Vivica A. Fox lives a life many people dream of. Entrepreneur, actress, model, awards and nominations and glamour; if it's creative, she seems to be doing it all. You'd think being a consistently working film and TV star, she'd be unapproachable. On the contrary.

Just one of the girls, Vivica is fierce, funny, hip and loves to get down with the chat. A self-declared "huge sports junkie" with more than 314,000 Instagram and 481,000 Twitter followers, Vivica's own fans can't wait for her next appearance ... anywhere. Lucky for them, she has a half-dozen feature films in the works from comedy to action, including "Independence Day: Resurgence," numerous television appearances including game show "Celebrity Name Game," and she's back for more drama on the mega-hit show "Empire," as Cookie's (Taraji P. Henson) sister, Candace.

Vivica talks to HNGN about going toe-to-toe with Cookie, her own business empire and how this forever-on-the-go dynamo lives life to the fullest. We've also got the scoop on a "Chocolate City" spin-off, strong advice for wannnabe actors and a surprise "Kill Bill" coincidence.

You are just nonstop! Appearances, movies, television...What's this about a fashion line?

The hair line's been picked up for another three years. I have Curvy Couture by Vivica Fox, which is my lingerie collection. We're expanding. We've got 10 new items coming out. I want to let everyone know that 2016 for me is going to be an amazing year. You'll be seeing a lot of Vivica Fox and the best of Vivica Fox. The hair line, Vivica Fox is growing. I'm literally living out my dream that people trust the brand of Vivica Fox to deliver quality. That, you know, if it's got something associated with my name, you can say, "OK, I pretty much know this is going to be good." The wig line's doing great. We're doing a new photo shoot. Every year we usually introduce 60 to 80 new wigs. I've got a few new surprises coming up. Also expanding the brand of Vivica Fox, so stay tuned. You're going to be like, "Ooooh, she's doing that now?"

You have quite an empire going for yourself.

Well, speaking of "Empire," I'm actually sitting in my room in Chicago, about to do another episode of "Empire." Candace, the bougie bitch is back!

Bougie?

She's queen of the suburbs with her husband and her 2.5 kids and her picket white fence. She's done things the All-American way and married up her way in the world. Cookie and her world is so foreign to her. It's really fun being here on "Empire," on such a hit show that everyone loves. The minute I tweeted yesterday and did an Instagram post, I'm on my way to set or Chicago, they're like, "YEAH, she's coming back! I love it!"

You and Cookie are quite the dynamic duo.

There has to be somebody with some "oomph" to go up against Cookie because we are polar opposites. People are like, if there's anyone that can give Cookie a run for her money, it's Vivica Fox. It's been fun. I love the writing. I love the clothes. It's so rare to get to be on a show and you get to look so fabulous and a bitch at it, you know? It's a very glamorous show. And you know, we haven't had shows like this since the days of "Dynasty" and "Dallas," where people are like, "I'm going to have a viewing party," you know? "What are they wearing?" It's awesome to be a part of a show like that.

You've got quite a list of movies coming up. "Independence Day: Resurgence," "Before I Do...

"Chocolate City II's" going to be coming out. I'm also working on producing sort of a reality- based spinoff show for "Chocolate City," for Lifetime, which is about diving into the world of male exotic dancers. My main goal for the show is that I want to take it to Las Vegas. Isn't that fun? So tell the girls I've got even more chocolate coming up for them!

You wear so many hats. Do you prefer one more than the other?

To be honest with you, I found out that versatility has been the key to my success. I can be a producer. I can be an actress. I can be a model. I can be a great co-star. I found that that keeps me happy, active and busy. I like that. I like wearing different hats. I really do. It's fun, it's stimulating, instead of just being one-note-Sally. It's like, "After this is over, I'm going to go produce, and then after this is over, I'm going to go model for my hair line, and after that I'm going to go model for my lingerie line." I love being busy. "Then I'm going to go be an action star for 'Independence Day' and kick some alien butt!"

In the movie "Gibby" you play a director. Is this something you'd like to try your hand at?

I haven't directed yet. Directing for me will definitely come up in the future, but when you direct, you're really in there. You have to live with it for a little bit longer. Right now I'm not ready to dedicate that much time. I love being a busy bee and doing different projects.

Any desire to do a musical?

Hmmmm. Broadway would be fun in the future. Absolutely. But for me to be in one place for a long period of time, I might get a little stir crazy and bored. But I would. If I were to do a show, I'd love to do "Chicago."

