Erika Christensen: Bonds forged on 'Parenthood' are 'unbreakable'

Actress Erika Christensen, best known for her role as Julia on "Parenthood," recently revealed what it was like saying goodbye to her "family" for five years.

The cast of the primetime drama bid their farewells this year with "lots of tears" after the sixth season -- but Christensen, 32, said the relationships she built on the show are long-lasting, especially with on-screen brother, Dax Shepherd.

"I kind of feel like it's obvious to say we're like family, but we are in the way that we don't have to see each other every week or every month -- those bonds are pretty much unbreakable at this point," she said.

Although Christensen loved "Parenthood," she is excited to move forward and "do something new." The star opened up about two upcoming projects: "Confirmation" on HBO and "Wicked City" on ABC.

"It's refreshing," she said. "These characters are completely different than Julia. 'Confirmation' is set in '91 and 'Wicked City' and is set in '82 so I've been time traveling."

"Confirmation," an upcoming film about the 1991 Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings, features a star-studded cast that includes Jennifer Hudson, Cobie Smulders, Eric Stonestreet, to name a few, as well as Kerry Washington.

"Most of my screen time is with Kerry Washington, and she's delightful. I've actually known her forever, and she loves her job. I really love that about people. I really love that about actors. You pretty much have to work your a** off getting there. And people, for the most part, are pretty grateful."

Christensen, who got her start in the critically-acclaimed film "Traffic," said she feels best when she feels like she delivers at work.

"It feels good to know that I'm doing my job well, just to know that I'm fulfilling my responsibility that people are counting on me, and I'm able to be there for them."

But for the self-proclaimed health nut, "feeling good" is also about overall wellness, like eating well and in a sustainable manner.

"The healthier you are, the better your body functions overall, and it's not about worrying about weight. You have to worry about creating energy, and once you have energy, you want to go for a jog. It's the proper sequence."

The star recently helped launch Lean Cuisine's major brand reboot and the company's new focus on organic, high-protein fare -- a departure from its low-cal, low-fat past.

"I feel like the company is overhauling itself in the same way that an individual could overhaul their diet if they wanted to just focus on doable, sustainable lifestyle changes, and maintaining a lifestyle instead of it being some kind of temporary diet," she said about the overhaul. "I really just respect it."