SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — With “How to Train Your Dragon” soaring at the box office, Nico Parker is feeling the impact of fan support. In this interview with ABC4 Film Critic Patrick Beatty, she reflects on the pressure of stepping into a beloved franchise, working directly with original creator Dean DeBlois, and the importance of a supportive cast and crew. She also shares what she’s taking with her into the next chapter, and why “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” is on her watchlist.

Now that you’ve seen the box office success, is there a sense of relief to know that all the fans have also seen this and are saying, “This is great, we can’t wait for more”?

Nico Parker: Yeah, definitely. There’s kind of a feverish fan base, and all of us really wanted to make clear through the movie, through the press, through everything, that this was made by fans, for fans. It truly is a love letter to the animated movies. I really hoped that would translate, and that people could feel it while watching.

So the fact that it’s been received the way it has, that people are enjoying it, seeing it more than once, I personally think it’s best on the third watch, but that’s just me, it’s been really, really special.

When you’re looking at a character that’s already been established, let alone working with the original creator, what is that collaboration like? Do you have the freedom to try something different? Was he open to new ideas?

Nico Parker: A hundred percent. What was really wonderful about Dean is that he made the animated movies, and he’s had 15 years to think about what he’d want to change from that first film. So going into this, he was totally open to change, to collaboration, to discussion around characters, looks, costumes, everything.

It was really refreshing. Because there’s also a version of this where, since he’s been with these characters for so long and knows the story so well, he might’ve wanted to just stick to what it was. But he was so open to everything, and to all of us. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better, kinder director. He was really special.

What’s something you learned during this production that you’ll take into future projects, or even into the sequels?

Nico Parker: I think something I really noticed while filming was how important it is to work around people who are uplifting and kind. It was such a brilliant cast and crew, and to be surrounded by people who are both talented and genuinely wonderful—that’s something I don’t take for granted.

I used to think that if I didn’t feel awful at the end of the day, I hadn’t worked hard enough. But this experience showed me that you can feel great and still have worked incredibly hard. It was amazing to be with people who made you feel good every day. I’m excited that I get to do it all again.

There’s a kind of exhaustion that feels like happy exhaustion, right?

Nico Parker: Yeah! I think it’s totally natural. Sometimes, sure, feeling exhausted means you’ve done hard work—but it doesn’t always have to feel so draining. I used to assume that if I wasn’t completely worn out, I didn’t work hard enough. But I don’t think that’s necessarily true anymore.

The biggest surprise of the interview didn’t come from how charming and smart Nico was during the interview, but in her quick declaration of love for Utah’s own female warriors in “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake”

Nico Parker: I’m a pretty big fan of the Housewives, yeah. So I had to ask anyone even remotely near Salt Lake City about it!

“How to Train Your Dragon” is in theaters nationwide and will be available on VOD later this summer. For more exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes chats, and honest takes on the biggest releases, check out more “See It or Skip It” streaming now on abc4.com and the News4Utah+ app.