You Don’t Know Nia
Interview by Sunhee & Chinhee Park
Best known for her acting roles in the hit TV series Fame, Walker Texas Ranger and the Young and the Restless, actress, singer, dancer Nia Peeples has had two hit records, hosted her own shows for Fox, MTV,CBS and Style and is now forming her own brand of health and wellness products to help spread the wealth of knowledge she has gained in her 20 plus years as a celebrity and a devoted mother.
As an artist and performer Nia Peeples is almost impossible to categorize, applying unmatched versatility to a successful career that has spanned over two decades. With her award-winning performances in a variety of disciplines-film, television, music, dance and even stunt work-Nia has proved herself to be both the consummate entertainer and one of those rare artists whose passionate expression actually transcends the medium.
Nia has made her biggest mark as an actor. From her first starring role on the NBC hit series “Fame” to acclaimed independent films like “The Riff” and “Inside Out”; from big budget features like “Blues Brothers 2000” to Neilsen-topping mini-series like “Return to Lonesome Dove”; from critically-acclaimed urban comedy (“I Don’t Buy Kisses Any More”) to surf cult classics (“North Shore”); from film festival favorites like “Bruised” (Best Short winner at the Berkeley Film Festival) to “Walker, Texas Ranger,” the number one Saturday night series for eight years running; from her convincing portrayal of the wickedly provocative villainess in the action-thriller “Half Past Dead” (with fight scenes that earned her a nomination for a World Stunt Award) to her voice-over role in the upcoming animated film “Firedog” (alongside Lauren Bacall, Tom Arnold and Tony Danza) and from her role as the politically ambitious Karen Taylor on TV’s number-one day time drama, “The Young and the Restless” to ABC Family’s new hit series “Pretty Little Liars” Nia Peeples has brought to the actor’s craft an almost unprecedented range of character, expression and expertise.
Nia’s musical career has been equally as diverse. Emerging as a singer/dancer of remarkable depth and power on NBC’s “Fame” she carried this momentum into her career as a successful recording artist, whose accomplishments included Top 10 Pop and Club hits, a number one Dance hit (“Trouble”), numerous Billboard and Cashbox awards, and an MTV choreography nomination. All of this while hosting MTV’s innovative “Friday Night Street Party”, Paramount’s syndicated “Nia Peeples’ Party Machine” and “Top of the Pops” on CBS, as well as developing as an eloquent songwriter, penning tunes for both herself and other chart-topping artists, contributing songs to projects like “A License to Drive”, “Melrose Place,” “The Cutting Edge” and her new animated feature, “Firedog.”
