Jasika Nicole has charmed audiences with her heartwarming and raw performance as Dr. Carly Lever on The Good Doctor on ABC. Cachet Digital recently caught up with the actress to get a sense of who she is away from the show and also learn a bit more on how she entered the entertainment business.
If you follow Jasika on Instagram then you know she is a woman of many talents. For those of you who are more familiar with just seeing her on your television screen it may be a surprise to know she is a bit of a fashion designing maven.
From designing and sewing clothes to even crafting a sandal by hand, Jasika is a woman who is unafraid to take on daunting creative tasks. We also talked with her a bit about the current retail scene and why sustainability is important. Many of us love our fast fashion but do we love price that is paid behind the scenes to make what we wear. The ethics of fashion is an idea that more and more people are exploring from different angles. It was lovely to have her take on how we can collectively work to a more conscious state through our fashion choices and habits.
“Style encompasses more than just the aesthetics of a look- style is also about how you wear something, how you acquired it, what the pieces mean to you personally, and how you want to represent yourself, inside and out, to the world around you.” Jasika Nicole
We were able to catch up with her and learn a bit about her path to stardom as well as some of the things she is most passionate about. Jasika is very self-aware and it is awesome to love someone away from the screen within their actual real life persona just as much as you do on screen. She is a proud member of the LGBT community and is happily married to her wife of many years.
Everyone has that story about a successful audition or big break but what struck us is the level of mindfulness Jasika has about her industry and even the role entertainment plays as a way for people of color to move up in society financially. For many looking to break into the entertainment industry some are often discouraged by those who have had the means to train formally but Jasika proves that where there is a will there is a way.
We all have insecurities we face as well as doubts but how do you push past those mental barriers to reach success? Her story shows that being bold and consistent about your dreams will surmount the barriers and challenges that may seem larger than life.
Tell us a bit about your background?
I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and did as much school and local theatre as my family’s resources would allow (my parents were separated, we were poor and didn’t have a car, so getting to rehearsals and paying for things was always a challenge).
I was the kind of kid who constantly wanted to be learning something new, but we couldn’t afford dance, piano or singing lessons, so theatre was my outlet, where I kind of just “learned on the job”. I always felt like I was struggling to keep up with my peers who had been taking tap and ballet and going to theatre camps since they were little kids, but I got through it by mimicking them. I never learned what a grand battement was, but I knew how to pretend that I did, and even though I felt insecure about my lack of training, I refused to let that stop me from participating in things.
Eventually I won some theatre competitions in high school and I got a lot of scholarship money so was able to study theatre at a private school in North Carolina, where my education officially began. I finally felt like I was able to catch up with my peers and thrive instead of just trying to keep up. In college I studied musical theatre, dance, studio art and learned how to sew, and about a year after graduation I moved to NYC to start my career in theatre.
How did you get your big breaking acting?
I was working at California Pizza Kitchen in Manhattan when I got a phone call from someone who had seen me in a recent production called Bigfoot The Musical. It was a show for the NY Fringe Festival in which I had a small part (ensemble member with a few lines scattered throughout the show). Somehow, I stood out enough for this person to hunt me down and put me in touch with his friend who was producing a musical at the Prince Theatre in Philly. Their lead had just booked RENT the movie (it was Tracey Thoms) and now they were scrambling to recast the title role of the show. Thinking this was all too good to be true, I sang for the producer in his apartment and was thrilled when I was offered the role. Even though the production was at a regional theatre company outside of NYC, I ended up finding my manager because of that show (who I am still with all these years later) and my career took off in a new direction shortly thereafter.
What lead you to start your blog? What is Try Curious and how has it helped you in your journey as a maker?
I started my blog so that I could share my sewing journey. I had known how to sew for many years at that point but it had never been a huge part of my life. Once I started to really immerse myself into garment sewing and I discovered the world of online sewing bloggers, I felt really inspired to join them. I thought it would be a fun way to find community, to document my sewing journey as I got better at it, and to keep learning and challenging myself.
