Teyonah Parris is proving she can do it all—and then some.
From launching and running Blum, a successful hair extensions brand, to starring in the upcoming Netflix dark comedy No Good Deed (set to drop on Thursday, December 12) and being tapped to join John Cena in Matchbox, an Apple Original Films’ live-action take on the classic Mattel car toy line, the Hollywood powerhouse is booked, busy, and thriving.
At the premiere of No Good Deed at the Netflix Tudum Theater in Los Angeles on Wednesday, December 4, the 37-year-old actress sat down for an exclusive interview with People.
In the candid conversation, Teyonah Parris opened up about her work, her hair extension company, and life after welcoming a daughter with her husband, James Parris, in 2023.
When speaking about her little girl, whose name she has yet to share publicly, the They Cloned Tyron star said, “Talking to her and encouraging her is also encouraging and talking to myself.”
“I found myself telling her just a simple thing, like, ‘Don’t get frustrated, baby. You can do it. It might not work this first time, but it’s okay.’ And then I hear myself say it, and I’m like, ‘Hey, you should say that to yourself, too. You know what I mean?” Teyonah Parris explained.
“I have to find the space to give myself more grace,” she added, “And I’m giving [it to] my child, giving it to myself.”
As for how she’s been juggling motherhood, a thriving acting career, and a new business, Teyonah Parris said she’s not afraid to ask for help.
“It is constantly a juggling situation with the new baby, the husband, acting – but it’s really fun,” she shared.
“I’m finding myself really enjoying learning things that I just did not know, just being on the business/CEO side of this endeavor. It’s very challenging, very hard, but it has been an amazing time so far.”
And why she decided to launch her hair extensions brand, Blum, despite her never-halting personal and professional schedule?
“I wanted to do this because being in front of the camera, I realized that, well, even in my real life, that there weren’t a lot of options for women with natural, kinky hair, curly, coily textured hair,” Teyonah Parris revealed.
“And I wanted to be myself, but I also wanted to protect my hair and so I needed quality extensions that could do that.”
“Most everybody you see — men and women on camera — have some sort of extensions, something to help,” she added. “So, it was my mission years ago to start this … and I just want us to shine and feel seen and loved and protect our hair while doing it.”
The Marvels actor also spoke a little about her new Netflix show, No Good Deed, a dark comedy series about three different couples competing to purchase the same L.A. house—which is owned by a family with a dark secret.
Teyonah Parris portrays Carla, a driven expectant mother and one of the eager prospective buyers. Others in the cast include Emmy winners Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano, Dead to Me star Linda Cardellini, and Luke Wilson.
“It is a very dark comedy, so there is a lot of drama, but the comedy is still there. So that was really fun in just trying to nail the tone,” she told the outlet of the filming process.
“Everyone has been so generous in this process and coming to set and to our table reads, So, it really just has been a really beautiful time. “
