In 2011, Nikki M. James made her way to the hallowed halls of theater greats when of she took home the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Nabulungi in the Broadway box office juggernaut The Book of Mormon.
Nikki M. James
But she was no newcomer even then; the now 33-year-old New York University Tisch School of the Arts alum has been treading the boards of The Great White Way (and beyond) since first debuting in 2001’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. And that has all led her to her current role as the tragic Eponine Thenardier in Cameron Mackintosh’s newly staged revival of the world renowned musical Les Miserables.
The Summit, New Jersey native has portrayed a multitude of roles on stage, including William Shakespeare’s most famous and tragic leading heroine (in Romeo & Juliet), the beloved Dorothy Gale (in The Wiz) and Muhammad Ali’s worldly wife (in Fetch Clay, Make Man). That 2013 Off-Broadway play about the legendary boxer’s life was her biggest challenge, requiring a leave of absence from The Book of Mormon (and a pay cut). “I worked so hard to portray Sonji Clay. Her life experiences are so far from anything that I’ve experienced in my life,” says James. “It was really fun being the only woman. It was just me and a bunch of guys. It was pretty badass.”
Here, the Tony winner opens up about her diverse heritage, the whereabouts of her most coveted trophy and why she loves New York’s mass transit system.
Nikki M. James as Eponine in Broadway’s Les Miserables (Photos: Michael Le Poer Trench, Matthew Murphy)
My character in Les Miserables continues to baffle me
I still can’t believe I don’t get the guy! Marius must know that Eponine is the one true love of his life, right? She takes a bullet for him and it’s an act of true love and devotion. Even though she doesn’t get the guy in the end, I think she is a brave and tough chick. I’m so proud to get to walk a mile in her shoes eight times a week.
My American roots start with me
I’m a first generation American. My mother is from Haiti and my father is from St. Vincent, which is a part of the British West Indies. They met here in New York, married and had my old brother and myself. Being the child of two immigrants had a profound influence in how I view the world. Both of my parents made many sacrifices in pursuit of the “American Dream.” I try hard not to take any of my success for granted. I know I owe it all to them.
I have a habit that I just can’t shake — and got in trouble for it, too
I chew my tongue when I concentrate. It doesn’t matter what I’m concentrating on. It’s a habit I have never been able to rid myself of. It got me into trouble in grade school. My teachers always thought I was chewing gum. My four-year-old nephew is also a tongue-chewer, so now I have fabulous company. So, if you catch me tying my shoe or baking a cake you can be sure that my tongue will be planted in my right cheek.
I didn’t start off wanting to be a performance artist
If you asked my three-year-old self what I wanted to be when I grew up I would have said an astronaut. I was fascinated with outer space and exploration. This was before I found my “voice” and fell in love with singing. I would still love to be able to see our beautiful planet from the stars, but I think I’ll stick to the stage.
Nikki M. James won a Tony for ‘The Book of Mormon’ in 2011 (Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
My Tony Award moves all around my apartment
I have a small one-bedroom apartment with a tiny little living room that has just a few little tables. I shift my Tony around a little just so I never get habituated to it. I never want to walk into a room and forget that it’s there. If I move it into a new place, it will definitely catch my eye differently and I get to have that memory. It’s very visceral, very clear memory that I have of that night.
I found my cat on Broadway
I actually adopted my cat Grifter at Broadway Barks in Shubert Alley in 2005 while doing All Shook Up on Broadway. I didn’t plan to walk out of there with a pet, but he was too cute and it was obviously kismet. He was a kitten and was found or born in the basement of an Indian food restaurant. Or so they tell me. He’s diabetic. And I can’t say no to sugar.
I love navigating the New York City underground
If given a choice between a cab and the subway I will almost always take the train. I’m one of those straphangers who knows exactly which door to exit from the train to be closest to the stairs. I’m the one my friends come to when they have questions about the best route from place to place. Even at its worst, I think our transit system is the best in the world with the most colorful and fabulous riders. But, don’t bother me if I’m in the middle of a good book.
Nikki M. James during the opening night curtain call for ‘Les Miserables’ (Photo: Walter McBride/WireImage)
I am still uncomfortable about curtain calls
I have never been great at accepting praise and I’ve worked really hard to get comfortable taking a bow. I had a director once tell me to “stop apologizing” during the curtain call. It’s the first moment of the evening when the actor sheds the character’s skin. I’m brave when I’m in character, but I can sometimes get nervous when I have to “be myself.” I just try to remember that the bows are an opportunity for the audience and the performers to thank each other for sharing an evening together. It’s not about how loud they cheer or whether they stand or not. It’s about acknowledging each other’s contributions to a once in a lifetime experience.
I’m trying to master my mother tongue
I’m trying to learn French. Or rather, re-learn. My mother’s first language is French, but my brother and I never really became fluent. I studied French in high school and was even in the French Honors Society, but I lost it along the way. I can understand the language but I’m never brave enough to speak back. I took my mother on a trip to Paris last year and fell in love. It’s the only city that could even come close to challenging my love of New York. It was also so lovely to watch my mom speak French with everyone there and I bet we got treated better because of it. I want to be able to travel to France on my own so I’m brushing up my skills. I got Rosetta Stone for Christmas — a great gift from my mom — and I’ve been diligent about doing it. Fingers crossed I can finally master that tricky subjunctive tense.
Every girl would be lucky to have a brother like mine
My brother Douglas is six years older than me but we have been close my entire life. He is my biggest champion and closest confidant. He’s also the smartest and best person I have ever known. He is a lawyer by trade but has worked in city government for the past few years. He was deputy commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services until recently, but now works at the Department of Consumer Affairs here in our fair city. He has an amazing wife named Celine who is also a brilliant lawyer who now works in government. She works with Congressman Jerry Nadler. They have one son, Ozzie, who is the love of my life and we share a love of music. I’m taking him to see Aladdin for his 5th birthday next month.
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