IN CONVERSATION WITH NIKKI DELOACH
interview by JANA LETONJA
Actress, producer, writer, and philanthropist Nikki DeLoach is one of Hallmark’s leading ladies and has starred as the lead in over 20 of their films. She can currently be seen reprising her role as Goldy Berry in the fifth installment of the popular ‘Curious Caterer’ mystery series, ‘Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit’, which is airing now on Hallmark Mystery. She will also showcase her talent in the upcoming film ‘Our Holiday Story’, which is set to premiere on Hallmark Channel on 2nd November. Besides acting, she is a passionate philanthropist, currently serving as President of the Foundation Board of Trustees for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and on the board of Mind What Matters, a non-profit that provides support to caregivers of loved ones with neurodegenerative illnesses.
Nikki, we can currently see you in Curious Caterer’s fifth installment, ‘Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit.’ What can the fans expect from this film?
‘Curious Caterer’ as a movie series combines mystery, romance and humor, which makes for a very fun and satisfying watch. The fifth installment of the series delivers in such a big way. My character, Goldy, is finally going on her first date with Tom. The two of them have been moving towards this first date for four movies. Plus, Goldy and Marla jump on a stage and sing together, which was really fun to do with Jaycie.
How different does portraying the same character in multiple installments in a franchise feel with each film?
It’s such a gift to be able to continue a character’s story, especially the character of Goldy Berry. I love her so much. Usually on Hallmark, we step into a character and have three weeks to inhabit her. It’s glorious, however, I am always left wanting more time with the characters I get to play. With Curious Caterer, I have been so fortunate to continue digging deeper, while also evolving her.
You’ve been a lead in over 20 Hallmark films. What does your work with Hallmark mean to you both personally and professionally?
We have the unique opportunity to become a part of our audience’s lives on Hallmark. And because of the type of stories we tell, we have the gift of bringing joy, hope, laughter, peace, escape and, of course, love to our viewers when they need it most. We hear stories from our fans about our movies getting them through the loss of their loved one, a health crisis, a divorce. It means so much to me to be able to lift their spirits during these hard times.
Which of the Hallmark projects you have done is your personal favorite because of its impact on you, and why?
I’ve done a number of grief movies for Hallmark, while I was in grief myself. I did ‘Five More Minutes’ about a month after my father passed. It’s a movie about a woman who is moving through grief, and she wishes she had five more minutes with her loved one that she lost. Bringing this story to life helped me find the hope I was desperately seeking at this time that my father would always be near.
‘A Gift of Peace’ is a movie about a group of people going through grief. My character is very resistant to joining and very stuck in her grief. Eventually she learns that by sharing her grief, her lost loved one, with others, she can learn to carry it and become unstuck in her life. This was something that I was also experiencing in my own life, and ‘The Gift of Peace’ taught me about the gift of sharing my grief with others.
Besides being an actor, you’re also a producer and writer. How does each of these three different mediums fulfill you creatively?
Even as a child, I wanted to tell the full breath and width of a story. I would craft a scene and then make handmade copies for my neighborhood friends. I would assign roles, rehearse, block, and then use my dad’s camera to film it. I love telling stories. Each role in the creative process fulfills me in a different way, but it’s all part of storytelling. In life, I don’t often get to write the ending I would like to see or experience, but as a writer I can. As a producer, I get to be a part of the entire movie making process from development to casting to post-production. And as an actor, I get to disappear into a character and play pretend, which still brings me so much joy.
What got you passionate about acting in the first place? Has it always been a career you envisioned for yourself? I have wanted to be a performer since I saw ‘Singing in the Rain’ at three years old. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do and I cannot believe that all these years later, I am still living my dream. It’s a miracle. The road has been so hard at times. There is more rejection than I can possibly explain, years went by without being able to pay my bills as an actor. But, I love my job and hope to do it for the rest of my life.
You are also a philanthropist. What makes you enjoy giving back and why is it such an important part of your life?
Giving back is one of the most important aspects of my life. Outside of my family, there is nothing that brings me more joy than being able to be there for others and be of service in the world. I am a person of faith, and I truly believe that is what God meant when He said that we are supposed to bring heaven to earth. Give back. Spread love. Lead with empathy. If we all refocused our awareness on going towards the need, imagine how it would change the world. I guarantee you that not only would you make a huge difference in the lives of others, you would change your own life and the way you move through the world.
You are the President of the Foundation Board of Trustees for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, as well as a board member for Mind What Matters, a non-profit that provides support to Alzheimer’s caregivers. Tell us more about the importance of these two organizations in your life, the Gala you held for Children’s Hospital LA on 5th October, and the annual Dance Party to End ALZ you co-hosted on 27th October.
The Dance to End ALZ raises money for much-needed research in the field of Alzheimer’s and dementia. I lost my Papa and my father to this disease, my Papa to vascular dementia and my dad to a rare and aggressive form of dementia called Pick’s Disease. He was 66 years old. I want to do whatever I can to prevent others from getting this disease, so a lot of my work in this space has been focused on prevention and funding research.
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles saved my son’s life. He’s had three heart surgeries at CHLA, and I will be forever grateful to that hospital for saving my son. I wanted to give back immediately. And the second I learned that CHLA was a safety net hospital, which means that no child is turned away regardless of health insurance or the family’s financial situation, I knew that this was a mission I wanted to be a part of until my last breath. I love this hospital with every inch of my being and being the President of the Foundation Board of Trustees has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
In regard to Mind What Matters, we focus on caregivers. I’ve been a caregiver, and I can tell you firsthand that they are struggling. At Mind What Matters, we provide financial grants to caregivers so that they can get much-needed support. We are launching a podcast, also called ‘Mind What Matters’, all about caregiving. I am so excited about bringing people conversations and information that can make a difference in their lives and also make them feel seen, heard, known, and not alone.
Besides acting and philanthropy, what are some of your biggest passions in life?
Because of what I’ve gone through with my son and my father, healthcare and wellness are so important to me - mental, physical, emotional, and also spiritual health. My kids call me Dr. Mom and my grandmother often says that I should have gone to medical school. I love to learn. But mostly, I love to learn information so that I can help others. Whether it’s a doctor recommendation, a health crisis or just listening to someone when they are in the depths of an emotional valley, being a person that is a safe space and someone people can count on in their time of need means everything to me.
What can you share with us about your upcoming projects you’re currently working on and what we’ll be able to see you in soon?
Please listen out for our podcast ‘Mind What Matters’. Like I said, I’m so excited about these conversations, and I think they will really help people, while providing hope and humor to those listening. If you haven’t watched ‘Curious Caterer: Forbidden Fruit’, it will continue to air on Hallmark Mystery. My Christmas movie, ‘Our Holiday Story’, airs on Hallmark Channel on 2nd November. It is very unique, the cast is great and I think people will really enjoy this holiday love story. Finally, I am the finale guest judge on ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’, which airs on Hallmark+, Hallmark’s new streaming platform. It’s an unscripted show where Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman are looking for the next Hallmark hunk. It’s super fun and I loved being a part of it.
TEAM CREDITS:
photography INDA REID
hair KYLE HENNESSY
styling ERIN RICHARDS
