10 Things about Jasika Nicole
Originally from Alabama, what made you decide to get into the business and how did you initially get your start?
Interestingly, I never really thought about getting into the “business” of acting so much as I just wanted to be onstage. Being a part of a theatrical production was such a thrill, that I didn’t consider any other aspects about it, outside of the personal joy it brought me. I started doing musical theatre when I was in elementary school, and throughout grade school, I participated in every performance-based elective and activity I could. I did cheerleading, not because I was all that interested in sports, but because I wanted to be on stage (as much as you can consider the patchy edges of a football field a “stage”). I did dance team and show choir. I was lead vocalist for the jazz band. I did drama, participated in state theatre competitions, and auditioned for local theatre productions in our town. It wasn’t until I was looking at colleges in my junior year of high school, that I actually considered performance as a viable career for myself. And even then, I didn’t truly start learning about and participating in the actual business of acting until I had graduated from college and was living in NYC.
We know that it was quite some time ago but the show was before it’s time. What can you tell us about your experience on the series Fringe?
Fringe was a hugely important experience in my life, for better or worse. I learned so much on that show. Obviously, the technical parts of being on an hour long TV drama (the kind of stuff you simply can’t learn in a classroom), but also a lot of less-talked about things. Like, how to advocate for myself, how to set boundaries, how to trust my gut when working with people that didn’t necessarily have my best interests in mind. I also learned about the kind of person I wanted to be on a set. One of my costars, John Noble, who I worked with most often on the show, was such a shining example of the kind of actor I want to be. We both have a theatre background which I think is why we were so attuned to each other’s work behavior. Theatre actors are a different breed than film actors! John showed up to work every day feeling optimistic and excited about the day ahead, no matter what was going on in his life. He treated every single person on our set with respect and spent so much time remembering every person’s name and having a sincere connection with them. He never acted out of anger, aggression, or frustration; he is an old-school theatre actor who “leaves everything at the stage door” as we like to say. He just shows up ready to work to collaborate and make something beautiful. He didn’t hesitate to smile, to share his love and appreciation for everyone around him, to be thankful for where he was, at any given moment. He is just a joy to work with and I am constantly striving to emulate that kind of energy on every production I am lucky enough to be a part of.
Currently, you’re on ABC’s The Good Doctor. How were you first introduced to the series and what was it about the show that made you want to jump on board?
It’s so funny; people outside of Hollywood have this idea that actors are always picking and choosing what roles we want to play, saying yes and no with equal measure, but the reality is much more humdrum. Unless you’re a mega star, like Viola Davis, the business of acting is much less glamorous. We “regular” actors as I like to call us (since there are much more of our kind than there are Viola’s), just audition for any and everything that seems like a good fit. More often than not, there isn’t much information to glean from the character breakdown, especially with recurring characters who might be introduced for the sake of the arc of a series regular on the show, and who might not have much life outside those scenes. Initially, with Carly’s character, her description just said something along the lines of “head of Pathology at St. Bonaventure, cute”. Clearly there wasn’t much to go on, and I had no idea how big or little a role she would play in the overarching story of the show, so I wouldn’t say I “jumped on board” so much as “celebrated when I booked the job.” I don’t watch much TV, so I was not familiar with the show at all before I joined the cast as a guest star. I was very pleasantly surprised to find out that it revolved around a neurodivergent person.
On The Good Doctor, you play the role of Dr. Carly Lever. What can you tell us about her personality?
She’s a Woman of Color in STEM, so she’s obviously brilliant and hardworking, she’s funny, honest, emotionally intelligent, thoughtful, self-aware, and knows how to set boundaries. I think she’s a bit of a dreamboat.
What do you enjoy most about bringing Carly’s character to life on screen?
I love how measured she is. Her dialogue in the scripts is always considered and singular. She finds a way to communicate her needs and state her opinions without being nasty or judgmental. Mostly, I loved that Freddie was my main scene partner for an entire season. He has been such a joy to work with. And, when I found out the characters were breaking up, my first reaction was “oh no, this means I won’t get to work with Freddie all the time!”
What can viewers and fans of the show expect to see from Carly and the rest of the cast on this season?
Carly’s storyline takes a backseat to some way more dramatic and painful things that are set up to occur in the two part finale of the show. I can’t really say much at all without spoiling viewers, so just know that hearts are going to be broken, tears are going fall, and people will be discussing this throughout the entire hiatus.
You have a blog named “Try Curious”. What can you tell us about the platform and how you use this to reach out to your fans?
My blog is just an extension of my website, JasikaNicole.com where I share lots of my illustration work and writing. I’ve never intended for my website to be a way to reach out to “fans” per se, but rather a space where I can share all the different aspects of my art (acting is my career, but making things is my heart). I have been sewing all my clothes and making shoes for about four years now, as a way to both satisfy my urge to make and relinquish my reliance on fast fashion, which is harmful to the environment and to the mostly poor communities of color who work in the garment industry. There is a massive online sewing community that I have been lucky enough to be a part of, so my blog is less about interacting with fans than celebrating the art of making, sharing resources, and giving sewing pattern reviews to other people who also sew. I also share other projects like knitting, wood working, and pottery. Contrary to popular belief, actors have lives outside of film and TV, and I want to nourish mine as much as possible!
If you weren’t working as an actress, what type of career would you choose instead?
I could definitely see myself as a writer, visual artist, or fitness instructor. Or forensics pathologist, if I could survive all the science classes.
When it comes to fashion, which designers and styles appeal most to your personality?
I actually pay very little attention to designers and Ready to Wear clothing, other than getting occasional visual inspiration from window shopping or Pinterest boards. I am much more interested in sustainability and functionality paired with aesthetics, than I am with expensive brands and labels. The fashion industry has proven itself to be unapologetically racist, ableist, and fatphobic, and I am always trying to urge people to stop buying into the hype of what corporations are telling us we should like and how we should look. I want people to think for themselves, to recognize their own power and sense of creativity, to remember that fashion can be enjoyed and appreciated but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of our own sense of self and well-being.
We look forward to seeing more of you on ABC’s The Good Doctor. What other projects do you have coming up?
Well, because the film and TV industry has completely halted due to the Coronavirus, work has completely stopped in addition to auditions, so I’m unsure of what things will look like once we all come out of isolation and start picking up the pieces. But thankfully, I recorded a YA audiobook this Spring, which is pretty perfectly timed for all the people finding themselves stuck at home if this lasts for much longer. I am hoping to be the soothing voice that makes a lot of people’s days go by a bit more quickly!
Twitter: @TheJasikaNicole
Instagram:@JasikaIsTryCurious
Photo Credit: Robin Roemer & Jess Nurse