Today we’d like to introduce you to James Nichols II.
Hi James, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Walking you through my story takes you into my family living room. My sister Jamie would catch my mother and father hugging and join them by hugging them with her teenage arms. She would call me away from my Oreos and Nintendo to finish the group hug. Crumbs optional.
It has always been that way. Supportive.
Every game (home & away), track meet, recital, father/daughter, school play, concert and science fair M0m and/or Dad were there. We could count on looking into a sea of strangers and see the family. Smiling proudly, waving, my mother taking pictures with a flash when you aren’t allowed because “the lighting is subpar.” But she got the shot. Supportive.
My mother’s career really took off when my sister and I were young. My father suggested he take a step back in his career to help watch us. Supportive.
Having someone in your corner is important. I was bullied at school, but I never felt judged, shushed or shunned at home. I was safe. I didn’t have to be try to fit in and be cool, I could just be myself.
Supportive.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road worth traveling is smooth. The bumps in the road are what make it interesting and educational.
I learned more about myself in the losses than I did in the victories. Every morning I wake up in my comfortable bed, I am vocally grateful. I know what it is like to be homeless while pursing my dream. I found my faith tested many many times, but I was told since I was a kid I am gifted & talented. I believed.
I also learned more about those around me. People were rallying when I was winning and scattering when I started to lose. Don’t live for the cheers because you’ll die from the boos.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Believability. As an actor, I pride myself on being able to embody a number of characters and have you believe each one. I do my best to study human characteristics and I focus on the details when playing a character. It isn’t just memorizing black words on white paper. It is giving color and depth to everything in between the lines and in margins. A playland of possibilities wrapped in responsibility. This can be exciting and frightening all at once. I enjoy the task of my vision.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
James & Ruby Nichols my parents and my sister Jamie-Lynn. My very first audience. Their faces were welcoming to a young boy attempting to repeat the jokes he heard on the show we all just watched and their laughs were just as comforting. A performer was born in that living room. Thank you for always cheering me on.
John Bates. My coworker that saw greatness in me. He told me in one of our weekly recruiting meetings my future was somewhere much better than where we worked. He was absolutely right,
Mother Charles. My church elder pulls me aside after church and she tells me “God told me to tell you.. All those things you’re writing, keep doing that. You’re going to need them someday soon” I hadn’t been writing anything down, only thinking about writing things down. I went home that day and started writing. I haven’t stop writing since.
There are also those that thought or even hoped I would fail. I will give you credit as a group, but not individually. The early part of my journey was fueled by your hate. I DID fail. But I kept trying.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jameslnicholsii/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesLNicholsII/
- Youtube: https://YouTube.com/@JamesLNicholsII
