Julia Louis-Dreyfus Is Keeping Herself in “Good Spirits” While Battling Breast Cancer (EXCLUSIVE)

The motto on the Seinfeld set was “No hugging, no learning,” but laughing was always encouraged. That feeling of joy has sustained Julia Louis-Dreyfus as she continues to recover from breast cancer. “She’s genuinely been in good spirits when we’ve seen her,” Veep co-star Timothy Simons said at the recent SAG Awards, where Julia won best actress in a comedy. “She has a good sense of humor, which does wonders when you go through something like this.” Julia, 57, has been keeping a low profile — she stayed home during the SAG Awards, tweeting “[I] have to admit it’s pretty fun to watch in my PJs.” But her sense of humor still shines through.

She congratulated her Veep castmates for winning best ensemble by writing, “Miss being at the table with you all. How was the chicken?” Of course, she’s not home alone. Brad Hall, 59, her devoted husband of 30 years, has been by her side, and sons Henry, 25, and Charlie, 20, recently surprised their mom with a celebratory video set to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” when she completed her final round of chemotherapy. “Ain’t they sweet?” she tweeted.

She’s also received visits from her past and present co-stars. “All of them, every single Veep cast member, even her old Seinfeld cast, especially Jason Alexander,” an insider exclusively tells Closer Weekly. “They love her, and they’ve all been there.” Though she still needs time to recuperate, Julia is itching to get to work on the upcoming farewell season of Veep. “We’ll start filming in August, and it will air in 2019,” co-star Matt Walsh reveals. “We’ve seen [Julia], she’s done some table reads, she’s doing well. She’s very well-loved.” During her hiatus, she’s building her strength with “a mix of Eastern and Western” medicine, says the insider. “Acupuncture, juices, meditation. She’s always eaten well and had a trainer. She loves yoga.”

Her spiritual practice has brought Julia a sense of gratitude that has served her well throughout her health crisis. “She often says, ‘I know I live a charmed life,’” the insider shares of Julia, who was born into a wealthy family and has enjoyed unprecedented success as a sitcom star, winning Emmys for her roles on three different shows, including The New Adventures of Old Christine. “She doesn’t feel sorry for herself and allows no pity. That’s her strength, always being positive and looking ahead.”

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Perhaps that’s why Julia inspires such warm feelings among her fans. “People feel very comfortable coming up to me, and hugging me, and engaging, and of course I understand that: I’m in their living rooms,” she says. “For the most part, I’m happy to engage. Maybe not the hugging so much, but talking is certainly fine.”

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