Nikki Michelle James is an American actress, director and singer. James has performed in the popular stage musicals The Book of Mormon, Les Misérables, and Suffs, earning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for The Book of Mormon at the 65th Tony Awards. She’s best known on screen for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe television series Daredevil: Born Again (2025–present) on Disney+.
Life and career Nikki M. James was born to Caribbean immigrant parents, a Vincentian father and a Haitian mother who settled in New Jersey in pursuit of the American dream. James grew up in Livingston, New Jersey where she would graduate from Livingston High School. As a young girl, she sang and acted in church and in school performances. She was nominated for a Rising Star Award at Paper Mill Playhouse for her performance as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! in high school. She later attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
James made her Broadway debut in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and starred as Ottilie in the New York City Center Encores! production of House of Flowers. She played Adela Alba in the Off-Broadway run of Michael John LaChiusa's musical adaptation of Bernarda Alba and appeared in the Broadway cast of All Shook Up.
James played Dorothy Gale in the new revival of The Wiz at La Jolla Playhouse and also starred in Romeo and Juliet and Caesar and Cleopatra at the Stratford Festival with Christopher Plummer. For her performance as Nabulungi in The Book of Mormon, she won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 65th Tony Awards. During that run, she took a leave in June 2012 to film a screen version of Lucky Stiff. From 2014 to January 2015, she played Éponine Thénardier in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables.
In July 2017, James starred in the New York City Center Encores! staged concert of The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. In 2024 she began starring as journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells in the musical Suffs. James was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance at the 77th Tony Awards.
On March 6, 2026, she joined the Off-Broadway revival cast of Little Shop of Horrors as Audrey opposite Jordan Fisher and Andy Karl.Russo, Gillian NewYorkTheatreGuide, February 4, 2026 Her final performance will be on July 19, after which Betsy Wolfe will take over the role.Gans, Andrew Ethan Slater and Betsy Wolfe Will Take Over Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway Playbill, June 25, 2026
She also has had many notable film and television roles as an actor, starting on Law & Order, followed by 30 Rock, The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, The Good Wife, Severance and Daredevil: Born Again.
Acting and directing credits Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 Pizza April Snow 2009 Caesar and Cleopatra Cleopatra Same as the 2008 theatre play 2013 All Is Bright Betsy 2014 The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby Sia Appeared in Him, the first in a trio of films 2014 Lucky Stiff Annabel Glick 2021 Here After Faith 2022 Spoiler Alert Nina
Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 Third Watch Maizie 2 episodes 2003 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Tamara Bates Episode: "Stray" 2004 The Jury Myra Clarkson Episode: "Bangers" 2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jackie Episode: "Salome in Manhattan" 2010 30 Rock Erica Episode: "Gentleman's Intermission" 2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 911 Operator Episode: "Father Dearest" 2015 Detective Gail Dunbar 2 episodes For Real Candace TV movie 2015–2016 The Good Wife Monica Timmons 6 episodes 2016 BrainDead Rochelle 12 episodes 2016 The Blacklist Rose Episode: "The Caretaker (No. 78)" 2017–2019 Welcome to the Wayne Julia Wiles Voice; 10 episodes 2018 Bull Chloe Tomlin Episode: "Gag Order" 2018–2020 The Good Fight Monica Timmons 3 episodes 2018 Instinct Ashley Episode: "Blast from the Past" Escape at Dannemora ER Doctor Episode: "Part 5" 2019 NCIS: New Orleans Lisa Butler Episode: "A House Divided" Proven Innocent Violet Bell 13 episodes 2021 Modern Love Pam Episode: "How Do You Remember Me?" 2022 Severance Alexa 4 episodes 2025–present Daredevil: Born Again Kirsten McDuffie Main cast; 15 episodes
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2001 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Sabina Temple Broadway 2003 House of Flowers Ottilie New York City Center Encores! Summer Charity Royall New York reading 2005 All Shook Up Lorraine Broadway2006 Bernarda Alba Adela Alba Off-Broadway The Wiz Dorothy Gale La Jolla Playhouse 2007 Walmartopia Maia Latrell Off-Broadway2008 Romeo and Juliet Juliet Stratford Shakespeare Festival Caesar and Cleopatra Cleopatra Same as the 2009 film release 2011–2014 The Book of Mormon Nabulungi Broadway 2013 Fetch Clay, Make Man Sonji Off-Broadway 2014–2015 Les Misérables Éponine Thénardier Broadway 2015 PreludesNatalyaOff-Broadway2016Twelfth NightViolaShakespeare in the ParkWonderful TownEileen SherwoodLos Angeles Opera2017 Julius CaesarPortiaShakespeare in the ParkThe Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon SkinBubblyNew York City Center Encores!2018Twelfth NightViolaShakespeare in the Park2019A Bright Room Called DayAgnes EgglingThe Public Theater2022SuffsIda B. Wells2023Gutenberg! The Musical!Guest ProducerBroadway 2024–2025SuffsIda B. WellsBroadway 2024 Maybe Happy Ending Additional Voice Broadway 2026Little Shop of Horrors AudreyOff-Broadway The Lost Boys News Anchor Broadway 2026–2027The Book of Mormon NabulungiBroadway
Director Year Title Notes2017–2019Once on This IslandBroadway; Assistant Director2021The BiteEpisode: "The Fifth Wave"2021–2022The Good FightEpisodes: "And the Firm Had Two Partners...", "The End of STR"
Awards and nominations YearAward ceremonyCategoryShowResult2011Tony AwardBest Featured Actress in a MusicalThe Book of MormonDrama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Featured Actress in a Musical 2019Drama League AwardsDistinguished Performance Twelfth Night 2022Suffs 2023 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Performer in a Musical 2024Tony AwardBest Featured Actress in a Musical Dorian Awards Outstanding Featured Performance in a Broadway Musical Drama League AwardsDistinguished Performance
References
External links