WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW?
NIA VARDALOS, star of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and special guest on "Law and Order: SVU" this week. She authored the book "Instant Mom" out on April 2.
What Does She Know Now?
Keep Your Beauty Routine Simple.
Nia says, "I always say my beauty regimen is two things. I use Dove soap that is you know, five cents, and I use La Mer cream that costs as much as a Prius."
Poke Fun at Beauty Blunders
Nia says, "After a premiere, my husband said, 'What's that black hairy thing in the butter?' We were at this fancy restaurant and I whispered to him, 'Honey, those are my false eyelashes that just fell off.'"
Share Your Knowledge
"I have a book that comes out this year about adoption. I wanted to write the book that I couldn't find when I wanted to adopt. I couldn't find the one source for how to do it internally, domestically or with infants or foster children. I wanted to provide the information. The whole back of the book is an appendix on the most frequently asked questions with the answers I needed."
"It was hard for me to share my story. I cannot believe that I'm telling this story, but I just realized that I don't want to hide anymore. I wanted to tell the absolute true story of how I became a mom. I've got to drink some water now. I'm so nervous about the book."
Always Try to Find the Kind Humor in a Situation.
Nia says, "I've always been attracted to roles that speak to my sense of comedy which is to laugh with me as opposed to 'hey, let's laugh at them. I feel that I'm really a product of my parents and their very kind and compassionate upbringing.
"Being from a very large family, there is always gentle poking fun at each other, but never making fun of each other. It's never mean."
Redefine Your Priorities
Nia says, "What I've learned since becoming a parent is to willingly step back. I can step back from taking roles that would take me away from my daughter until I could settle her. I have absolutely no regrets. But it was difficult to do and I chronicle that in the book."
Ask For Help
Nia says, "What my husband and I did to settle a preschooler into our home was use the guidance from social workers. We had therapists and we had a lot of help fro my family and friends. Ask for help, ladies!"