Do you have a particular favorite genre to work in?

Wow, I kind of love it all. I really do. I love doing stage plays, I love doing television, I love doing drama, I love doing movies. I really am happy. I was talking to my publicist before you got on the line, and he as says, "How you doing?" I'm like, "My life is great!" How often do you say that?

You're among the rarified air that can say that, I think.

I'm at a really happy and blessed time. I really am. Life is good.

You're very dedicated to your craft. Any advice for people who want to become an actor?

Absolutely. I always tell a young actress when they come up, are you studying? "What do you mean, am I studying? I look good." No. Are you studying, which means you have to realize this is a craft. You have to know if you're good at drama, you have to know if you're good at comedy, because you've got to hit marks, you have to learn your lines, you've got to emote, you have to be able to deliver with a smile, you have to be able to cry on cue...It's a tough business and a lot of sacrifice and very long hours. Twelve-hour days. People get to see the end result of it when you see it on TV when it's edited and looks lovely. But do you have any idea of how much like, Taraji, she's the star of the show, she pretty much every day works 12 hours. She goes home, sleeps and comes back. She has to memorize pages and pages of dialogue. You've got to have a good memory. You've got to apply yourself. You've got to go to auditions, you've got to get used to rejection. There's a lot in what we do. To really understand, if this is something you really want to get into, do you have the backbone to go through the trials and tribulations of really being an actor? I think people confuse being an actor with being a celebrity. They're two totally different things.

With the Internet, people think they can become an instant YouTube star.

OK! Say that! Say that, girl! Just because they're reality stars, it's like "Oh, I can be an actor. And then they've got to do a scene, and then it's like "duuuuweeuh."

What do you do in your off screen downtime "chillin'" for the day?

First thing I do, is I love hanging out with my godbabies. I've got three godchildren, Christian, Quinny and Lola. First thing I'm going to do when I get back home, I'm going to take Christian and his parents to go see the Arabian horse show, Cavalia. I'm so happy to take him to the show. It's like Cirque du Soleil meets horses. I'm excited to do that. So I hang out with my Godchildren, I love sporting events and then I'm a spa junkie. I will go get my massage and facial on. Then I try to exercise and hang out with the family. I'm very close with my family. I spend a lot of time with those guys.

You being such a beautiful woman and I would say "man-magnet," do you have any dating advice?

Yes. Be selective and find a good partner. Take the time to get to know someone before you put them on your Instagram, or you post it on your Twitter. Before you call them your real boo, make sure he earns that title. Everybody's so quick, "Ooooh me and my bae, me and my boo..." Girl, you better be sure he ain't somebody else's boo!

Is the public Vivica different from the private Vivica?

Pretty close. I think when I meet people, they're surprised how down-to-earth I am. I play these bougie characters, that when I show up in my running gear and my baseball cap "Hey let's go watch some sports!" or "Let's go watch some hoops," they're like "Oh my God. Who knew?" When I'm running around with my godson, chasing him in the mall and playing with him and wrestling with him...under all that hair and glamour and good stuff, I'm really down to earth. I have a great sense of humor. I love, love laughing.

That keeps you young inside.

Absolutely. My philosophy of life is to live, love, laugh. Every day I always say, "Have a blessed day and stay bad to the bone." What I mean by that is let no one steal your shine or your smile or your joy. It's OK to think you're fabulous and to be fabulous, just try to do it the right way.

On a side note regarding the Tarantino film you did, "Kill Bill." Did you know I was married to David Carradine?

(Pauses) WHAT?! NOOOHOWAAAY! (Laughing) Oh my God! OK, which wife number are you? Noooo way!

I was wife No. 4. He was with the next one when you all filmed.

Ohhh, wow, what a coinkie-dinkie! That's so trippy. I spent six months with him training when we went to China. Him and I had breakfast and tea together every morning. He was such a neat guy. When he passed away, that was really, really sad. What a nice guy. Gone too soon.

Even though we were divorced, it hit me very hard. It was Mr. Toad's wild ride. But I just HAD to let you know!

It was amazing. Some days I'm stretching and doing my stuff and I turn and look over and I'm like, "There's Grasshopper!" (Laughing). But then I get to know him as a person. We went to Beijing, China, Quentin took us there and we trained there. He (David) would tell me his stories and I'd sit there and listen, absorbing it like a sponge. So, I miss him and will always have a special place in my heart.

"Empire" returns to Fox Wednesday, March 30 at 9 p.m. ET.