Nikki M. James
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James at the 2011 Tony Awards
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| Born | Nikki Michelle James (1981-06-03) June 3, 1981 (age 43)
Summit, New Jersey, USA
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| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Awards | Tony Award (Best Featured Actress in a Musical)—The Book of Mormon |
Nikki Michelle James (born June 3, 1981)[1] is an American actress and singer. James has performed in the popular stage musicals The Book of Mormon, and Les Misérables,, and “Suffs” her role in the former having earned her a Tony Award.[2]
James was born to immigrant parents, a Vincentian father and a Haitian mother who settled in New Jersey in pursuit of the American dream.[3] James grew up in Livingston, New Jersey where she would graduate from Livingston High School.[4] As a child, she sang and acted in church and in school performances. She was nominated for a Rising Star Award at Paper Mill Playhouse for her performance as Dolly Levi in high school.[5] She later attended the Tisch School of the ArtsatNew York University.[6]
James made her Broadway debut in the ill-fated The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and starred as Ottilie in the New York City Center Encores! production of House of Flowers.[7] She played Adela in the Off-Broadway run of Michael John LaChiusa's musical adaptation of Bernarda Alba and appeared in the Broadway cast of All Shook Up.[8]
James played Dorothy in the revival of The WizatLa Jolla Playhouse and also starred in Romeo and Juliet and Caesar and Cleopatra at the Stratford Festival with Christopher Plummer. For her performance as Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, she won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[9][10] During that run, she took a leave in June 2012 to film a screen version of Lucky Stiff.[11] From 2014 to January 2015, she played Éponine in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables.[12][13]
In July 2017, James starred in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. In 2024 she began starring as journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells in the musical Suffs.[14] James was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Pizza | April Snow | |
| 2009 | Caesar and Cleopatra | Cleopatra | Same as the 2008 theatre play |
| 2013 | All Is Bright | Betsy | |
| 2014 | The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby | Sia | Appeared in Him, the first in a trio of films |
| 2014 | Lucky Stiff | Annabel | |
| 2022 | Spoiler Alert | Nina |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Third Watch | Maizie | 2 episodes: "He Said/She Said" and "Childhood Memories" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Tamara Bates | Episode: "Stray" |
| 2004 | The Jury | Myra Clarkson | Episode: "Bangers" |
| 2009 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Jackie | Episode: "Salome in Manhattan" |
| 2010 | 30 Rock | Erica | Episode: "Gentleman's Intermission" |
| 2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | 911 Operator | Episode: "Father Dearest" |
| 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Detective Gail Dunbar | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | For Real | Candace | TV movie |
| 2015–2016 | The Good Wife | Monica Timmons | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | BrainDead | Rochelle | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | The Blacklist | Rose | Episode: "The Caretaker (No. 78)" |
| 2017–2019 | Welcome to the Wayne | Julia Wiles (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2018 | Bull | Chloe Tomlin | Episode: "Gag Order" |
| 2018–2020 | The Good Fight | Monica Timmons | 3 episodes Director: "And the Firm Had Two Partners..." and "The End of STR Laurie" |
| 2018 | Instinct | Ashley | Episode: "Blast from the Past" |
| 2018 | Escape at Dannemora | ER Doctor | Episode: "Part 5" |
| 2019 | NCIS: New Orleans | Lisa Butler | Episode: "A House Divided" |
| 2019 | Proven Innocent | Violet Bell | Main role |
| 2021 | Modern Love | Pam | Episode: "How Do You Remember Me?" |
| 2022 | Severance | Alexa | 4 episodes |
| 2025 | Daredevil: Born Again | Kirsten McDuffie | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Sabina Temple | Broadway (debut) |
| 2003 | House of Flowers | Ottilie | New York City Center Encores! |
| Summer | Charity Royall | New York reading | |
| 2005 | All Shook Up | Lorraine | Broadway |
| 2006 | Bernarda Alba | Adela | Off-Broadway |
| The Wiz | Dorothy Gale | La Jolla Playhouse | |
| 2007 | Walmartopia | Maia Latrell | Off-Broadway |
| 2008 | Romeo and Juliet | Juliet | Stratford Shakespeare Festival |
| Caesar and Cleopatra | Cleopatra | Same as the 2009 film release | |
| 2011-2014 | The Book of Mormon | Nabulungi | Broadway |
| 2013 | Fetch Clay, Make Man | Sonji | Off-Broadway |
| 2014-2015 | Les Misérables | Éponine Thénardier | Broadway (revival) |
| 2015 | Preludes | Natalya | Off-Broadway |
| 2016 | Twelfth Night | Viola | Shakespeare in the Park |
| 2017 | Julius Caesar | Portia | |
| The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin | Bubbly | New York City Center Encores! | |
| 2018 | Twelfth Night | Viola | Shakespeare in the Park |
| 2019 | A Bright Room Called Day | Agnes | The Public Theater |
| 2022 | Suffs | Ida B. Wells | |
| 2024 | Broadway |
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | The Book of Mormon | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Suffs | Nominated |
Among the former nominees and winners are Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway, Tony award winner Laura Benanti, and 2011 Tony Award winner, Nikki M. James.
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