HEALTH, HAPPINESS & Keeping the Faith

with Grammy-winning musician, actress and entrepreneur QUEEN LATIFAH

- -BY MELISSA D'AGNESE

BELOVED FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES as an award-winning singer and actress, Queen Latifah most recently starred on the CBS hit The Equalizer, where she played the enigmatic Robyn McCall—an anonymous guardian angel defending people in need. When the fan-favorite show ended unexpectedly after five seasons earlier this year, Latifah’s first instinct wasn’t disappointment...it was gratitude. “My mom always said, ‘When one door closes, another opens,’ and so through all the chapters of my life and career, I’ve held this close,” the actress tells FIRST. “When something ends, Iknowa new thing will come.” She also credits her 97-year-old grandmother as a force behind her optimistic outlook. “When you talk to someone who's lived for almost 100 years and has seen so much—great things and terrible things—and they’re still here, keeping the faith and trusting in God, it’s inspiring. I’m like, ‘I just need to be like Nana.’” In fact, her grandmother's longevity inspired Latifah’s newest project: helping women get healthy. The 55-year-old star and mom of one has teamed up with Novo Nordisk to spread awareness about obesity and cardiovascular health. “Being in your 50s is a rediscovery of life,” she says. “Finally, women have time to reset—and that’s a beautiful thing.” Here, Latifah’s tips for finding silver linings—just like her grandmother taught her.

My mom always said, 'Girl, go to bed. Stop thinking of everything you need to do. Unplug. You can fix it all tomorrow.' Sometimes it's about leaning into the simplicity of things and giving your mind some space to relax.”