Nia Peeples
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.”
Nia remains a popular musical artist, performing shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and Parma, Italy. And in 2008 was voted one of People Magazine’s 100 most beautiful people.
Nia has also proven herself equally creative offstage. She has written two screenplays, including “Educating Annie” which sold to Peace Arch Entertainment. In 2006 she directed “Back in Love” a music video for Unified Tribe, Britain’s number one soul band and her film directorial debut, the short feature “Treading Water” (which she also co-wrote and produced) garnered an Honorable Mention at the Indie Producer Awards.
Nia’s own life is as rich and colorful as any role she might play, lending inspiration to both her professional and personal pursuits. In 2005 she traveled to the wilds of Indonesia where in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated South East Asia, Nia spent a month at sea on a 75-foot Bugi pirate schooner, delivering emergency supplies and medical care to the isolated villages on the west coast of Sumatra. This trip helped inspire her new website, “Nia’s Elements of Life.com” which is an inspirational and fun women’s advocacy site.
Inspired by her 2008 People Magazine award as one of the worlds 100 Most Beautiful People, Nia is now the lifestyle editor for the online fashion magazine “Bella Petite” where she hosts a monthly web radio show and writes a weekly column called “Sincerely Nia.”
And after surviving the “rite of passage” known as raising a trouble teen, Nia is executive producing a show for CMT called “The Teen Whisperer.”
An avid surfer, she has ridden the waves up and down the coast of California, and spent time exploring the surf in more far-flung locales like Hawaii, Baja, Costa Rica and West Africa.
When not working on location or traveling for some exotic new adventure, Nia lives in Southern California with her husband and two children.