‘That’s My Biggest Secret. Water and Naps.’

Let’s face it. A few actresses can carry on in the Harlow tradition--with the walk, the talk and the ‘tude. Jackee Harry can. She proved that as Sandra Clark in the sitcom “227” with her bold mold propped up on a pair of high heels moving clicketyclack across the room.

Jackee, who married hairstylist Elgin Charles Williams in December, stars opposite Tim Reid in “Sister, Sister” (WB Network). At age 40, 42, 43 or “40ish” (depending on the source), she works out nearly every day to maintain her size 10 figure.

Question: You do know how to work a room, you know.

A: Well, honey, I’m selling everything. I ain’t giving nothing away. No, that just comes from doing Sandra in those high heels.

Q: Do you diet?

A: I hate to say it, but the older you get, you really do have to cut down on the amount you eat. Less food and less portions. Otherwise you feel sluggish, and I believe you gain it in your breasts. I told my husband, I said, “What’s going on here?” He said, “You’ve been eating.”

Q: So, what do you eat?

A: My mornings go by so fast I forget breakfast. Lunch--that’s turned out to be my biggest meal. I like tuna fish with low-fat mayonnaise and celery, egg whites and garlic. It’s delish. If I’m going out, I’ll get a Caesar or fish. And I will splurge at lunch more than at night. I have one weakness: I love meat loaf.

Q: And dinner?

A: Lots of greens--no salt--and I’m a rice eater. Our cook makes string beans, collard greens, cabbage, and everything’s fresh and crunchy. I’m from down South and we’d put hog maws in the food, but our cook cooks with turkey and it’s delicious. I hate chicken, but you do have to eat it just so you feel like you’re not getting fat. I’m a meat eater. I know you’re supposed to be politically correct, but I eat me a steak.

Q: Drink water?

A: Lots of water. Water really does great things for my skin. Also, my biggest thing that I haven’t told you is I take naps. I’ll take one at 11 when we have a break in the morning at the studio and then around 3. That’s my biggest secret. Water and naps.

Q: What do you do to work out?

A: Mainly the same routine I’ve been doing for the last 10, 11 years. Also, I do take fat burners. Your metabolism gets kicked up, and when you work out you really do drop more weight as opposed to not taking anything.

I get on the floor and do sit-ups, crunches, leg lifts. The bottom is easy because of my dance background. That’s my main assets--my legs and my waistline and don’t let that stomach get out there because that doesn’t look good. It’s the top where I have my problems--the arms, the breasts, the back. You know when you wear those low-cut gowns, you need that streamline.

Q: Do you hold your stomach in?

A: No. No. That’s too much work. I remembered to do it on my wedding day and that was it.

Q: So what works for the top half?

A: Weights are the best because they really tone, especially around the breasts and the back and that’s where I gain the weight. For my sagging arms--you know, underneath--I’ll use the eight pounds. Then I use 15-pound weights to keep the fat off the back.

Q: And make everything firm.

A: Just as long as nothing’s shakin’ but the bacon, honey.

* Guest Workout runs Wednesdays in Life & Style.