At a petite 5'2," Alyssa Milano looks like your typical Los Angeleno in jeans, sporting tattoos in various places. But the 35-year-old actress is anything but an average woman.

She recently returned from one of her trips on behalf of UNICEF, and last year, as founding ambassador, donated $250,000 of her own money to the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases Control.

Her humanitarianism includes South Africa, where she raised nearly $50,000 for South African women and children with AIDS by selling her own photography along with the works of others.

Milano was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and her performing career began as a child, when she toured with the musical "Annie" when she was 7 years old. She followed Broadway with her breakout television role on ABC's "Who's The Boss?" which ran for eight seasons.

After growing up in front of the television-viewing audience, the actress branched out into film, until Aaron Spelling brought her back to the small screen by casting her on "Melrose Place" in 1997. Then came "Charmed," another Spelling production.

Last year, Milano combined her passion for sports and clothes into a women's fashion apparel brand named Touch, designed for the female sports fan.

Bankrate: How do you ensure your own longevity?

Alyssa Milano: I don't know if I think that far in advance. I'm more the type of person who lives in the moment, so I'm a healthy, well-rounded human being and I find that to be the key to my happiness. The important thing is to live an honest, good and healthful life.

Bankrate: You are a self-confessed workaholic, so what do you do during your downtime?

Alyssa Milano: I read a lot. I'm constantly on the Internet searching for different information about humanitarian efforts that I might be able to pursue. I really spend a lot of time with my family when I'm not working because, when working, it's hard to find time for family; you're with cast and crew members so much. I go to movies. I do just normal stuff.

Bankrate: And probably attending a sporting event?

Alyssa Milano: I love hockey. My brother played it and I'm so excited that it's back. But yes, I also love going to basketball games, football games, baseball. That's one of the reasons I got involved with the Touch fashion line.