Lovers of DC Comics have so far enjoyed “The Flash,” “Arrow,” “Gotham,” and “Supergirl,” among many more other shows. One series that has come to set itself apart from the rest is “Batwoman.” It seeks to bring diversity in its cast not only by having a gay woman as its lead but also people of color as notable characters. Nicole Kang plays Mary Hamilton, and she hopes that the show will help people understand intersectionality in real life. If you are curious to learn more about Nicole, here is everything you need to know.
1. She appreciates shows that are open to diversity
Only the wearer of a shoe knows where it pinches, and since Nicole falls in the minority group, she knows how hard it can be to land any significant roles. For a long time, shows have cast Native Americans in the lead roles, and minorities have been left to play extras. However, things are changing. Nicole is on the frontline to champion for representation, according to Cheat Sheet.To her, the battle is crucial because it is her identity. She believes the characters she plays are platforms to facilitate her mission.
2. She is the first Asian to play Mary Hamilton in “Batwoman.”
In the comics, Kate Kane has a twin sister, Elizabeth, who goes by the name Red Alice after becoming a villain. However, Elizabeth barely resembles the character that Nicole Kang plays; the producers created a new character that does not exist in the series. Nicole takes on the role of Mary Hamilton, Kate’s step-sister, and although she is polar opposite with Kate, they have more in common than they think. Since it is an entirely new character, Nicole gets to be the first Asian to play it, which helps to cement the series’ objective of representation.
3. She was desperate to be accepted as an American
They say confidence is the most beautiful thing you can wear because then you will not compare yourself with anyone. After all, Mark Twain said that a man can’t be comfortable unless he approves of himself. Unfortunately, Nicole did not have that much confidence being around Americans. Although she was born and raised in California, she identified herself as Korean. Her father had only immigrated to America after falling in love with the sense of Americana and country music. For Nicole, it was always a constant battle between living the Korean cultural life at home and struggling to learn American customs, lest she is labeled an imposter.
4. She was a figure skater
We should always have the courage to take our thoughts seriously since they can shape our destinies. Michelle Kwan is United States’ most decorated figure skater and holds the all-time national championship record, along with Maribel Vinson. Therefore it is no surprise that when Nicole watched her on television one day, she thought she should try out figure skating too. Throughout high school, Nicole was a competitive figure skater, maybe hoping to be as successful as Michelle Kwan.
5. She is a trained dancer and singer
Nicole was not sure which career path she wanted to take, but one thing is clear; she loved anything artistic. Besides becoming a competitive figure skater, Nicole also was interested in dancing. She, therefore, trained for between two and five years in ballet and jazz dances. As if to challenge herself, Nicole also trained as a singer with Liam Forde and Jason Burrow. Liam is an actor who also prides himself as a songwriter, singer, and pianist.
6. Her professor prompted her to take acting seriously
Nicole loved performing in high school, and despite taking all kinds of creative arts, she seemed always to circle around acting. However, parents usually can play a massive role in our career decisions, and Nicole rubbished off the idea to become an actress to study business. Still, she took theater as an elective, and when the acting professor said that students were allowed to become actors, Nicole felt like she had been given the green light. Without a second thought, she stole her parents’ credit card and went to audition in Tisch School of The Arts. It was only when her father opened the acceptance mail while vacationing in Korea that he realized what his daughter had done.
7. Her dating life remains a mystery
Some celebrities can be extremely secretive about their dating life. Take the case of Sebastian Bear McClard and Emily Ratajkowski; they were in a relationship, and the world found out only ten days before their wedding that they were dating. Other couples like Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling got together in 2011, and we rarely see them together. Nicole has chosen the secretive path, and no one knows who her boyfriend is if at all she has one. In 2018 she posted a picture of herself with Alexander Hodge, which sparked rumors that the two were an item. She made it clear that they were only co-stars, as reported by Hollywood Mask.
8. She made a short film
This actress has many creative streaks in her DNA, and apart from acting, she also showcases her many other gifts in the short film “Jack and Jane.” Nicole did not only star in it as Jane; she also was the producer, director, and writer. She stars alongside Alice Kremelberg (Jack) in the story about two young women who are in and out of New York’s shelters; hence, they become co-dependent. The pair have also been cast in “Orange Is the New Black.”
9. She was a nominee of Helen Hayes Award
In 2017, Nicole was nominated to receive the Helen Hayes Award for being the Outstanding Supporting Actress in “Sense and Sensibility. Folger Library could not hide their joy and congratulated Nicole through their Twitter account. The Helen Hayes Awards have recognized outstanding performance in professional theater since 1983.
10. Her education
Nicole attended Case Western Reserve University, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree under the guidance of Heather Anderson Boll. She undertook summer intensive courses at The Performing Arts Project under the direction of several instructors, namely Jonathan Bernstein, Susan Meisner, Monica Raymund, and Susan Blackwell. In 2005, Nicole graduated with a bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University after training at Stellar Adler Studio of Acting.
Follow Us
