'Sweet Magnolias' Star JoAnna Garcia Swisher Talks Stepping Behind the Camera and Learning From Reba

JoAnna Garcia Swisher, the star of the hit Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, has been beloved for her joyful, sunny energy for over 20 years.

The actress, who started out as a teen star on the '90s Nickelodeon show Are You Afraid of the Dark? and played Reba McEntire's daughter on Reba from 2001 to 2007, is now a 44-year-old mom of two, and has her own lifestyle brand, The Happy Place.

Swisher's latest project is a partnership with Post-It and Scotch Brand to promote an all-in-one Back-to-School Countdown Kit filled with all kinds of practical (and cute!) supplies for the upcoming school year. A limited number of kits are available in a Back-to-School Sweepstakes running now through Friday, July 19, and a printable version of the projects, activities and tips included within is available online.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher spoke to FIRST for Women about finding inspiration in her kids, working with Reba and taking on an exciting new role behind the scenes of Sweet Magnolias.

FIRST for Women: How have you managed to keep such a positive spirit in all your years of being in the spotlight?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I think my parents had a lot to do with me keeping my feet on the ground. It's a wild business and I feel very lucky to still be a part of it in a meaningful way.

Gratitude is something that is very important to me. I appreciate the opportunities, and know that I'm very lucky to have them. That’s been a great way to stay focused and ride the wave.

FFW: You're going to direct an episode in the upcoming fourth season of Sweet Magnolias. You haven't directed anything before, so what has that experience been like?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: It's amazing. It's definitely something that I feel so excited to be able to do, to take that next step in my career, and help tell stories on Sweet Magnolias in a different way than I have from just playing Maddie.

Having the opportunity to celebrate and support my cast mates, and being able to be their partner in a different way after being an actor onscreen for so many years — it was just otherworldly.

FFW: The show is centered on female friendship. Can you share a little about the importance of these relationships in your own life?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: It's been really great to be part of a show that celebrates female friendship and sisterhood and your chosen family. I have very, very, very close female friendships where I actually don't know that I would be the woman I am today if it weren't for those friendships, so I think it's very relatable and something to be celebrated.

FFW: Back in the early '00s, you played Reba McEntire's daughter on Reba. What was it like working with her?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: It was a dream come true. She is a legend in every way, and she's truly one of the most important people in my life. She’s been incredibly influential and I learned so much from working with her, but I also have grown and learned so much by being loved by her and supported by her. I feel very lucky that in my early 20s I got to be on a show that was all about family and led by someone who prioritized that and loved us like that.

FFW: How do you like to unwind after a busy day?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I’m an avid reader, so I'm never without my Kindle or a book in my hand. I read scripts as an actress, but it's different being able to dive into other worlds and really give myself that time to unwind. All summer long, you’ll find me on my back patio reading, even though it's really hot. Sometimes I sweat when I read, but that's okay!

I have a book club on The Happy Place, which is my lifestyle destination, where I share my monthly picks. It's been really fun and has informed the next phase of my career and where we're headed, and we just launched our production company, so we'll be adapting different titles under that banner.

FFW: What led you to start The Happy Place?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: It's always been about storytelling and wanting to connect with people and getting to do that in a different way from being an actor.

This was a way to share a little piece of my heart. I really wanted to create a community that was positive and honest, and that's where it came from. It's grown so much and it's been really rewarding.

It's just another version of telling stories and making us feel like we actually all have a lot more in common than we think.

FFW: What inspires you?

JoAnna Garcia Swisher: My kids. As crazy and wild as parenting can be, they really inspire me. Just watching them and how they view the world and navigate things has been really amazing.

I'm inspired by the little things in life too, by kindness to your neighbor. We live in a very small town, and it's really connected. Everybody wants to take care of each other, and I also get to do a show about that. It just simplifies things and brings it back down to the local level. It's like, “Oh yeah, that's what we're supposed to be doing.” We're supposed to be taking care of each other and helping each other go through life.