Julie Bowen Talks Self-Esteem, ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ and Finding Joy in The Mess (EXCLUSIVE)

Before she became the hilariously overachieving Claire Dunphy on Modern Family—a role that earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards—Julie Bowen had already built a rich career with roles in ER, Ed, Boston Legal, Weeds and films like Happy Gilmore and Multiplicity. Off screen, she’s been raising three boys, recently opened up about her rare heart condition that’s meant she’s had a pacemaker since she was 29 and, in her own words, is battling “the terrible disease of self-esteem.”

Now, as she returns to the big screen in Happy Gilmore 2, Bowen opens up to Woman’s World as our cover girl (get your copy here!) about happiness, confidence and the daily rituals that keep her grounded.

WOMAN’S WORLD: What daily habits bring you happiness and peace?

JULIE BOWEN: Movement. I have to move every day. You’re catching me walking the dog right now! I’ll do pickleball, hiking, anything—I just have to keep moving. Being still doesn’t really work for me. I try meditation because I know it’s good for my brain, but movement helps in the short term.

WW: What’s your daily wellness routine like?

JB: I wake up and drink my green powder—it’s AG1, with collagen peptides. I slug that down. Then I drink my beloved coffee. Always coffee. I’ll set a timer for 20 minutes and go through my email—not replying, just writing down in my notebook which ones I need to respond to. After that, I might walk the dog or exercise.

That notebook has everything—Zoom notes, grocery lists, ideas. I don’t like pieces of paper all over. It’s like a journal of tedium.

WW: How do you manage stress naturally?

JB: Breathe. There’s this book Breath by James Nestor—it’s fascinating. I started trying nasal breathing: inhale for three, exhale for six, then hold for six. It really helps. I use it all the time in traffic, which in LA is a disaster. Somehow, you’re taking in less oxygen but calming your brain. It works.

WW: You’ve said you suffer from “the terrible disease of self-esteem.” When did you start to feel more confident in your skin?

JB: I grew up in a very loving, very traditional family. Our motto was, “You can achieve great things, but you’re not that special.” It wasn’t mean! It meant we weren’t above the law or the rules. I technically got boosts to my self-esteem from working and making money, but there was always that voice: “Don’t get your head too far out of the foxhole.”

I still hear it. I’ll never fully shed that. But I’ve learned that the way out is to be of service—doing real things that matter. That’s what builds real confidence.

WW: Do you volunteer?

JB: Yes. I’ve volunteered with Baby2Baby and Feeding America, and I’ve been on the board of Baby2Baby. I bring my kids too—at least once a year. I think raising good humans means showing them how to give back. I want them to feel that sense of reward that comes from selfless acts. It’s huge.

WW: Was there a turning point where you started to feel good about your work?

JB: It’s still a process. But I remember one Modern Family wrap party, they played a blooper reel. There was this outtake of me and Ty [Burrell] on the couch—he kept messing up, and I wasn’t saying anything, just reacting. And I thought, “Wait—I’m funny! I’m listening, I’m present.”

It gave me this little internal boost. Like maybe I didn’t have to feel like an imposter all the time.

WW: You’re coming back as Virginia in Happy Gilmore 2. What’s that like?

JB: So fun! It really feels like family. Adam [Sandler] is the best—so warm, so collaborative. I think this one’s really about friendship and love and connection. There’s real heart in it. I think people are going to love it.

WW: You’ve said you’re an introvert. What does that look like in your life?

JB: I love alone time. I love puttering—cleaning cobwebs with a long pole, organizing screws in the garage. My house was a barn, so there’s always something to fix. I usually think I can fix it, which isn’t always true! But I love it. It feels productive and peaceful.

WW: Do you meditate regularly?

JB: I try. I’ll get into a great routine, feel better—probably because I’m meditating—and then I stop. And then I think, “Why do I feel awful again?” and remember: “Oh right, I stopped meditating.” So I start again. It’s a cycle. But I believe in it.

WW: What books are you reading right now?

JB: I’m reading What Is Wrong With You? by Paul Rudnick—it’s hilarious. And I went back to 10:04 by Ben Lerner. It’s not funny, but it’s incredible. I don’t have the talent, but in another life, I’d want to be a writer. Books like that remind me how much I love great storytelling.

WW: What life advice would you give your younger self?

JB: I was a little old lady even as a kid. I worried about everything—money, school, the future. I’d love to say, “Relax, it’ll all work out,” but maybe that’s what made me independent. So maybe I wouldn’t change it.

WW: How would you describe your life now?

JB: Tragically messy—and I think that’s great. I used to get overwhelmed by the chaos, and I’d go organize screws by size and color. That’s how I coped. My boys are 16, 16 and 18 now—one’s about to leave for college. This full-throttle phase is winding down. I’m trying to savor it. Even the socks on the kitchen counter.

WW: What’s the best advice someone has given you?

JB: Ty Burrell used to tell me that I am very human. I’d mess something up and beat myself up, and he’d say, “Julie, you’re such a human.” And I needed to hear that. We’re not supposed to be perfect. That’s the whole gift.