Nicole Ari Parker really knows what it means to be a woman who has it all. As a wife, mother, and actress, she juggles her many roles with ease, class, and style. Glam chatted with the actress about her secrets to success.

Tell me about the movie Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins which is coming to DVD?
Oh, gosh. I did this movie so long ago. I just know that the DVD is coming out. And I know that, you know,  I remember that I had a really good time! I remember that Lawrence’s character reunites with his family. He’s going off to be a big talk show host. And he comes back and has a bit of a big head and a fancy girlfriend. I play kind of child childhood rival sweetheart with Cedric the Entertainer. We all come back for this family cookout. And all sorts of comedy ensues. Now with the DVD – the wonderful thing about is – you get to see all these outtakes and deleted scenes. You get to see all your favorite comedians in action. We were all trying to hold it together - trying not to laugh during other people’s scenes.

As you mentioned the movie is about a family reunion. What’s your favorite family tradition?
Some of my favorite family traditions – now that I have my own family. It’s a treat just to have dinner together. I love cooking for my family. And during the holiday season, my husband is half German so I learned from his German grandma [how to make] his favorite German cake and I try to make those for him. A little schnitzel now and then. Just really enjoying being a mom and cooking. And because I’m an actress and all over the place and traveling it’s really a treat to really just be a family unit.

What’s your favorite thing about the summer season?
My favorite thing about summer? Getting in a bathing suit after having two kids. I cannot wait to get into a bikini. I worked so hard, I’ve lost 65 pounds, and I am just ready.

Do you have any fabulous summer plans where you can show off your bikini body?
I think my family and I are going to Majorca at the end of the month – so pretty psyched about that.

Tell me about your upcoming films and projects?
I have a movie coming out with Eddie Murphy, and that’s another great comedy. I think comedy is sort of a theme that’s coming up in my career right now. I just booked a pilot. And I’m really excited about that because the comedy is really well written and Daman [Wayans] is a genius.

So it seems like you’re pretty busy. How do you balance it all and still have time to be a wife and mother?
[We all say]  “I don’t have time. I don’t have time.” Someone once told me that there’s time enough in the day to do everything. And when she told me that I just relaxed and realized you really can get it all done. You just have to slow down. Get up a few minutes earlier and do some cardio and make yourself breakfast and feed your kids and send them off to school and go to work and make the dinner you want. There really is time to do it all, you just have to, ironically, slow down.

You mentioned cardio. And you mentioned losing 65 pounds. How do you stay in shape?
Well, in the beginning. I was kind of aggressive – really controlling the food and being organized about getting the exercise in. After losing 25 or 30 lbs you have to step back a bit and do a little bit everyday. Forget about the weight loss. Don’t make it a goal. It should be as simple as brushing your teeth “Oh I got to brush my teeth.” “Oh I got to go work out.” I would get the whole trying to lose weight mindset out of it.

Guilty Pleasure Movie: Fame
Guilty Pleasure TV Show: Tyler Perry’s House of Payne
Favorite Food: Schnitzel and French fries.
Cocktail of Choice: Grey Goose martini.
Secret Indulgence: Well, if I tell you that. It won’t be a secret. Just know, it has to do with my husband.

*Photo: Splash News

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