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Nia Long, hot off her starring role in the critically-acclaimed new film ‘Mooz-lum,’ guest co-hosted ABC’s ‘The View’ this morning and looked absolutely stunning in her red Rachel Roy dress. The morning was special for Nia, who had a chance to link up with Whoopi Goldberg, one of the people who influenced Nia in a major way while they both filmed of one of Nia’s earliest films, ‘Made in America.’ GlobalGrind was lucky enough to chat with the gorgeous movie star this morning about what it was like to thank Whoopi face-to-face after all these years and her opinion on kicking it with ‘The View’ ladies on national television.

PHOTOS: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW w/ Nia Long: What Does It Mean To Be a Muslim

GlobalGrind: How was guest co-hosting “The View” this morning?

Nia Long: So much fun… it is like going to lunch with your girlfriends. (laughter) So many different perspectives so great to be in a room filled with women. Where you can just have a dialogue and everybody respects each other’s point of view and opinion. For me the highlight of the morning was seeing Whoopi who I hadn’t seen in years, since when we worked together on “Made in America.” I feel so lucky to even have this opportunity. When you walk out there with the energy of the live studio audience you feel like in that split second you are standing in front of the whole entire world because you know that it’s a nationwide show and “The View” reaches so many people.

You said that Whoopi gave you some advice about developing a second skin in order to survive in Hollywood.  What other valuable advice did Whoopi give you?

I’ve learned from Whoopi the importance of being true to yourself and to ask questions and to do what works for you. It’s okay to say “no” without just being rebellious but to have a reason and a purpose and to be well-studied on things and to understand what you’re talking about and the topics. Whether it’s on this show or working with her on set I remember she would ask the director really fantastic questions. She’s just such a smart woman, that’s the bottom line. When you have a conversation with her, her thinking and her mind are so elevated about so many different things. She’s just a special lady and she’s touched my life and I had to tell her “thank you” in front of the whole world.

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Read the rest of our exclusive interview with Nia Long on the next page…

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