United Kingdom, Oct. 19 -- Gabrielle Union is giving herself "grace" ahead of her 53rd birthday.

The actress will celebrate her birthday on October 29 and says she is trying to focus on the positives in her life ahead of getting another year older.

She told PEOPLE: "I'm proud of myself and I'm finally giving my younger self grace for not being perfect and still being open to learning.

"And my grandmother lived to be 110 years old, so I got a good 60-plus years to continue to make myself proud."

Gabrielle will be filming a movie in Italy around the time of her birthday, so she is hoping her husband, retired NBA star Dwayne Wade, 43, plans a romantic outing for them both.

She said: "Hopefully my husband takes me out on the town. It wil...