Nia Peeples

ON SOAP OPERA DIGEST AND WEEKLY ONLINE

SOAP STAR STATS

Nia Peeples (Karen, Y&R)

Vital Statistics

The 411

Virenia Gwendolyn Peeples was born and raised in California, where she lived with her parents and two sisters, Paula and Cynthia. As a child, Peeples performed locally with her family at concerts and conventions in her community, singing and dancing with many cultural styles, including Polynesian, Spanish and Irish. At West Covina high School, Peeples was a straight-A student who was in the marching band, cheerleading squad, played several spors and was on student government. While she was attending UCLA on a music scholarship, Peeples performed as Liberace's opening act in Las Vegas.

Peeples left UCLA after one semester and started working on her acting skills at Sanford Meisner's Playhouse West. Several theatre and TV roles soon followed, and Peeples soon got her big break as fan favorite Nicole Chapman in FAME. Peeples also found success in music, hitting No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with her song "Trouble," which also hit No. 35 on the Hot 100. Peeples also played Texas Ranger Sydney Cook on the Chuck Norris series WALKER, TEXAS RANGER. In 2007, Peeples took on the role of Nikki's right-hand woman Karen Taylor on YOUNG AND RESTLESS, a role that has grown and evolved over the past year.

Et Cetera

Five Random Facts
—Had a "micro-stint" on DAYS in 1983
—Hobbies include hiking, tandem surfing, rollerblading and skiing
—Signs her autograph with "Love, Joy and Peace"
—Her mother is a flamenco dancer
—Starred in her high school's production of South Pacific as Bloody Mary

Career Highlights

Other Soap Roles
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Mallory, 1983)
GENERAL HOSPITAL (Carla Escobar, 1983)
TV Roles
FAME (Nicole Chapman, 1983-1987)
THE PARTY MACHINE WITH NIA PEEPLES (1991)
COURTHOUSE (Veronica Gilbert, 1995)
CRISIS CENTER (Lily Gannon, 1997)
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER (Sydney Cooke, 1999-2001)
THE DIVISION (Sandra Prestiss, 2004)
BARBERSHOP (Det. Hahanna, 2005)
Film Roles
North Shore (1987)
Tower of Terror (1997)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998)
The Coven (2004)
Alpha Mom (2006)
Between Heaven and Earth (2008)

Look Who's Talking

"Spit! I'm one of those slobber-spitters who can't quite get it together. I tried, but I can't make it happen.' — on something she can't do, Soap Opera Weekly, 6/12/2007

Official Web Site

www.niapeeples.org

RELATED RESOURCES