Kim Fields talks ‘What To Expect,’ Tyler Perry

You probably didn't realize that Kim Fields has a small role in "What To Expect When You're Expecting," in theaters this weekend.

The actress-director-producer, who enjoyed television sitcom fame in the '80s and '90s, plays a social worker who aids Holly (Jennifer Lopez) and Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) in the adoption process.

Having appeared in just a few big screen films over the years, Fields told Yahoo! Movies she was "very excited" to work on "What To Expect." "I was familiar with the book -- my husband Christopher brought it for us when we were expecting in '07," she said in a recent interview.

[Video: 'What To Expect' Insider Access only on Yahoo! Movies]

But that movie appearance far from sums up what she's been up to. Fields, now 43, is a director, writer (of books and t.v. scripts), producer, wife and mother.

She works for Tyler Perry, directing his sitcoms "Meet the Browns" and "House of Payne." With close to 100 sitcoms under her belt, she says her working relationship with Perry is "great." "We were friends long before all of [his] mega-success. Mom and I were honored that he'd trust us with his 'babies.'" (Her mother is actress Chip Fields who appeared in "Good Times" and played Kim's character mother on both "Facts of Life" and "Living Single.")

Fields says Tyler Perry's expansive film and television studio in Atlanta, GA -- where she lives and works -- is "fine" since a 4 alarm fire caused damage there. "Fire is always so devastating. We're just so happy that no one was injured," she shared.

While Fields realizes that her fans will always know her as Tootie and Regine, she says it's important that "...they see me as Kim Fields (actress, director, poet, wife, mom), and that means a lot to me."

Indeed, beyond directing Fields has written a book, produced a few documentaries, put out a spoken word jazz CD, has done a number of projects on BET and is set to be supervising producer and director for an upcoming Tyler Perry comedy.

[Photos: 'What To Expect' movie stills and premiere shots]

Busy lady!

Fields is married to Broadway actor Christopher Morgan with whom she has a son.

She says she feels blessed for "what God has allowed me to achieve as a woman of color from childhood on."

And in case you're wondering whether people still recognize her on the street, Fields describes her fan encounters: "...All day, every day!... time hasn't changed the way people react to seeing me. I'm not a stranger to them, I've been blessed to be in their homes... since I was seven years old," she points out. "They get very excited, want hugs, etc. It's like they're running into an old family friend they're surprised and happy to see. Several times, people actually cry."

Watch Kim Fields in 'What To Expect':

. I was familiar with the book (my husband Christopher brought it for us when we were expecting in '07)