Nikki M. James

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. Her final performance will be on July 19, after which Betsy Wolfe will take over the role.

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

Director

Awards and nominations