No, Nicole Ari Parker Isn’t Replacing Samantha on ‘And Just Like That…’

That’s a good one.

Because I’m the first one to be like, “Send me the pic!” They were like, “Do not. No phone numbers, no emails.”

This is a new character, so what did you do to prepare for the role?

It’s interesting to talk about from an acting point of view—not so much that I had to research it, but the rhythm of the show itself is a character. I had to find my comedic rhythm, my friendship rhythm, and my New York rhythm to be part of the show. And yet allow myself to be brand-new. I’m not just their new friend. They’re my new friends. And managing all that with thigh-high boots on while picking up my kids from school like it’s totally normal. 

At some point I was like, I am wearing my children’s private school tuition right now. I’m not even exaggerating. It was unbelievable. Sometimes I didn’t work—I didn’t have a shoot day—but I had to come in for my wardrobe fitting. It was astonishing, the levels of purses and shoes and boots. Oh my God.

How would you describe your style normally?

My personal fashion is very improvisational. I am very much an East Coast person. I like to walk. I’m a pedestrian. I’m a city girl. So even if I’m wearing a minidress, I like a boot. I mix and match. I’m very eclectic, a little Target and a little Alexander McQueen. I don’t know how that all works, but I’m fancy but also practical. My character is top-to-bottom, next-level fashion. There are no missteps or mistakes. It’s all her style, and she fully commits to it without any self-consciousness.

Is there a recurring theme in your character’s styling or any signature items?

Molly Rogers did a really great job making sure that my jewelry matched my worldliness. This character is very well traveled, and she’s interesting. She’s not just this flat character that they’ve inserted. She’s got beats. She’s got her thing, her own swagger, her own Tuesday outfit. I think she might have invented Tuesday.

How did you relate to your character the most? 

Being married with kids and having to deal with lots of moving parts at the same time. The thing that’s so great about the show is that they really get into the normal little weird, emotional trip-ups that people have. All of the characters get to experience that in the script. 

Like, does anyone else spill their coffee on their shirt right before a meeting, and then you have to clean it, and then it gets worse? And then you try to cover it. And then you buy something, and now you’re in a conversation about this sweater that wasn’t part of the outfit? And it becomes a thing. And then you have to do your presentation. And then the presentation goes really well, but all everyone wants to talk about is your sweater. And then the sweater that you shoved in your purse falls on the floor when you pull out the laptop. It’s like that.

So what do you hope people take away from the show after they watch?

I think the thing that people are going to really be happy about is that the friendship aspect is still there. And then the extension of that friendship to new people. I really think that’s going to resonate.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.