Naturi Naughton Says She’s ’So Empowered as a Mom’ and Actress (Exclusive)

Naturi Naughton says she feels “empowered” as a working mom.

While speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at Variety’s Power of Women 2025, the Power star, 41, opened up about how she feels to be able to balance motherhood with her career. Naughton tells PEOPLE that being a working mom may be challenging, but it’s “really powerful.”

“Being a mother, although challenging, it feels really powerful,” she says. “I think that it’s hard work to do that as a working actress, but when I do it and I do it well, I’m like, ‘Yes, I can do anything.’ I feel so empowered as a mom, so I think that’s one of the ways that I do feel powerful.”

She goes onto praise women, adding that people should “never underestimate a woman.”

“We’re we’re the most, I think multifaceted. You can never sleep on a woman,” she tells PEOPLE. “You can never underestimate a woman, and I think that’s what makes events like this so special because there’s power in each and every one of us.”

The actress shares that she uses her family, faith and having fun to keep her grounded as she juggles her career with motherhood.

“Oh, what keeps me grounded, honestly, is my family, my faith, you know, doing regular stuff with my girlfriends,” she says. “I like to go to the movies. I have game nights at my house, which are really fun.”

“My game nights are kind of epic, so like y’all can come, people can come and hang out and come to our game night because I love Taboo and I’m a Taboo champion, so don’t come for me,” she teases. “But, I think that keeps me grounded just to do regular fun things, and I think that’s what it’s about, just enjoying life.”

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The Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie star is a mother to daughter Zuri, 8, whom she welcomed from a previous relationship, and son Tru, 2, whom she shares with husband Two Lewis.

In May 2024, the actress joined the Tamron Hall Show and spoke about the challenges of motherhood. She said comparing motherhood to acting was a humbling experience.

“I had to humble myself,” she said. “Being an actress, although difficult, there’s nothing more important or as challenging than motherhood, and we need to be real about that.”

She added, “It’s not all, ‘Yay! I had a baby and snapped back!’ I’m snapping back gradually, but it takes time. And it’s okay to be gracious to yourself, and it’s okay to say I’m just being patient and enjoying my season.”