Nikki DeLoach, known for her charismatic roles in film and television, is an actress who stands out not only for her talent but also for her authenticity. With an impressive career that spans from her early days on The Mickey Mouse Club to acclaimed roles in romantic dramas and comedies, she has established herself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. But Nikki is much more than a successful actress — she is also a passionate advocate for health, a dedicated mother, and an inspiring voice for resilience and compassion.
In this interview, Nikki shares insights into her journey, the challenges of her career, and how she manages to balance her professional and personal life.
-You’ve had such a dynamic career, from acting to producing and advocating for important causes. What initially inspired you to pursue a career in entertainment?
I have wanted to be an actress since I was three years old when I watched Singin’ in the Rain with my grandmother. I used to stay with her every weekend, and we would rent movies to watch together. I said to my Nana, ‘I want to do that. I want to be a part of something that’s making people feel how I feel when I watch it.’
-Your performances in Hallmark movies have resonated with so many viewers. What do you think makes these films so special and beloved?
I think we are all carrying so much and life can be really hard. People are craving joy and safety. They are craving the happy ending. We all just want to know that, at the end of the day, it’s all going to be okay. I think that’s why our movies resonate so deeply with so many viewers. In life, we don’t often get to experience repair in our relationships, challenges, and traumas. But in a Hallmark movie, there is repair in every storyline. Not only is that something we all desire, whether we are conscious of it or not, it’s something we all need.
-You’ve worked in the entertainment industry from a young age. How has your perspective on Hollywood evolved over the years?
When I was younger, being successful in this industry was my identity, and it’s also where I derived my self-worth. Falsely, of course. I was constantly experiencing an emotional rollercoaster because, when you derive your self-worth and joy from external sources, it’s fleeting and also not truthful. It’s not real self-worth or joy. I’ve had the gift of failing a lot in this business, a lot of rejection. With each creative heartbreak and “no,” I began to chip away at that false belief. Having children changed my life in every way, including my relationship with the industry, especially when I had my second son Bennett. He was born with multiple congenital heart defects and without immediate intervention he would not have survived. He’s had three heart surgeries and has been in continued treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The same week Bennett was diagnosed, my father was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease, a rare, fatal and aggressive form of dementia. If these two earth-shattering, life and death situations don’t change your perspective, values, and beliefs, then I don’t know what will. It also changed my definition of success. My success or self-worth is no longer defined by this industry. My idea of success is being of service in the world, being a safe person for the people I love and for myself, and taking care of my friends and family.
-Can you share a particularly memorable moment or challenge from your time working on the set of a Hallmark movie?
The magic of filming Hallmark movies is there is always a memorable moment from each movie. One of my favorites is not particularly one memory but the entire experience. I lost my dad in 2021. I did back-to-back holiday movies for the network about grief. “A Gift of Peace” was a movie about a grief group. I played a character who lost her husband and was very much stuck in her grief. In my personal life I was experiencing this stuck-ness as well in my own grief over my dad. For the character of Tracy, she learned that by joining this grief group and sharing her heart with others, allowing others to help carry the grief with her, she began to live again. It was a lesson I definitely needed to learn myself and it really did change me.
-You’re not just an actress but also a producer and writer. How do you approach storytelling from behind the camera compared to being in front of it?
I have always loved writing and being a part of the entire creative process. I love being able to take the seed of an idea and growing it into a story and filling it with nuanced characters. Then I love taking that story and bringing it to life on camera and seeing it through to completion. These ideas become living, breathing entities. Don’t get me wrong, it is often a challenging, disappointing, frustrating road. You can work for years on an idea or script only to see it not get made. But, I find it all so fulfilling, especially being a writer. In terms of my approach, I was blessed to have an incredible writer teacher by the name of Charlotte Chatton and I have the best writing and producing partner in Megan McNulty. Both of us were students of hers so we put every seed of an idea through her development process to see if the story has legs. There is usually a subject matter we are wanting to tackle, a question we are investigating in ourselves even, that we are trying to answer. We build out the world, the characters, the physical and emotional journeys for each. We outline and then move to script. It’s tedious work but it is also very empowering to be able to write your own ending.
-Your involvement in advocacy and philanthropy is inspiring. What motivates you to give back, and which causes are closest to your heart?
I truly believe that being of service in the world is what we are put on earth to do. I have believed that since I was a little girl. I’ve been volunteering my entire life. Wherever there is need, I want to help. In my adult life, I experienced a series of really hard things. In the Spring of 2017, I was pregnant with my second child. I found out that he had multiple congenital heart defects and without immediate intervention he would not survive. In that same week, my dad was diagnosed with Pick’s Disease, a rare and aggressive form of dementia for which there was no cure. Bennett has three life-saving heart surgeries in the first two years of his life at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. I was so moved by our experience there and the mission of that hospital that I wanted to support it any way I could. For the last three years, I’ve been the President of the Foundation Board of Trustees. It has been one of the great honors of my life. CHLA is a safety net hospital which means we turn no child away regardless of the family’s financial situation or health insurance. I will fight for the healthcare of children until I take my last breath in this world. And because of what we went through with my dad and also my grandfather who had vascular dementia, I began to pour energy into advocacy for Alzheimer’s and dementia. I work alongside The Alzheimer’s Association by producing The Dance Party to End ALZ every year with one of my dearest friends, Ashley Williams. The money raised goes directly to research for the disease. One aspect of Alzheimer’s and dementia that doesn’t get the spotlight enough is what our caregivers go through. It is so hard being the caregiver to a loved one with a neurodegenerative illness. My friend Elizabeth Humphreys launched Mind What Matters, an organization that gives financial grants to caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It is a cause I believe in so deeply because I know what it’s like to be a caregiver. We just launched a podcast in October that is all about caregiving. It is also called Mind What Matters and I hope people tune in.
