A real woman: actress Catherine Dent is lovable just as she is.

Tell 5'8" actress Catherine Dent that she looks better than ever--even though she wears no makeup in order to capture the natural look of the police officer she plays on FX network's The Shield--and she'll attribute it to age and "growing up."

"There was no specific influence or experience that shaped my positive body attitude," says Dent--whose real-life attitude mirrors that of her character: no-nonsense heat cop Danny Sorer.

"Coco Chanel said once, and I'm paraphrasing, that there is nothing more tiresome than a woman trying to hold on to her youth. Mystery is a lot more interesting, but my husband would laugh hearing me say this because he's always hearing me complain about my weight," Dent says.

A positive attitude and lots of pride bolstered Dent's spirits when she was told by a Hollywood stylist last year that she would be a challenge to dress for the Golden Globe Awards. "I immediately said no thank you to her and got another stylist. I didn't want to work with somebody who thought I was a challenge because I'm a size 8."

For her self-acceptance, Dent received the SELF 2004 Body Confidence Award. "I'm glad that normal women--rather than just coat hangers--can be looked up to," says the actress, whose weight fluctuates between 135 and 140 pounds.

Bosu Buff

A cross-country runner in high school, Dent took an early interest in fitness. "I've been active my whole life, hut I am a big girl," she admits. "Not until I started running did I realize that I had an athletic body." With a lean, strong body, Dent is aware that exercise is an important part of her daily activities, along with healthy eating. She works out regularly, breaking a sweat at her home, in a gym or outdoors. "Cardio, strength training, yoga, Dilates and just outdoor activities like hiking. I like to mix it up a lot."