Interview: Nia Peeples on Beauty, Fitness and Helping Others, Part 2

Television and movie lovers know Nia Peeples, whether it’s for her early work on the TV show “Fame” or the surf cult-hit movie “North Shore,” or for her later work on “The Young and the Restless” and the new Hallmark movie “Citizen Jane” (which premieres Saturday, Sept. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT). Nia is known for her talent as well as her beauty. In fact, in 2008 she was named one of People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People.

To say that Nia was surprised when she found out would be an understatement. “I was standing in line at a teacher-appreciation luncheon at my daughter’s school, and one of the moms came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I asked, ‘For what?’ She told me I was one of People’s 100 Most Beautiful People, and I said: ‘What are you talking about? Are you sure it’s me? It’s not Catherine Zeta-Jones or Valerie Bertinelli?’ — who I get mistaken for all the time.

“I just had to laugh. It was hilarious. I’ve been in the business for 25 years, and I know there’s a whole bidding process that goes on. I’m in a place in my life where I don’t have a publicist. I’m raising my kids and living in Malibu and doing other things. I’m not paying attention to those things.”

Nia continues: “I was honored because it came at a time when I didn’t have someone throwing me out in front of people’s faces and saying, ‘What about her?’ For me, it was like the industry saying, ‘You know, she’s looking pretty good.’ I appreciate it much more now than I would have in my 20s or 30s, or if I had had my publicist pushing it for me.”

With Nia’s outside beauty comes an inner beauty as well. She has quite a few humanitarian causes that are dear to her, including the relief work she did in 2004 after the devastating earthquake/tsunami in Southeast Asia.

Nia explains: “What we did was so enlightening for me, because — I was about 43 at the time — I needed to show people that Nia Peeples the woman was so much more than Nia Peeples the persona. I needed to go and just put my hand in doing what I know I could do. Lending my hand was more important than, say, waving in a parade.”

Seeing the grace of these people in need really had an effect on Nia. “I was incredibly moved by the people who I met. In the middle of this crisis, and in the middle of losing their homes and everything they had, they still remembered who they were, and they were happy. There was a feeling of contentment that never left them. And here I was, searching for myself, doing this crazy thing, and they had lost everything and still had what was most important.”

Nia also wants to help others find what they deem to be important, and is in development on a NIA line of beauty and fitness products. “Over the years, various people have come to me to promote fitness equipment, clothing or a line of hair and makeup products, and none of it seemed to be really true to who I am.

“One of the things I’ve been looking at the past few years is really figuring out what I would want my brand to be. What is it that’s different about what I have to offer? It comes down to getting women to accept who they are, make the most of what they have and diminish what doesn’t work. It starts with what you’re born with, and you have to think of what you feed it and how you treat it, and you go from there. We are all our own kind of beauty. You have to be able to look at that and see that it is beautiful, and then embrace and take care of it.”

ABC Fan Event

PRESS RELEASE

Bradford Anderson, Kassie DePaiva, Bobbie Eakes, Chrishell Stause, and Bree Williamson to Appear as Part of Free Pre-Concert Festivities

A Special Performance by the Divas of Daytime — Kassie DePaiva, Bobbie Eakes and Kathy Brier (pictured left)

WHAT: Free event with stars from “All My Children,” “One Life to Live” and “General Hospital” leading up to the Sara Evans concert at night. The event is open to the public and will include talent autograph signings, meet and greets, games and giveaways. Sara Evans ticket holders who attend will receive a special premium. The American Red Cross Blood Services will also be on site to collect Blood Donations

WHEN: Saturday, August 22, 2009 at Noon

WHERE: Billy Bob’s Texas in Ft. Worth, Texas

WHO: “All My Children’s” Bobbie Eakes and Chrishell Stause; “One Life to Live’s” Kassie DePaiva and Bree Williamson; and “General Hospital’s” Bradford Anderson. The DIVAS of DAYTIME (Kassie DePaiva, Bobbie Eakes and Kathy Brier) will also perform.

Days: Now Streaming Online

PRESS RELEASE

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — August 10, 2009 — Fans of the popular NBC daytime drama, "Days of our Lives," will never again have to worry about missing an episode as NBC.com announced today that it will begin streaming full episodes of the long-running Emmy Award-winning program daily at www.nbc.com/Days_of_our_Lives.

The announcement was made by Vivi Zigler, President, NBC Universal Digital Entertainment. "NBC.com is pleased to add 'Days of our Lives' to the great line-up of shows available for streaming. 'Days' has such great fans — now they can watch every episode again on line!," said Zigler.

