Life & Work with Nicole Cunniff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Cunniff.

Hi Nicole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born on Long Island! (Glen Cove) I grew up performing, dancing (mainly Irish dance!), in the school plays, singing and band in addition to cheerleading and track amidst other things. I was a VERY active child. My school district had a well-known and fabulous performing arts department so I’m grateful to have come up through that. I took acting classes as a kid, and although I wasn’t working at the time, I loved and still find those classes I initially took helpful to this day. It helped me realize that I COULD do what I wanted and I could do it well. I would memorize SNL and MadTV skits and perform them (yes all characters) for family and anyone who wanted to watch. I was the most comfortable yet uncomfortable kid in my own skin. On the outside, I seemed like I had no problem doing anything, but inside I was always scared to perform at school because I knew something was going to be said to me from another student. “Oh I didn’t know you thought you could [insert here]” and ‘oh you don’t think you’re actually going to do this when you’re older, do you?” That and more are ingrained in my brain forever. I didn’t push myself as much as I should have when it came to in school productions, but with Irish Dance I did. It was my outlet world with people who knew me for actually being me with a teacher who yes pushed like crazy, but I loved every ounce of it. I wrote a college essay about ‘the most influential person’ about none other than him, Donny Golden. I went to college at Brockport in NY for Exercise Physiology with a minor in Coaching and Theater. I knew I wanted my life to always be involved in performance, and I love the human body so to get my college experience, I mixed the two! I did get some great experiences in that department, but I didn’t mesh with because I wouldn’t hang out there on my free time and instead would be in the gym or library. I started modeling pretty regularly when I made a local dance team for the Rochester Razorsharks (a PBL Basketball team) and then after I danced for the Rochester Rattlers (MLL) but didn’t get many acting gigs around there at that time, only when I would come home to NY so I knew I couldn’t stay there too long.

After college, I lived in Rochester for another year, then moved back to Long Island to work in New York, and I started working much more. I decided it was time for a change and knew that if I didn’t like the west coast, the east coast would always be there, my home. I moved to San Diego and drove up to LA probably 3-6 days a week for work. I finally moved up to LA, got a job at the 9-0 (901 bar and grill I miss you!) and continued to roll in the jobs as much as I could. Unfortunately, I fell into a terrible place. I knew something was wrong when I got a couple of auditions and didn’t even go. I packed up and moved down to San Diego again, and yes those drives are tough, but it is so much well worth it because my mental state is so much better! I use the drives to work on voices, listen to acting coaches, or just sit in my own thoughts, things I would never do just around the house. I’m currently working with a few friends on a fabulous web series amidst trying to get any work possible during COVID! That filming keeps getting pushed back due to COVID but we are not losing hope! It has a great cast that I can’t wait to work it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. It’s hard! It’s the nature of the industry, but I love the hustle. I do wish money wasn’t a factor. Acting classes are expensive, headshots can be expensive, and with COVID so much is shut down it’s hard to find work but I’m not stopping. I’m very independent and was raised to be able to handle life and take care of myself by my family. I did realize a few years ago that it is ok to ask for help and guidance and sometimes you need to sit yourself down and get yourself back on track. There have been nights I slept in my car because I couldn’t afford a hotel for a job but still needed the job and it was in another city, Crackers with PB&J have been meals. Now thankfully it is not, but the hustle won’t stop, dreams never die. I am grateful for an amazing support system around me!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have had so many jobs. Being an actor, you usually work in hospitality, but I do like it! I have always worked in events and promotions since I was 15, working small in store demos to gigantic trade shows in Las Vegas. I worked in a pediatricians office, was a program manager, taught horseback riding and gymnastics/cheer classes, coached kids after school cheer/dance/golf (nowadays, I’m an avid golfer and snowboarder!) I think the things I’ve been able to do and the places I’ve gotten to travel for work have really made me a much more well rounded and educated person. There is always something new, a new job to learn how to do on the fly, new people to meet, more things to see, and I definitely incorporate that into acting.

Any big plans?
I never want to leave this wondrous industry. I only want to get better, and bigger, and more jobs, and show the world (ad frankly, show myself) that everything I’ve done, all the moving, all the hustling, all the wishing and dreaming that it was worth it. I can’t see myself doing much else. I love this crazy industry. I love the things I’ve learned, the things I’ve tried. I love creating art in front of the camera be it a film, artsy photoshoot, a comedic web series…anything. COVID has been super rough but dreams never die.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: cunniffnicole.wixsite.com/nikkiceez
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/nikkiceez
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/NikkiCeez
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/nikkiceez
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
Michael Lawrence – For anything in the black crop top / body suit Julia Rabkin – Floral The other headshot – no credit – long story. she is mentally unstable and at this point her real name is unknown. At the time it was Nikki Happy to add more photos as well if you think some others would be a good idea.