Rating 19

Curvy? Give me strength!

- Diya (Brit Born Sikh) 32, Wife/Mum and all round Superwoman , Taxpaying Taxpayer - TAXED OFF!!, 23/5/2013 17:23

Click to rate Rating 1

love the client list!

- joannac0 , Exeter, 23/5/2013 17:14

Click to rate Rating 17

Good for her, someone with real curves not like these stick figures we see so much of

- Allyoop , OC Cali, United States, 23/5/2013 17:04

Click to rate Rating 60

yeah right !