Three questions with actress Cheryl Hines as she marks 40th Leon High reunion

Emmy-nominated actress and Tallahassee native Cheryl Hines gave the city a visit Saturday to celebrate her 40th class reunion at Leon High School and host an official launch of her new, eco-friendly, luxury brand collaboration with her daughter, Catherine Young.

Hines was born in Miami Beach and grew up in Tallahassee where she got her start in acting at Young Actors Theatre. At YAT, she is most prominently known for her role as Bonnie/Erma in "Anything Goes," produced in 1983.

Now, Hines is best known for her role as "Cheryl David" in the Golden Globe Award-winning series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." She also has been in "Suburgatory," "RV" and "Waitress."

In 2023, alongside her daughter, Young, and her siblings, Becky and Mike Hines, the comedic actress jumpstarted a family business selling luxury body care products made from all natural ingredients and packaged in recyclable aluminum or glass containers.

Hines hosted a pop-up shop at Hearth and Soul, a home decor shop on Market Street, where the Tallahassee Democrat got to catch up with her on three questions.

How does it feel to celebrate your 40th class reunion at Leon High School?

"It is just so sweet to come back home, and everybody is just genuine and very heartwarming," Hines told the Tallahassee Democrat. "I wasn't expecting to feel so many emotions, but those were the people that I was with in high school that shaped my life, and just seeing their faces and talking about all the memories we had together is just so good for the soul."

What advice do you have for young aspiring actors?

"Don't base your self-worth on if you get an acting role," Hines said. "You need to find your happiness in your life in a different place because you're going to get a lot of rejection and that's just part of it."

"Surround yourself with friends and family and people that are going to be honest with you and, at the same time, challenge yourself to be creative."

What inspired you to start a company with your daughter?

"We wanted to start a self-care company that feels good," Hines said of the collaboration with her daughter, Catherine Young.

Hines said her 19-year-old daughter was unable to attend the event as she is currently away at Southern Methodist University.

The Hines+Young product line includes body creams, candles, soap, salt scrubs, lip balms and linen spray, all packaged in recyclable materials, something that was imperative for Hines.

"It was really important for us to not use single use plastics, because this planet can't take anymore single use plastics," Hines said.

Hines also partnered with the non-profit organization Waterkeeper Alliance, which battles against ocean pollution around the world to discover new ways to be environmentally conscious.

Her husband, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now running for the Democratic nomination for president, served as president of Waterkeeper Alliance for over 20 years before resigning in 2020.

More: Actress Cheryl Hines hits town for class reunion, beauty line launch

Alaijah Brown is with the Tallahassee Democrat and can be reached at ABrown1@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Actress Cheryl Hines unveils sustainable luxury brand in Tallahassee