-Balancing family and a thriving career is no easy feat. How do you prioritize and manage your time effectively?
This is so hard. For all women out there trying to be all the things to all the people, I see you. I am still trying to figure this out. Part of me feels like I will for as long as I am a working mother with children at home. I just try to be present with whatever I’m doing. If I’m with my kids, I try to be with them and not on my phone. If I’m at work, I try to be present with what’s in front of me and have a great time. It’s a gift to work in our industry. It is not easy to get a job. So if I am on set doing what | love or on deadline for a movie, I try to make the most of it because I am so lucky to have that opportunity.
-Many of your fans admire your ability to portray relatable and heartfelt characters. How do you prepare for emotionally intense roles?
First of all, that is so kind and I really appreciate it. Truly. Thank you so much for saying that. I was so lucky to find Warner Loughlin in my 20s. Her technique changed the way I work, and I still use it to this day. It allows for you to use your imagination to build a character, creating an entire memory bank of a life for them. I don’t use my own life because, for me, my life and what I’ve experienced is very finite. But my imagination is infinite. If anyone is interested in learning more about how her technique works, she has an incredible book called, “The Warner Loughlin Technique.” I highly recommend it. Her way of building characters is so playful and offers so much freedom emotionally. I also think the more work you do on yourself, the more authentic you become in your own body, the easier it is to drop into that authenticity on camera.
-Social media has become an integral part of celebrity life. How do you use your platform to connect with fans and share your journey?
I have to be honest. Social media has always been hard for me. It can feel like such a, “Look at me” kind of action. What changed for me is when I understood that I could use it for good, to shine a light on the hard things I’ve navigated in order to allow others to not feel alone in their own journeys, to elevate a cause I care about or to just connect with fans, many of whom I know by name. Once I found a way to be authentic inside of the beast that is social media, it definitely helped me navigate it.
-You’ve spoken openly about personal struggles and triumphs. What message do you hope to convey to your audience through your openness?
I used to tell myself, “Once I get through (insert hard thing), then I can find joy and celebrate and begin to live again.” What I’ve learned is that life is just a series of hard things, and we have to find the joy, celebration, and meaning while we are navigating it all. We cannot wait to live again. The minutes and moments of our lives are far too precious. Also, we don’t have to do it alone. That was such a game changer for me. Once I was able to pry myself open and allow others to be there for me and help me carry my hard thing, everything changed. The other thing is, stop betraying yourself for others. I say all the time, “Humans are going to human.” What I refuse to do is betray my spirit and my soul for someone else’s happiness, peace, desire, greed, or because someone else hasn’t done the work on themselves. Becoming authentically who you are and remembering who you are, is God’s work. When we heal ourselves, we heal the world.
-As someone who has seen the entertainment industry evolve, how do you feel about the increased focus on inclusivity and diversity in Hollywood?
I think everybody deserves a love story, a happy ending. Everybody deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories we tell. It matters so much and I’m so glad that our industry has recognized that.
-If you could work on any dream project or collaborate with any director or actor, what or who would it be?
I want to play a doctor on TV. Full stop. That is my dream. After everything I’ve gone through with my son and dad, and also working at a hospital, it is in my bones. I would kill that role.
-Beyond acting, producing, and writing are there any other creative ventures or passions you’re looking to explore?
I’m working on a book right now. It is a gigantic undertaking. The process has been slow because Megan and I have fortunately been so busy writing these past few years, but I am terrified and also excited about it. I have been pursuing directing and hope to do that soon. Other than that, just more of what I’m already doing. And of course I am constantly dreaming about what else I can be doing to give back. Always. I have some fun ideas that I hope take flight in 2025.
-What advice would you give to young actors aspiring to build a successful career in the entertainment industry?
Diversify your joy and your work life. Don’t put all your eggs in the acting basket. Find other things you love that bring you joy and also do those things. This business is hard, and if you are constantly waiting around for the phone to ring, you will be miserable most of the time.
-Looking ahead, what can your fans expect from you in the coming years? Are there any upcoming projects or goals you’re particularly excited about?
I head to Ottawa this month to film True Justice 2 and 3. It’s a mystery wheel that Megan and I helped develop and we wrote. We plan to do two more Curious Caterer movies in 2025 as well. And of course, please tune in to our podcast, Mind What Matters! Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me and shine a light on causes that mean so much to me. I really appreciate it.
In conclusion, the conversation with Nikki DeLoach highlights that she is not only a talented actress but also a woman of heart, depth, and determination. Her openness about personal and professional challenges, as well as her passion for topics like mental health and resilience, is truly inspiring.Through her authenticity and dedication, Nikki reminds us of the importance of staying true to ourselves, showing compassion, and embracing life in all its facets.
Photo Credits
Photographer: Inda Reid @imagesbyinda
Hair: Kyle Hennessy @kylehennessyhair
Stylist: Erin Richards @alaskaerin