Marlon Star Essence Atkins Talks New NBC Series, Dating & The Secret To Style

By Delaina Dixon | August 16, 2017 | Entertainment

WeΓÇÖre certain youΓÇÖll be tuning in for the series premiere of Marlon tonight on NBC. The new comedy featuring Marlon Wayans as Marlon Wayne, a man recently divorced from Ashley, his former wife, played by Essence Atkins.

We caught up with the gorgeous and effervescent actress at an exclusive NBC cocktail party in New York City to get the scoop on her new role, her own dating life and her very smart philosophy on fashion.

Tell us in your own words what the show is about.
The showΓÇÖs backdrop is divorce. Marlon and I are playing a newly divorced couple trying to figure how to co-parent, and maybe figure out how to keep him out of my house so much! WeΓÇÖre living and learning to love each other in a different context and paradigm – still working together for the betterment of our kids, and thatΓÇÖs something most people can relate to. A lot of people will be able to see this show and recognize themselves and recognize the situation. Hopefully we tell a story thatΓÇÖs about a family, but we tell it with love and humor.

And whatΓÇÖs Ashley’s goal in surviving this divorce?
SheΓÇÖs an interior designer trying to figure out the full throttle of everything. TheyΓÇÖve been together for 16 years, so now itΓÇÖs ΓÇ£how do you date.ΓÇ¥ Our characters met in their early 20s, sheΓÇÖs about to turn 40, so itΓÇÖs about how they process all this, with questions like, ΓÇ£I have a date ΓÇô can you babysit?ΓÇ¥ ItΓÇÖs about figuring all that stuff out.

Are you tapping into any stories from your real life?
We shot our season finale, itΓÇÖs a lot flashbacks of Marlon and Ashley’s first date — and itΓÇÖs completely different perspective for each of them — but it fell in the week of the real anniversary of my first date with my ex-husband. So that was surreal and very weird.

You are recently divorced. Are you dating again?
Not really. It takes time and the landscape has changed so much. ItΓÇÖs been nearly 10 years for me since IΓÇÖve been single, and itΓÇÖs just a different animal. When I met my ex-husband, there was this movement to mock me ΓÇô who meets their spouse online? And now everyoneΓÇÖs got three or five dating apps on their phone. IΓÇÖm not in rush. I still believe in love and marriage. IΓÇÖm officiating my third ceremony. But IΓÇÖm in no rush.

You look amazing! WhatΓÇÖs your fitness secret?
I do run, itΓÇÖs a great stress release for me singularly focus on stuff. The rest is moderation, at this age you have to recognize how much food is a big component in how you look and your water component. IΓÇÖm a meat eater, I drink alcohol, but you canΓÇÖt go crazy.

And your style tip?
I think fashion is about ease. I think a woman who is comfortable and feels beautiful, that resonates and it doesnΓÇÖt really matter what sheΓÇÖs wearing. You can be wearing high end, or something from Marshalls, and if you feel gorgeous and beautiful, that translates.

Marlon┬áseries premiere airs Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 9 p.m. on NBC.

photo credit:┬á Tyler Golden/NBC