It’s Susan Sarandon‘s world and we’re just living in it! The actress is hotter than ever today at age 71 — and she has her booming career to thank!

Not only has she received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Bette Davis in Feud, she’s also landed an exciting new role playing Samantha Winslow on Ray Donovan and is set to appear in the highly-anticipated spin-off of The Big Lebowski.

In a new exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, Susan’s friend shared how the actress is more comfortable now than ever before — and revealed she’s never even gotten any plastic surgery! “A couple of years ago, I asked her if she thinks she’s sexy in a different way than she was in the Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the pal revealed. “She said, ‘When I see myself younger, I seem so blank. I think I’m more interesting as I get older.'”

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Film critic Bill Newcott adds, “Undoubtedly, her ability to move among such wildly different types of roles has a lot to do with her ability to stay so busy. But I think her legacy will be in how she proved that true sexiness is ageless.”

Her friend shares that Susan also focuses on eating well and exercising to maintain her youth. “She likes to visualize herself being a better self,” the pal said. “She has no fear of being put out to pasture.”

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Despite her big career take off, though, Susan’s main priority will always be being a mother. “Her three children are her first love,” her friend reveals. Susan welcomed her daughter Eva Amurri Martino, 32, with her ex Franco Amurri and her two sons, Jack, 28, and Miles, 25, with her other ex Tim Robbins.

And her kids will remain her biggest importance no matter what. “I’m gonna be a woman much longer than I’m going to be an actor,” she said during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show. “I’m gonna be a mother much longer than I’ll be an actor.”

For more on Susan, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive news!