Sanaa Lathan

The new star of The Affair talks staying confident, embracing a balanced life, and finding true happiness.

- Amy Spencer

Sanaa Lathan has a smart, simple self-care strategy that is totally worth stealing. “I literally have a list. If I’m doing [certain] things most days, I’m good,” explains the actress, 46, over a glass of rosé at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. From working out in the morning to meditating twice a day to taking social media breaks, Sanaa has been cultivating these tricks since she first broke out in 2000’s Love & Basketball. It makes sense, right? When you take time for yourself, it’s easier to deal with the various things life throws your way. Which, in Sanaa’s case, includes things like balancing a busy work schedule (see her next in season 4 of Showtime’s The Affair, premiering June 17) and dealing with those pesky Beyoncé “biting” rumors that popped up this past spring (yes, we asked about them). “Whatever comes up against you, you have tools,” she says.

Taking time to focus on her well-being also gives Sanaa the energy and emotional wherewithal to carry out important projects. One example: her upcoming Netflix movie Nappily Ever After (due out this fall). It’s a story about a woman whose self esteem is tied to men. Eventually her character realizes she needs to determine her own worth and, in a declaration of independence, cuts off her long hair—something Sanaa decided to do IRL instead of faking it for the film. When Sanaa is not taking on buzzy acting gigs, she’s working on the Sanaa Lathan Foundation, which offers summer camp and educational support to at-risk kids.