• ELIXHER
• On May 7, 2013

Back in March, we reported that out biracial actress Jasika Nicole, formerly of the FOX series Fringe, was going to guest star on ABC’s Scandal. We didn’t know when. All we knew was that we’re big fans of both the actress and the show. We wouldn’t miss it for the world. If you’re anything like us, you were glued to your TV screens when we got a look into Huck’s former life. You know, before he tortured people for a living. Here’s what Jasika Nicole had to say to ELIXHER about being on Scandal and being a lesbian of color in Hollywood.

ELIXHER: First of all, thank you for representing us brown girls on screen and repping us well! How has being an out lesbian of color actress helped or hurt your career?
JASIKA NICOLE: Honestly, I have no idea if it has helped or hurt my career because I don’t have anything to compare it to- this is the only career I have had and the only way I have lived my life. I think my position in this industry is a bit unique because I never “came out” in the middle of my career- I was always out, and then my career began. Whether it flourished in spite of or because of, I might never know. I would say that overall, being out has probably helped my career for the simple fact that I have not had to compromise any of my beliefs or values, and that generally makes me a happier human being. Being happy in my life trumps having a successful career any day of the week, although a worthy goal is to have both things simultaneously.

ELIXHER: Tell us about your character on Scandal?
JASIKA NICOLE: Kim is Huck’s wife and the mother of his child, who he has not seen or spoken to in many years. Her presence on the show provides a little insight as to who Huck is, where he came from, how he used to be, and why he is the way he is right now. Kim is a loving, thoughtful and generous woman who had no family in her life besides Huck, so when she never heard from him again and was forced to raise their son singlehandedly, she was heartbroken. I can only assume that Kim has remained heartbroken in all the years that have passed.

ELIXHER: What was it like playing that role?
JASIKA NICOLE: It was a lot fun, but also very emotional. I feel lucky to have gotten to play such a juicy role in one of the most engaging storylines in the show.

ELIXHER: How did you go about landing the role?
JASIKA NICOLE: I didn’t. The role was just offered to me.

ELIXHER: What was your experience working with two influential and talented Black women like Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington?
JASIKA NICOLE: Shonda was incredibly sweet, and she happened to be a huge Fringe fan, so I felt very welcomed when I showed up for the table read. She is a busy busy woman though, so I didn’t get to see her much on set. One of the things I appreciated most about working on Scandal was having the producer (Shonda) give so much thought to my hairstyles and hair type. In most of my experience as an actor in film and tv, white producers are the ones making the important decisions about the actor’s looks, and they seem so afraid of my hair and uninterested in its potential and versatility because it is different than theirs. But Shonda took care to have a hair schedule planned out and we also chose several different styles to represent the years that had gone by in the episode and to also provide some insight into the frame of mind of Kim’s character. Audience members probably take hairstyles for granted, but as an actor, it is the most amazing thing for the producer of the show to be able to relate to my hair and care as much about it looking good as I do! I had no scenes with Kerry, but I met her at the table read and we crossed paths on my last day of shooting because we had overlapping scenes. Talk about generosity! When Kerry smiles at you, you feel like you are the most important person in the world. She has a lot of power but from what I can tell she just uses it for good, making everyone feel special and supported. I have always admired Kerry’s work, but after meeting her in person I wanted to be her best friend, too. She provides proof that not all women in Hollywood are cut-throat and catty; a very classy, yet approachable woman.

ELIXHER: Will we see more of you on the show?
JASIKA NICOLE: There are no plans as of now to bring Kim back onto the show, but I would certainly be happy to come back.

ELIXHER: What other projects are you currently working on?
JASIKA NICOLE: Unpacking and decorating the home that me and my partner just purchased [in northern Los Angeles]. It’s going to be a full-time job for at least the next couple of months.