Rachael Taylor's A-List Wellness Secrets Revealed

Rachael Taylor.

Rachael Taylor has had some genuinely hardcore roles over the years. She’s fought off Transformers, been a Charlie’s Angel and now she plays Trish Walker – a Krav Maga addict and closest friend to the lead character – in Jessica Jones, Netflix’s smart and sexy update of Marvel’s superhero universe. So it’s no surprise that when we shoot her in Sydney for the WH cover, she’s impressively toned, with skin as clear as Charlie Sheen’s dance card. Plus, the 31-year-old has a backstage pass to the world’s best training tips and we want in…

RELATED: 15 minute workout: heart pumping circuit

RELATED: What to never do before you workout

YOU KICK SOME SERIOUS ARSE AS KRAV MAGA FIEND TRISH IN JESSICA JONES. WAS THE TRAINING FULL ON?
It was, but I had to be mindful of not getting too skilled with the Krav Maga and fight sequences – I wanted to make sure my character had somewhere to go over the course of the series. So it was interesting, training as the show progressed rather than putting pedal to the metal before we started filming. There was a nice synchronicity between Jessica Jones and working out that I enjoyed – I love to box and I love mixed martial arts stuff, and [they were things] I was able to expand a bit more on with Jessica Jones.

HAS IT GIVEN AN EXTRA EDGE TO YOUR WORKOUTS?
Totally. I feel like boxing in general, as a sport, has given me so much confidence. And also, it [sounds like] a contradiction, but I find something quite zen about boxing and mixed martial arts. There’s some kind of surrender that happens in a boxing ring that I really kind of enjoy. And it’s such a technical sport – there’s enough to keep your brain engaged, which is important to me.

HOW HAS THE TRAINING CHANGED YOUR FITNESS?
Physical perfection is never the end goal. I always go, in terms of my health, by the way I feel… When I was leaving the house to go on this press tour, I surprised myself when I lifted my suitcase to carry it down the stairs and didn’t have to turn to my boyfriend and say, “Hey, can you help me with this case?” It made me feel really good. I can be quite lean on top, so boxing is perfect for me. It’s given my shoulders a bit of shape, it’s given my arms a bit of extra strength, and it’s empowering.

WHAT’S YOUR FOOD PHILOSOPHY?
I really don’t like food rules. Those parameters, I think, are all about restriction and they don’t work for me. I feel like every time I blink there’s a new diet regime or a way to eat and I find it quite punitive. It makes the assumption that there’s something about the way I’m eating that’s wrong. I really love the idea that instead of taking things out of your diet, put things into your diet instead. Rather than being like, “Oh I’m not going to eat bread,” I’ll try to get an extra serve of vegies in there. You will take bread out of my cold, dead hands! Bread and cheese are kind of my favourite things on the planet. I enjoy them in moderation because I don’t tell myself that I can’t have them.

YOU’VE BEEN IN LA FOR AGES, DID YOU TRY ANY WHACKY DIETS BEFORE GETTING TO THIS BALANCED PLACE?
When I was fresh off the boat from Tasmania, I was quite innocent in some ways and I don’t regret having experimented with reducing my carb intake or other things like that, because it seems a bit like you’re in the minority if you don’t. But it’s really just that – an experiment with yourself to figure out what works for you.

Rachael Taylor.

RELATED: 5 ways to boost your fitness motivation

RELATED: 5 ways to boost your fitness motivation

WHAT’S A TYPICAL DAY OF EATING FOR YOU?
If I’m at home [breakfast is] either oatmeal or an omelette with some spinach, vegies and feta. Lunchtime really depends on what’s being served on set but I’ll always go towards something like brown rice, vegies, some kind of protein like fish or chicken. Evenings, I like steak, and my dessert of choice would be a cheese plate, a little bit of quince paste, some crackers. But I’m a big believer in dark chocolate as well – that’ll knock out a sweet-tooth craving in a heartbeat. I drink English Breakfast tea with milk all day. I snack on almonds and a banana.

Read the full interview with Rachael Taylor in the March edition of Women's Health, onsale now.