Hallmark star Lacey Chabert joined PEOPLE for an interview on Thursday, August 6, where she opened up about her daughter Julia Mimi Bella’s upcoming birthday.
While talking about the plans for Julia’s 10th birthday party, Chabert shared that Julia requested a capybara-themed party.
“We’re very serious about planning her birthday parties,” the actress said of Julia, whose milestone birthday is on September 1.
The “Mean Girls” star added that she and her husband David Nehdar have planned a crafting party, where Julia and her friends can make bracelets. “High level,” she joked.
“She’s obsessed with capybaras,” Chabert added. “They’re pretty cute.”
Lacey Chabert Talks About Being a Working Mom
Although she’s Hallmark’s leading lady, when Chabert and Nehdar welcomed their daughter in 2016, she questioned if she should continue her acting career or be more present at home with Julia in the exciting early moments as a new family of three.
“It was a little daunting because she’s only four months old and not sleeping through the night,” Chabert told The Huffington Post in 2017. “I’m obsessed with her, and I don’t want to be away from her for two seconds.”
“I feel like a lot of moms can probably relate to the guilt of being away from [their children],” she continued. “How do I balance all of it? Am I making the right choice?”
Although being Julia’s mom was her first priority, Chabert added that she decided to keep a steady presence in acting to show her daughter that it’s achievable to be a working mom.
“It’s hard and it’s a lot to juggle, but I want to set that example for her that you can pursue your dreams. This is my dream. I’ve been doing this since I was a kid and I’ve been blessed to work and be a working actor and there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for that, but my priorities have definitely shifted,” Chabert said.
How Lacey Chabert’s Daughter Really Feels About Hallmark Movies
Chabert, who brings Julia to set with her during her filming for Hallmark productions, told HELLO! in May that her daughter is a big fan of Hallmark and will often look for new movies on Hallmark+ if she misses them the night before.
“She watches Hallmark+ all the time on her own, and if she misses a movie on Saturday night when it’s airing, she will literally look for it on Hallmark+ the next day,” Chabert said before adding that although Julia wants to watch all of the network’s newest films, she’s very candid about what she thinks of her mom’s work.
“She’s such a cheerleader. It is really sweet and warms my heart. She’s also very honest and can be a little critical sometimes, but I appreciate the feedback, but she’s definitely my biggest cheerleader,” Chabert said. “And it’s so sweet.”
“And honestly, seeing her be kind to other people. We always tell her, like, ‘Do your best in school. You don’t have to be perfect, but it is really important to us that you be kind to people,’” Chabert added. “When you get that feedback back, whether from a teacher or another parent, that your child has been kind, it just means the world.”
