Today we’d like to introduce you to Nika Gordeziani.
Hi Nika, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (a country in eastern Europe).
Growing up in a post-Soviet country is nothing like growing up in America. While my country was finding its way and developing itself, my generation was trying to figure out how to be free, how to detach ourselves from that archaic Soviet mentality, and how to fight for our Country’s freedom.
Luckily, my mom decided to enroll me in a theater studio when I was 14. Although she never thought I would become a professional actor, she had the best intentions when she took me to the youth theater studio. She was trying to give me a new direction in my life. She tried to keep me off the streets, keep me away from trouble, and change my environment.
When I was 15, I had my debut on the theater stage and that’s when I knew this was what I wanted to do my whole life. I got hooked. It’s been a really interesting journey. I kept performing in professional theaters, on various stages, and in different theater productions until I was 17, then I got into Theater and Film University with the highest score, got a 100% scholarship, and started my next 4 years of learning the craft professionally.
That was one of the best times of my life so far because every day I went to University and did what I love the most with an amazing group of people. Georgian Theatre scene is pretty good and kept me busy but I can’t say the same about Film. Young actors didn’t get a chance to work on camera because of a lack of productions.
By the time I was in University, they didn’t even have cameras to teach students to act for film and as we all know, the two fields are very different. I was craving to get more knowledge about film and gain more experience on camera. So I started to focus on the Film industry. While I was in University there was a pilot being prepared for a major TV channel and a lot of students auditioned.
I ended up booking the lead part on that pilot. The pilot turned into a very popular show and we aired for over a year.
I played over 90 episodes of that show. It became a great trampoline for me because it made me known; attracted more projects; it snowballed and I started booking commercials, short films, tv shows, features, international projects, etc.
Today, I can say that I’m very grateful for my experiences. Throughout all these years, I got to work on lots of amazing projects, with people I’ve been admiring as a young actor; I was a part of a couple of award-winning films, projects that make some change. Looking back this makes me happy.
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?
I would say it’s been a roller coaster. As for now, my main challenge is re-establishing myself in a different market, in a different country. In general, immigration isn’t a very smooth experience. Back in Georgia, I was growing together with the industry, whereas here in the US the market was already established.
The business is much different and requires more knowledge, skills, and experience to break in. What my country gave me is definitely an experience, lots of it, and that’s what keeps me going. My career back home brought me here and made it possible for me to be able to pursue my dream and keep working on new projects.
Mainly, it’s not easy to come to a new country and establish yourself, no matter what background you come from, back in your country people know you and know what you represent and in a new country no one knows anything about you, you gotta put yourself out there and make your own statement. Start everything from zero.
That’s what I’ve been doing. Paving my way. Being a foreign actor has its challenges, you gotta be realistic, there is a specific niche for you, and you gotta find it. Regardless, LA has been very welcoming to me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At first back in Georgia, I got known for my theater character who was one of my favorite characters so far. We played Antigone by French playwright Jean Anouilh. Antigone is a contemporary take on the greek Oedipus story which is always relevant due to its political nature.
I played the character of Chorus, which was kind of the mixed face of justice, death, God, or evil. It was a bit of everything so the audience always left the theater with a question of who I really was, and that created this idea of a mystery man that I really liked.
I loved being this character. I spent a lot of time building him and I relate a lot with him. It was a very successful play. We toured in Europe and won multiple awards at foreign theatre festivals. Secondly, I got most known for the character I played on the tv show I mentioned previously.
He was a regular student, who was navigating his 20s not thinking about tomorrow. I don’t relate to that guy at all but I’m really grateful to have played this part. This show became the most popular tv show in Georgia at the time, comparable to “Friends”. First of all, I’m very proud and happy to be working in Los Angeles, I’ve been in various national commercials; short films by aspiring filmmakers, and I’m currently working on a few very exciting projects.
A couple of years ago I did a movie called “Fishing”, where I portrayed the lead character, the fisherman. This movie was very relevant to the times of Georgian politics and it had a meaning, a bold message to our government. It won a couple of international awards, which makes me very proud.
I would say I’m also proud of my part in the feature film, Drummer, in which I portray the lead character, a vocal artist of a rock band that is struggling as a musician in Georgia, the director himself was a musician who went through that story so the movie was very personal to him.
We put a lot of energy into that project and that movie has a lot to say. It was an amazing experience and very rewarding to me.
WHAT SETS me apart from others? That’s an interesting question. It’s a lot of pressure to be called different. I don’t know, probably the passion and love I have towards the craft. From my experience, not everyone has that.
Throughout my path I met a lot of actors, there are incredible people who truly love the craft but also, no offense to anyone but there are tons of people who are there because they want fame, and I don’t think this is about fame, it’s about the craft and the process.
I’m absolutely passionate about the big psychological game involved in the human psyche that is fully connected to the craft of acting. Besides that, my background sets me apart; my experiences set me apart; coming from a different culture sets me apart.
Because of all that I bring something different to the table.
So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is the truth. You got to be true to yourself. You are lost once you start lying to yourself. Realness is what I appreciate the most in life.
You have to be you, don’t try to be anyone else, be you, that’s my main life idea.
Do your best to not lose yourself, your individuality, you don’t need to show anything to anyone or prove anything to anyone, just be you and you will be loved and respected because you are you and you are true, true to yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nikushagordeziani
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikushagordeza
Image Credits
Fishing, SCUM, and Split
