Rising star Nico Parker is riding high after the live-action How to Train Your Dragon debuted at #1 at the box office, and stayed there for 2 weeks. It's made an impressive $354 million worldwide so far. Parker, who plays the bold and beloved Astrid, sat down with me on the Entertain Me! podcast to talk about her breakout role, her Hollywood roots, and the advice she got from her famous mom.
Parker, 19, is the daughter of Emmy-winning actress Thandiwe Newton (Westworld, Crash) and writer-director Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel). While her lineage may be star-studded, Nico is quickly proving she’s a star in her own right.
The film, based on the wildly popular DreamWorks animated franchise, brings fan-favorite characters like Hiccup and Astrid to life in a new way. For Parker, stepping into the role of Astrid came with big expectations.
When asked about working with CGI dragons, Parker said, "There was a really brilliant puppeteering team who made every dragon foam head come to life in a way that I can't truly describe."
Of course, the conversation turned to her famous mother, Thandiwe Newton, whose career has spanned decades and earned critical acclaim. And, her father, Ol Parker, is a filmmaker. With both parents in the biz, did they offer any advice before filming?
“I think the main thing they would want for me and my siblings is that we're nice people,” Parker shared.
Catch Nico Parker in How to Train Your Dragon, now playing in theaters nationwide, and listen to her full interview on the Entertain Me podcast with Heather Brooker, available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.