Nico Parker may already be the star of Disney’s live action remake of Dumbo - and currently starring alongside GLAMOUR cover star, Naomie Harris and Jude Law in the thrilling new TV show, The Third Day, but her mind is very much on her return to school following lockdown.
“I'm doing GCSEs so it's dawning on me all of the work I've missed. We don't know if we're going to do our exams and so I don’t know if we need to put in maximum effort,” the 15-year-old shares - half joking.
Aside from the burgeoning acting CV, Nico is one of the most grounded and worldly aware people you could meet. Her Emmy Award winner mother, Thandie Newton, coming in mid interview to locate her glasses (“she leaves her phone everywhere too,” Nico laughs) is a telling symbol of how normal her life is. “You’re amazing, I love you,” Thandie tells her as she skips off for a night at the cinema.
As Nico’s star is set to rise, she opens up about embracing her natural hair, how her role model mother gave her pride in her racial identity, the testing conditions of filming The Third Day on a remote British island and as we reflect on Black History Month, Nico reveals what gives her hope for the future…
How have you found going back to this ‘new normal’ after lockdown?
Lockdown started to be like a comfort blanket because I'm now an extreme introvert. I hate going out now and I really like staying at home. I was talking with my friend about this the other day as I've become really comfortable with my own company and being in my room in my little sanctuary. I'm trying to get away from that and train myself back into the new routine.
The Third Day is so intense! What did you learn from the filming experience?
God, it was intense - I think every member of cast kind of came out of it with the same thought. It really did become a little family because there are few people that shared the experience of living on the island and it was grueling work. Jude and Naomie had to do some really difficult stuff and even witnessing it made me tired. It taught me how much I can handle and where my boundaries are whilst working with people like Naomie who is beyond the nicest person reminded me how lucky I am.
