Gabrielle Union On Turning 53: “I’m Proud Of Myself…Giving My Younger Self Grace”
Gabrielle Union is heading into her 53rd birthday with gratitude, cocktails and a little Italian flair. The Bring It On star revealed during the Peabody Trailblazer Award ceremony honoring Questlove on OctOBER 10, that she will be celebrating her big day overseas right in the heart of Italy.
Telling PEOPLE exclusively that she will be in Italy filming a project on her birthday, she said, “Hopefully my husband takes me out on the town,” referring to her husband, retired NBA star Dwyane Wade, 43.
Gabrielle laughed as she imagined what the evening might look like, describing it as “iconic” to enjoy “a couple of cocktails” in “such a romantic, beautiful and fun city.”
When asked how it feels to “still be that girl,” Union laughed again before pausing to reflect. “Am I that lady now? I’m proud,” she said.
“I’m proud of myself and I’m finally giving my younger self grace for not being perfect and still being open to learning,” she explained.
The actress shared that her mindset is inspired by her family’s legacy of longevity. “And my grandmother lived to be 110 years old, so I got a good 60-plus years to continue to make myself proud,” she added.
Gabrielle’s focus on gratitude has been front and center lately. Just days before the interview, she celebrated another milestone: her father’s 81st birthday. Her dad, Sylvester, lives with dementia and has been in memory care since 2023.
In an emotional October 15 Instagram post, Gabrielle wrote, “It’s my Dad’s 81st birthday and I don’t think I’ve ever been more grateful to be his daughter. Loving someone is easier when they can communicate, joke, and be affectionate but it’s a blessing to still feel that love and connection when dementia has overtaken him. Almost 🥰.”
“His eyes lit up when he saw me and [Wade] standing at his bedside. He still chuckles when his grandsons bag on him. He’s still here and that’s enough,” she added.
