Neraida Bega’s ‘Venting on Paper’ Self-Care Hack to Steal

With a breakout year on the horizon (alongside Brad Pitt, no less), Neraida Bega is stepping into a defining moment in her career—and she’s ready. The Albanian-born, Italy-raised actress stars in the highly anticipated Once Upon a Time: The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a buzzy release that marks her entry into the Tarantino universe under the direction of David Fincher.

Beyond her rising on-screen momentum—following roles in Dog, Monstrous, Mère et Fille, WandaVision and Star Trek: Picard—Bega brings a deeply personal, global perspective to everything she does. Raised between cultures and now based in the U.S., she defines beauty not by appearance, but by “love, resilience, kindness and the courage to fully be yourself,” a philosophy shaped by watching her mother’s “quiet strength” and a life lived across continents. That same grounded approach carries into her wellness routine on set, where, as she told us, sleep, movement and a few self-care hacks take top priority.

How has growing up across cultures shaped your definition of beauty?

“What a great question. I was born in Albania and spent the first years of my life there before immigrating to Italy. My heritage is Albanian, Greek and Turkish, and living in the United States has expanded my perspective even further.

My first example of beauty was my mother. Growing up, everyone always spoke about how beautiful she was, yet she was never the glamorous type. She rarely wore makeup and lived very simply. What people saw in her was something deeper. She is a doctor who dedicated her life to helping children, saving lives and supporting families who had nowhere else to turn. Her kindness, strength and generosity made her the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

One of the most powerful images of beauty for me is a moment I captured of my parents holding hands while walking together after a lifetime of marriage. I took a photo because something about that moment touched me deeply. To see love endure like that is, to me, one of the purest forms of beauty.

Albania is known for its stunning women, but what makes Albanian women truly beautiful is their resilience, their devotion to family and their quiet warrior spirit.

Italy revealed another dimension of beauty to me, the elegance of simplicity, art, fashion, old Italian cinema and the sacred ritual of gathering around a table. Italian cuisine and shared meals are expressions of beauty in themselves. In Italy, I had the most incredible piano teacher whose kindness left a deep impression on me. Watching her wrinkled hands play the piano was incredibly beautiful, and she carried a timeless elegance I will never forget.

Living in the United States has widened my understanding even more. It’s a place where individuality is celebrated, and people are encouraged to express who they truly are.

For me, beauty goes far beyond the physical. It’s love, resilience, kindness and the courage to fully be yourself. I’ve been fortunate to grow up surrounded by many forms of beauty, and it has taught me to look for it everywhere.”

How do you prioritize recovery and self-care during long filming schedules?

“I’ve learned through trial and error that the small habits make the biggest difference. When you’re filming, schedules can change constantly, so I focus on getting the best quality sleep I can, even when the hours shift. I’m also mindful of my coffee intake and screen time at night. I love coffee, and we’re all a bit addicted to our phones, but the goal is to avoid overstimulating my brain before sleep.

Moving my body is a must. I work out or do some form of movement most days of the week. It doesn’t always have to be an intense workout, but stretching, walking or light training helps my body tremendously.

Nutrition is another big one. I follow a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet because filming can already be demanding on the body, and the last thing I want is to add more stress through food that creates inflammation.

I also stay on top of hydration and vitamins, and one thing I personally love is cold showers. They really help me reset physically and mentally. I know they’re not for everyone, but for me, they make a big difference.”

You spend hours under lights and in makeup. How do you maintain healthy skin?

“My skin is definitely not always perfect, especially after long hours under lights and makeup, but I try to take the best care of it that I can. For me, healthy skin really starts with gut health. The skin reflects what is happening inside the body, so I focus on a nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory diet and staying consistent with my supplements. I also love drinking bone broth; I find it really supports my skin and overall health, and I work with a functional doctor who helps guide my supplements and gut health. We’ve also started exploring some peptides, which have been an interesting part of that process.

One habit I never skip is thoroughly removing my makeup after a long day on set. No matter how tired I am, I always clean my skin properly. I keep my skin-care routine simple and follow what my dermatologist recommends.

I also get regular facials, and a couple of times a year I’ll do treatments like light peels or microneedling with radiofrequency to help refresh the skin.”

You’re set to appear in super buzzy The Adventures of Cliff Booth. What excites you most about working on the film, and can you share any beauty notes?

“Working on a film of this magnitude with David Fincher and Brad Pitt was a surreal experience and truly a dream come true for me. Fincher has been one of my favorite directors for a long time, so being able to witness that level of mastery up close was incredibly inspiring.

I was completely captivated by everything happening on set. Fincher’s attention to detail is extraordinary. Every frame, every movement, every performance is crafted with so much precision and intention. Watching him work, you really understand what that level of filmmaking requires.

What I appreciated the most was how generous he was as a director. He took the time to show me replays of some of the scenes we shot, and seeing them through his lens was stunning. That level of care and artistry left a mark on me.

On my last day, right before my final take, I remember feeling very emotional. I didn’t want to leave that set.

For beauty, when I’m working on a film, I make sure I’m taking care of my skin so the makeup and hair team can really do their work. I always have a hydrating mist and a hypochlorous acid spray with me and use them throughout the day to keep my skin balanced and avoid breakouts.”

What makes you feel most beautiful—physically, emotionally, spiritually?

“I feel most beautiful when I feel loved and deeply connected. My husband, being my biggest fan, plays a big part in that. He has a way of making me feel like the most incredible person in the world, just by the way he sees me and supports me. There’s not a day that goes by that he doesn’t remind me that I’m beautiful or tell me he’s proud of me, and that kind of love is very powerful.

I also feel beautiful when I’m surrounded by my family and friends. There’s so much warmth, joy and support in those moments, and that kind of energy naturally reflects outward.

And I have to say, being the coolest aunt to my niece is definitely one of my favorite roles. That’s a big win for me.”

What is one wellness habit you swear by when your schedule becomes overwhelming?

“I have at least three that I swear by. The more overwhelming my schedule becomes, the more I need to stick to my habits.

First, I have to move or work out my body somehow. It energizes me, puts me in a good mood and helps me sleep better. After my workout, I take a few minutes just to focus on my breath and reset.

Second, I love taking even 10 minutes out of my day to read a few pages from a book I really enjoy. It gives me a sense of peace and helps me disconnect from the chaos.

Third, I love to journal. I write down my thoughts, sometimes I vent on paper and I organize my thoughts. It’s honestly one of the most therapeutic things I do.”