Nika King Explained

Nika King
Birth Name:Shenika Williams[1]
Education:Miami Carol City Senior High School
Alma Mater:University of Florida
Other Names:Nika Williams[2]
Years Active:2002–present

Shenika Williams, known professionally as Nika King, is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Leslie Bennett on the HBO television series Euphoria (2019–present). After starting her acting career in 2002, King moved to Los Angeles and became a stand-up comedian.

Early life

King has five siblings. She grew up in Miami and, when King was a child, her parents and uncle were addicted to drugs.[3] She attended Miami Carol City Senior High School, where she was president of her class, and graduated from University of Florida with a degree in theater. King briefly lived in New York City to become an actor, but soon moved back to Miami due to feeling overwhelmed. She then worked as a drama and dance teacher and a basketball coach at Miami Carol City Senior High School for two years. Although she initially planned to quit after her first year, she decided to stay for another year after the September 11 attacks.[4]

Career

While in Miami, King made her first acting appearance in the television movie Miss Miami in 2002, where she played the chief of police. After quitting her job as a teacher, King moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time and enrolled at The Groundlings School. She performed with Elite Delta Force 3, an all-Black female sketch comedy group, before transitioning into stand-up comedy. She had a recurring role on the OWN television series Greenleaf from 2016 to 2017 as Ramona Chapman.[5] She also made guest appearances on various television series, including 2 Broke Girls, Hannah Montana, Best Friends Whenever, and .[6]

In 2019, King began starring in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria as Leslie Bennett, the widowed single mother of teenage drug addict Rue and Rue's sister, Gia.[7] Sam Levinson, the show's creator, envisioned Leslie as a representation of his own mother.[8] King originally joined the cast of the series in a supporting role, but was soon given a leading role.[9] For her role on the show, she drew on experiences her mother had when she was addicted to drugs and worked with a private acting coach.[10] [11] She signed a contract with Paradigm Talent Agency for representation in 2020, and signed a contract with Wonder Street for management in 2022.[12] [13] She directed the upcoming short film For Sale.[14]

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, King launched the startup Jeli Life, an online mentorship program for marginalized communities in the entertainment industry. She also founded the 501(c)(3) organization Rose of Sharon, which focuses on improving mental health in the Black community.[15]

Personal life

King's mother is a three-time cancer survivor.

Filmography

Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002Miss MiamiChief of Police
200450 First DatesSalon Patron
2006Living the DreamCandy
2007Universal RemoteWoman arguing
2008Nora's Hair Salon IIClient #1
2009B-GirlSerena
2013Noise MattersTracy
2014American WeaponKia
2019Kevin Hart's Guide to Black HistoryJosephine BakerTelevision film
202365Alya
2024Donna Martin

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003DeliciousEpisode: "Body Count"
2006Wild 'N OutHerselfEpisode: "Wayne Brady"
2006All of UsClarinettaEpisode: "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roberto"
2006Hannah MontanaCoach LewisEpisode: "Mascot Love"
2007ActressEpisode: "Episode #1.3"
2009iCarlyPretend MMA Fighter #1Episode: "iFight Shelby Marx"
2010CastleAngel SantanaEpisode: "The Late Shaft"
2011Glory DazeStewardess KimEpisode: "Some Like It Hot Tub"
2011Modern FamilyShopperEpisode: "Go Bullfrogs!"
2012PartnersDanniEpisode: "Pilot"
2013The First FamilyBailiff ZiggyEpisode: "The First Trial"
2013Stevie TVVarious2 episodes
20132 Broke GirlsVeronicaEpisode: "And the Cronuts"
2016ClementineEpisode: "Granger, O."
2016Best Friends WheneverDetective Zoe WaltersEpisode: "Working Nine to Fudge"
2016–2017GreenleafPastor Ramona Chapman3 episodes
2018Laff Mob's Laff Tracks2018Episode: "First Class"
2016–2018Funny Married StuffNikaMain role; 8 episodes
Web series; also producer and writer
2019–presentEuphoriaLeslie BennettMain role; 14 episodes