What are your must have items in your closet? What bargain pieces do you recommend for readers wanting to try out a bit of your style at an affordable price?
I don’t recommend bargain shopping for anyone who can afford not to rely on fast fashion. I think that we as consumers have a responsibility to shop in a way that has a positive impact on the global market at large as well as the individuals who do the labor of making the merchandise. Obviously not everyone has the interest, time or resources to make their own clothing and stop relying on Ready To Wear, but many people do have the option of being smarter about where how and why we buy our clothes.
Is the clothing well made? Is it going to last for years to come? Is it made ethically? Is the fabric something sustainable that will eventually biodegrade like linen, or will it take a hundred years to break down, like polyester? Will it end up in a landfill in four months or will it be something that can work in your closet for the foreseeable future? Is it something you could buy second hand? Style encompasses more than just the aesthetics of a look- style is also about how you wear something, how you acquired it, what the pieces mean to you personally, and how you want to represent yourself, inside and out, to the world around you.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time outside of the entertainment industry?
Well my major hobby of course is sewing…I’ve been making all my own clothes for about five years now, and I’ve also learned how to make shoes, which has been incredibly fun and challenging. I also love to knit, build furniture, make pottery (thrown and handbuilt), cook, bake, draw – if it involves keeping my hands busy making beautiful things, I’m into it.
What is on your playlist?
Mostly contemporary R & B/soul. I love everything that Khrungabin in putting out and collaborating on, and 60’s and 70’s soul is an all-time fave.
Did you always know your calling in entertainment or is it something you discovered later in life?
I was always drawn to performing and being onstage, but I fought against considering it as a viable career path for a long time. There was a part of me that resented the fact that sports and entertainment were the most viable ways for poor black people to break the cycle of poverty. But eventually I realized that there wasn’t any other career path that excited and inspired me as much as acting.
I imagine that I would have had a satisfying career as a writer or a visual artist if I had gone down either of those paths, but I am lucky enough with my job as an actor that I can continue to write, draw, and be creative while in my chosen field. Being an actor allows a lot more flexibility than some other career choices and it’s probably my favorite thing about the job; the freedom it allows me to continue to discover new depths of my artistic self.
Make sure you take time to catch up with Jasika Nicole on Instagram!
Jasika At A Glance
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Jasika Nicole fell in love with performing at a young age. She landed her first audition in fourth grade and went on to grace the stage in school and local theatre productions in her hometown. After graduation, Nicole attended Catawba College in North Carolina, where she continued to nurture her passion for the arts by studying Theatre, Dance, and Studio Art. In 2003, Nicole made the decision to leave the South behind to pursue her musical theatre dreams in New York City, where she showcased her talent in Off Broadway musicals and plays. Eager to hone her craft, Nicole made the decision to head west to Los Angeles in search of opportunities in television and film.
Nicole is perhaps best known for her role as Astrid Farnsworth, an FBI agent turned scientists’ assistant, on the hit FOX series Fringe. The cast also included Joshua Jackson and John Noble. She also made her mark on the small screen with large roles in Scandal and Underground. Other television credits include guest spots on Station 19 and Major Crimes to name just a few.
Nicole can currently be seen on the hit ABC medical drama The Good Doctor. She plays Dr. Carly Lever, the head of pathology at St. Bonaventure Hospital, who forms a friendship with Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore). Nicole was upped to a series regular for Season 3, which allowed fans to get to know her character on a deeper level as she navigated the ups and downs of a budding romantic relationship with Dr. Murphy. The storyline made television history as one of the first to explore romance between neurotypical and neurodivergent partners, which earned praise from fans and critics alike.
Photo Credit:
Yellow Dress – Photographer: Jess Nurse, Orange Dress – Photographer: Robin Roemer
Interview and Article – Lena Ocean
