Tracee Ellis Ross: I Didn't Wake Up Like This

The fiercely funny star of Black-ish reveals why she loves crazy-hard workouts—and how embracing her personality helped her (finally) love her body.

- Amy Spencer

“You know, I was freaked out about coming here,”  admits Tracee Ellis Ross about her Health shoot in body-con gear (which, hello, she rocked). So she gave herself a pep talk. “I kept saying to myself, ‘I’m healthy, I’m strong, I feel good in my body. And I’m 44—this is pretty great.’” In fact, Tracee’s life this past year has been pretty great and then some.

The daughter of Motown legend Diana Ross and music manager Robert Ellis Silberstein (they divorced when she was young), Tracee earned acclaim on the comedy Girlfriends before landing the role of Dr. Rainbow Johnson on one of ABC’s highest-rated shows: the often controversial and always hilarious Black-ish. The perfect comedy foil to costar Anthony Anderson, Tracee was nominated for an Emmy in 2016; this year, she earned a Golden Globe award for her performance.

Fresh from that win, Tracee dishes on fitness, family, and body confidence after 40.

This season, your Black-ish character, Bow, is pregnant with her fifth child. What’s that like?

I have to wear this very heavy baby bump, so it’s good when I go to the gym and remind my body what it actually feels like!

What parts of your personality did you get from your mom versus your dad?

I got a sense of humor from my dad. We have a major connection on that, to the point where my mom is like, “For the love of God, you are your father. OK, Bob…” Oh, and my dad and I really connect on skin care. When I was in high school, he was like [running her fingertips up one cheek as if applying moisturizer], “You always gotta sweep up, Tracee, you gotta sweep up.” And my dad is 71 and his skin is gorgeous. So now, whenever I find a new product, I send it to my dad.