Notes and References

  1. B1wHyyYh0z6. Before Nika King it was Shenika Williams. iamnikaking. King. Nika. 2019-08-29. 2024-02-22.
  2. News: 'Euphoria' star Nika King joins forces with chef mom for Fort Lauderdale venture. Hagwood. Rod Stafford. 2022-08-23. Sun Sentinel. 2024-02-22. subscription.
  3. Web site: Rodriguez . Karla . Nika King Gets Personal, Unpacks Her 'Dream Role' on HBO's 'Euphoria' . . 5 March 2022 . en . 18 February 2022 . 5 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220305180701/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/nika-king-euphoria-season-2-interview/rue-gia . live .
  4. Nika King on Following Your Dreams . . . Tanya Sam . November 12, 2021 . March 6, 2022 . March 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220306223557/https://bankgreenwood.com/podcast/follow-dreams/ . live .
  5. Web site: Copelton . Melissa . A Complete Viewer's Guide to 'Euphoria': Cast, Plot, Season 2 and More . . March 7, 2022 . en . January 9, 2022 . March 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307002247/https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/how-to-watch-euphoria-plus-cast-plot-season-2-details-and-more/ . live .
  6. Web site: Fitzgerald . Toni . Who Is Nika King? Zendaya's Mom On 'Euphoria' Talks About New Show . . March 5, 2022 . en . June 16, 2019 . March 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220305180701/https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2019/06/16/who-is-nika-king-zendayas-mom-on-euphoria-talks-about-new-show/?sh=3d9d224595dc . live .
  7. Web site: Kelly . Lauren . Actress Nika King chats season 2 of HBO's Emmy-winning drama series 'Euphoria' . . March 19, 2022 . en . January 14, 2022 . January 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127200516/https://www.click2houston.com/houston-life/2022/01/14/actress-nika-king-chats-season-2-of-hbos-emmy-winning-drama-series-euphoria/#:~:text=Actress%20Nika%20King%20stars%20as%20'Leslie%20Bennett'%20a%20widow%2C,adventures%2C%20challenges%2C%20and%20uncertainties. . live .
  8. Web site: Desta . Yohana . On Euphoria, the Moms Are Going Through It Too . . March 5, 2022 . en . February 14, 2022 . February 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220221021321/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/02/euphoria-moms-interview . live .
  9. Web site: Wollstein . Noa . "Euphoria's" Nika King Talks Strong Women, Hope, And Season Two . Bust . 31 July 2019 . March 5, 2022 . en-gb . March 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220305204407/https://bust.com/tv/196287-nika-king-euphoria-interview.html . live .
  10. Web site: Ellis . Maddie . 'Euphoria' star Nika King on portraying the mom of a drug addict: 'I was born to play this role' . . March 5, 2022 . en . March 2, 2022 . March 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220304234613/https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/nika-king-rue-bennett-mom-euphoria-season-two-rcna18274 . live .
  11. Web site: Piña . Christy . 'Euphoria' Star Nika King on Working Through Trauma in Mother-Daughter Intervention Episode . . March 5, 2022 . en . February 7, 2022 . March 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220305180701/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/nika-king-euphoria-intervention-season-2-hbo-1235087536/ . live .
  12. Web site: Petski . Denise . Nika King Signs With Paradigm . . March 5, 2022 . en . August 5, 2020 . March 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220305204406/https://deadline.com/2020/08/nika-king-signs-paradigm-1203004348/ . live .
  13. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 'Euphoria' Star Nika King Signed By Wonder Street . Deadline . March 19, 2022 . en . March 17, 2022 . March 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220318160235/https://deadline.com/2022/03/euphoria-nika-king-wonder-street-1234981653/ . live .
  14. Web site: 'Euphoria' star Nika King says show's message is anti-drug, talks intervention episode with character 'Rue' . . March 7, 2022 . en . February 18, 2022 . March 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307002251/https://wgntv.com/morning-news/nika-king-rues-mom-from-euphoria-says-the-hit-shows-message-is-anti-drug/ . live .
  15. Web site: Nika King Talks Intensity of 'Euphoria', Helping Others . . March 7, 2022 . en . Video . March 1, 2022 . March 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307002247/https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/entertainment/philly-live/nika-king-talks-intensity-of-euphoria-helping-others/3162468/ . live .