London, Apr 11 : Her looks defy her age and when it comes to her bubbling energy, veteran Sophia Loren can give competition to any of the younger actresses - and secret behind this charismatic beauty is 'genes,' ays the actress herself.

The 73-year-old, who is all set to begin filming this autumn on an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Nine alongside Dame Judi Dench and Nicole Kidman, revealed that it's her genetic make-up that makes her so active and keeps her skin so vibrant.

"It depends on genes. It is what it is," the Daily Express quoted her, as saying.

In the movie Nine, the actress who's fondly remembered for her comedic duet Goodness Gracious Me with Sellers in the 1960 film The Millionairess, is planning on singing a song.

"I have a wonderful opportunity to film a picture directed by the brilliant Rob Marshall," she said.

"I'm no Barbra Streisand but I will try to sing a little. I will definitely not be dancing though," she told us on a recent visit to the UK," she added.

ANI