Beauty, Inside and Out: Elizabeth Hurley, Actress

Courtesy of Estée LauderElizabeth Hurley

Elizabeth Hurley, best known for a barely-there Versace dress and her role as the shagadelic Vanessa Kensington in “Austin Powers,” is very pretty in pink. In fact, as the face of Estee Lauder’s breast cancer awareness campaign, Hurley spends much of the month of October donning various shades of pink (a look she first rocked as a punk teen with pink hair).

At Bloomingdale’s department store in New York City, her baby pink dress, sky-high nude heels and youthfully long, flirtatiously curled hair give her the aura of someone much younger than her 46 years.   

But her looks are largely beside the point. She’s here to spread awareness about how to prevent breast cancer and her reasons, she says, are selfish. “With breast cancer or other important issues, you almost have a selfish feeling,” she tells YouBeauty. “You don’t want your mother to be diagnosed with breast cancer and not get the right treatment.”

MORE: Breast Cancer Treatment Planner

The cause is especially close to Hurley’s heart since her grandmother passed away from breast cancer in the early 90s. “I don’t think I know anybody who hasn’t been affected by breast cancer,” she says. “It affects all of us and we want to stamp it out faster.”

A notably unassuming celebrity, her deep, sultry voice gives an inviting impression of intimacy that is no doubt one reason why so many people have willingly shared their stories of struggle and survival with her. “It’s impossible not to be moved,” she says.  

Though nonstop public appearances might sometimes be exhausting, Hurley’s volunteer efforts are a boon for her wellbeing and beauty. Studies show that the more time people spend volunteering, the happier and healthier they feel (not to mention that people prefer more altruistic mates). 

THIS STUDY, EXPLAINED: Do Good, Feel Happier