Veteran Hollywood actor Tina Lifford (“Parenthood”) has hit her stride in the role of Aunt Vi on the critically-acclaimed OWN drama “Queen Sugar.”
After 30-plus years working in Hollywood, Tina (who also has a recurring role on Scandal as CIA Director Lowry) is being recognized for her pedigree, landing what she calls the role of a lifetime. And she’s staying in shape for those steamy love scenes with co-star Omar J. Dorsey (Hollywood). Tina is holding it down for sexy, mature women everywhere!
Women Fitness President Namita Nayyar recently caught up with her to talk TV, fitness & lots more!
Namita Nayyar:
You are best known for the leading role of Joan Mosley in the critically acclaimed Fox comedy-drama series, South Central (1994), and your recurring role on Scandal as CIA Director Lowry. In 2016, you began starring as Violet Bordelon (Aunt Vi) in the Oprah Winfrey Network drama series, Queen Sugar. Tell us about your incredible acting journey and how it all began?
Tina Lifford:
My love of acting and desire to become an actress began in middle school. I was always a standout in drama class. I was also a daddy’s girl. When I told my father I wanted to be an actress, he told me not to because they don’t make money and most of them are unhappy or on drugs. So I shifted my attention away from acting and began looking for something I could both love and earn a good living doing. After school, I worked at an advertising agency for a few years hoping to find passion for that world. The account executive I worked for introduced me to her partner who was a celebrity publicist. I later joined her firm as a secretary. I thought working for actors would serve the dual purpose of keeping me close to the field of acting while also maintaining a steady, growing income.
Then one day, while typing a letter and facing a blank white wall, I heard a voice clearly say, you must try this acting thing or you will be 40 and unhappy. I turned around to see who had just spoken. Then I remembered that I was the only person in the office at the time. Hearing that voice changed my life in two distinct ways. First, that day on my lunch hour, I went to the newsstand and purchased the Drama-Logue. It advertised audition opportunities for roles in community plays and student films. That weekend I went on two auditions and was offered both roles. I accepted one of them, and soon after, I was fired from the public relations job because my boss saw my interest shifting from being a publicist to becoming an actress. Within four years, I was in the Screen Actors Guild and earning $100,000 a year as a voice-over artist. The second way that my life changed was I became passionately committed to developing a spiritual practice.
Full Interview Continued On Next Page
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Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to your character, Aunt Vi on the critically-acclaimed OWN drama “Queen Sugar.”
Tina Lifford:
Aunt Vi is 60 going on 45. Her back story is that she was once married to a man who later became physically abusive. When we meet her in the pilot episode of “Queen Sugar” she is in love with a good man who is 20 years younger than her. She is also burying her brother and stepping into the role of matriarch to his three estranged adult children. She knows life has given her a second chance with love and she is determined to live, love and honor the importance of family.
Namita Nayyar:
If you had to pick up 5 character traits of Aunt Vi that you can relate to, what would they be?
Tina Lifford:
- Fun – Aunt Vi loves life. So do I.
- Flirtatious – Aunt Vi loves being a woman and loves being in love with Hollywood. I can learn from her in this area.
- Family – Aunt Vi is ride or die when it comes to family. Family is everything to me.
- Fair – Aunt Vi treats Ralph Angel, Charley and Nova equally and fairly. I aim to be fair.
- Functional – Aunt Vi is practical. I bet, like me, she is born under the sign of Taurus.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?
Tina Lifford:
To me complete fitness must include both an inner fitness and physical fitness regime. I meditate and live my life by 14 inner fitness practices that are part of the work I do as founder of The Inner Fitness Project – where our mission is to codify skills and practices that support mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. As for my physical regime, I walk/run or hike four times a week for at least an hour.
Namita Nayyar:
With the kind of hectic lifestyle that you have, do you follow any healthy diet to remain physically fit?
Tina Lifford:
I am conscious about what and how much I eat. I start my day with half a sprouted wholegrain English muffin – center bread removed – toasted and dressed with avocado, tomato, arugula and spinach. For lunch and dinner I eat sensibly.
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your haircare and skincare routine.
Tina Lifford:
I believe a clean, oiled face supports good skin. I wash my face with Dove soap two to three times a day, pat it dry and apply a mix of vitamin C and argon oil.
Namita Nayyar:
Your humanitarian work focuses on the importance of inner fitness through The Inner Fitness Project, tell us how have you been able to achieve and quench your thirst of giving back to the society through this endeavor of yours?
Tina Lifford:
First, I hope my thirst for sharing inner fitness with the world is never quenched. I am on a mission. I am championing the notion that our inner fitness is as important to our inner health as physical fitness is to our bodies. Getting this message out there and having it hit critical mass takes time. There are a number of ways that I, through my work with The Inner Fitness Project, introduce people to the importance of inner fitness. I have written and often perform my play THE CIRCLE – a story of how seven diverse women navigate the choppy waters of life together. I design and facilitate workshops for corporations and individuals, and I am active on social media as @tinalifford, posting inspirational videos and short blogs. My website is www.tinalifford.com.
Namita Nayyar:
You have also published two books: The Little Book of Big Lies. ..and Truths that Set You Free and 30-Days to A more Fabulous You! Introduce us to them.
Tina Lifford:
The Little Book of BIG LIES is a compilation of 14 short stories. Each story highlights a different “lie” or falsehood that robs us of power and leaves us feeling less than or not good enough. The book offers readers a new way of viewing themselves, along with insights and exercises for transforming their small ideas of themselves into personal freedom and power.
(Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-BIG-LIES-TRUTHS/dp/0980007208/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494738884&sr=1-1&keywords=Tina+Lifford)
30 Days To A More Fabulous YOU is a transformational workbook. It provides readers with everything they need to rediscover and fall in love with themselves.
(This workbook is now only available as a workshop offer.)
The 14 Practices of Inner Health and Wellbeing for Building and Maintaining Emotional and Spiritual Strength is the title of my next book, which I a currently writing.
Namita Nayyar:
Your fans would love to know about your future plans regarding movies and shows. Tell us about them.
Tina Lifford:
When I am not working on “Queen Sugar” I am living my passion for inner fitness – speaking, and designing and facilitating workshops, and presenting my play “The Circle.”
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our readers?
Tina Lifford:
I’m a fan of Womenfitness.net because of all the ways it teaches women how to experience joy. We don’t simply become fit so that we can get into our skinny jeans. Fitness, both inner fitness and physical fitness, is really about the outcomes that our self-care affords us. Mainly, more time on this earth to experience and share joy. To your readers, I say, take a page out of my book. You are meant to thrive. Know that you matter, and that you can always make a self-empowering choice in any situation. Honoring yourself is a powerful starting point for building a more fulfilling life.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http:// www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2019 Women Fitness