"'Days of our Lives' has had such a long, rich history with NBC and our fans. It's wonderful that this new platform will both offer our current fans a whole new way to watch episodes they may have missed and attract new, young viewers to the show," said Ken Corday, executive producer of "Days of our Lives."

Fans will be able to view the past 10 episodes immediately. And, beginning Tuesday, August 11 (3:00 a.m. ET), the previous day's episode will be available. All episodes will be available for a duration of sixteen days.

While visiting the "Days of our Lives" site, fans can also read the "Days Insider Blog" for the latest news and interviews, watch daily sneak preview clips, interact with entertaining features like Ask the Hunk and the Quick Guide to Salem, play games, and engage with the lively community of dedicated fans.

GL: The Hits Keep Coming

Hot on the heels of the news that many fan favorites — Morgan Englund, Maureen Garrett, Melissa Hayden, Lisa Brown — will be back to help Guiding Light ride into the sunset in a fury of style and nostalgia, comes word that Jay Hammer will return to Springfield as Fletcher Reade on Thursday, Sept. 17.

B&B: Such a Tease!

•Jackie (Lesley-Anne Down, pictured) has everyone wanting to get their paws on her.
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•Stephanie receives a visit and a proposition from an old friend.

•Whip schemes with Bill to cause a tabloid stir.

•Bill must chose whether to follow his wallet or his heart.

•Forrester Creations and Jackie M compete in dueling fashion shows.

Y&R: Such a Tease!

•Chloe finally learns the truth about Mac and Billy.

•Adam manipulates a fragile Ashley (Eileen Davidson, pictured) into believing that she killed someone.

•In confession, Father Todd realizes he is talking to his sister Patty.

•Phillip reveals that because he has a secret in his past, Cane can never go back to Australia.

•Sharon is offered an unexpected deal to avoid jail time.

GL: Such a Tease!

•Buzz (Justin Deas, pictured) decides he needs to leave town..

•Bill tells Lizzie he wants to take the next step.

•Olivia invites Josh over to her house.

•Phillip searches for a cure to buy him more time.

ATWT: Such a Tease!

•Meg (Marie Wilson, pictured) and Lily exchange harsh words.

•Luke questions Damian's motives.

•Bob puts a patient's life in danger.

•Emily and Paul enjoy their new arrangement.

GH: Such a Tease!

Sam falls into Jerry’s clutches.
Michael and Kristina realize what’s really going on.
Maxie rebels against Mac trying to run her life.

Jason and Jerry play a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Mac discovers Dominic’s (Dominic Zamprogna, pictured) secret.
Michael won’t go down without a fight.

Ethan reveals his true agenda to Lucky.
Jerry leaves Jason in dire straits.
Dominic refuses to abandon his mission.

Johnny sees Olivia and Dominic together.
Lucky shares his dilemma with Elizabeth.
Robin’s on a quest to catch a killer.

Nikolas is devastated to learn the truth about Rebecca.
Olivia goes behind Dominic’s back.
Sam finds Jason in the nick of time.

OLTL: Such a Tease!

Tea’s met her match with Elijah.
Blair wants to uncover the secret Tea’s been hiding.
Dorian gets a surprise visitor.

Blair hires Rex to get the goods on Tea.
Bo and Nora continue to deny what they really feel.
Dorian gives David the boot.

Jessica confides in Marty.
Natalie and Jared (John Brotherton, pictured) are faced with a mystery.
Cole makes a wise move.

Viki wants no part of David’s latest scheme.
Brody finds proof that Jessica’s mysterious stalker really exists.
Cristian leaves Fish with an ultimatum.

Rex fills Blair in on what he uncovered about Tea.
Elijah has Tea over a barrel.
Cristian confronts Fish.

AMC: Such a Tease!

Ryan doesn’t buy Annie’s act.
Zach is sitting on a major secret.
David offers to make a deal with JR.

Adam remembers more about the night Stuart was killed.
Kendall agrees to go along with Zach’s plan.
Ryan realizes what Annie’s been up to.

Kendall wants to clear the air with Zach.
Zach is determined to make Annie pay for Stuart’s murder.
Scott (Adam Mayfield, pictured) advises JR to stand by Marissa.

Jake and Amanda’s latest plan hits a snag.
Frankie confronts Randi and Jesse with his suspicions.
Angie should just leave well enough alone.

Amanda’s baby goes missing.
Frankie is no match for Madison.
Angie seeks the truth from Jesse.