Alexa Nikolas

Last updated

Alexa Nikolas
Born (1992-04-04) April 4, 1992 (age 33)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Occupations
Years active1999–present [a]
Spouses
(m. 2012;div. 2016)
Michael Gray
(m. 2021)
Children2

Alexa Nikolas (born April 4, 1992 [1] ) is an American activist, YouTuber and former actress. Nikolas began acting as a child and is best known for her role as Nicole Bristow on the Nickelodeon television series Zoey 101 . She also appeared on various other television series, including That's Life , Hidden Hills , Revelations , and The Walking Dead .

Contents

Since her retirement from acting, she has founded Eat Predators, a movement that seeks to end predatory behavior in the entertainment industry. [2]

Career

Nikolas as Nicole Bristow on the Zoey 101 episode "New Roomies" (2005) Alexa Nikolas (2005).png
Nikolas as Nicole Bristow on the Zoey 101 episode "New Roomies" (2005)

In 2004, at age 12, Nikolas was cast as Nicole Bristow on Zoey 101, alongside Jamie Lynn Spears. In 2006, following the conclusion of the second season, Nikolas exited the series, following numerous fights and incidents with Spears, who claimed she was making up lies about her and suspected she was trying to take over her role on the series. [3] [4] In August 2005, it was reported that Britney Spears confronted Nikolas about the feud. [5] She later alleged Nickelodeon failed to protect her from abuse, saying she "did not feel safe" around the show's creator, Dan Schneider. [6] [7]

In addition, Nikolas appeared on Hidden Hills regularly and also on the 2005 series Revelations . Following her departure from Zoey 101, Nikolas guest starred on various other television series, most notably The Suite Life of Zack & Cody , Judging Amy , ER , Without a Trace , Criminal Minds , and Heroes with actress Laura Marano who played young Alice Shaw the sister of Nikolas' character, Angela.

In 2011, she appeared in the film Red State as Jesse, and that same year, she appeared on Family Guy as additional voices. Nikolas appeared in three episodes of the television series The Walking Dead – her character, Haley, was introduced in November 2012, before being killed off in February 2013. In 2012, Nikolas starred as Willow in the comedy-horror film Detention of the Dead . [8]

Personal life

Nikolas was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1992. She is of Greek descent. [9] Nikolas moved to Los Angeles when she was 6 years old to pursue an acting career. [10] [11] [12]

She was married to Canadian electronic musician Mike Milosh from 2012 to 2016. [13] [14]

Nikolas has accused Milosh of grooming her for a sexual relationship when she was 16 and he was 33, though states that they did not engage in sex until she turned 18. [15] In August 2021, Nikolas sued Milosh on grounds of sexual battery, gender violence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a violation of California’s Tom Bane Civil Rights Act. [16] Milosh denied Nikolas’s claims and counter-sued, accusing Nikolas of fabricating abuse claims against him after he stopped paying her spousal support. [17] Nikolas dropped the lawsuit in May 2022. [18] Milosh's lawsuit was stricken in February 2023. [19]

Nikolas has been married to Michael Gray since 2021. The couple have two children. [20] [21]

Activism

In 2022, Nikolas and her organization Eat Predators organized a protest against unsafe working conditions for children, and child predators being protected at Nickelodeon. [22]

Nikolas discusses her strategy as inviting pushback and criticism, saying, "If they want to silence me, it's the whole so-called Streisand Effect, where their usual relentless tactics to silence a survivor just makes it more public.” [23]

On July 8, 2023, Nikolas accused actor Jonah Hill of forcibly kissing her at a party at actor Justin Long's house in 2008, when she was 16 and Hill was 24. Speaking through an attorney, Hill denied her accusations, while Long stated he did not know about the incident. [24] [25]

In February 2024, it was announced that Nikolas would appear in the Investigation Discovery documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV . [26]

Filmography

Film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2001 Zoolander Story Hour Girl
2002 Ted Bundy "I'm Ted" Kid
2003 Tiptoes Susan Barry
2004Motocross KidsKatie
2009 Children of the Corn Ruth
2011 Red State Jesse
2012 Detention of the Dead Willow [27]
Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1999 Love Boat: The Next Wave Little Girl #1Episode: "Trances of a Lifetime"
2000–2002 That's Life Young Lydia4 episodes
2001 Charmed Little GirlEpisode: "We All Scream for Ice Cream"
2001 The King of Queens Young CarrieEpisode: "Veiled Threat"
2002 Even Stevens Young RenEpisode: "Band on the Roof"
2002–2003 Hidden Hills Emily BarberMain role
2004 Without a Trace Emily LevineEpisode: "Wannabe"
2005–2006 Zoey 101 Nicole BristowMain role (seasons 1–2)
2005 ER Megan NesbittEpisode: "You Are Here"
2005 Judging Amy Shelly CecilEpisode: "Happy Borthday"
2005 Revelations Lucinda "Lucy" MasseyMain role
2005 All That: 10th Anniversary Reunion Special HerselfTelevision special
2007 Cold Case Madison ReedEpisode: "8:03 AM"
2007 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Tiffany DubleciniEpisodes: "Miniature Golf", "Who's the Boss?"
2008 CSI: Miami Mallary HardingEpisode: "To Kill a Predator"
2008 Ghost Whisperer Caitlin MahoneyEpisode: "Threshold"
2009 Supernatural Kate CarterEpisode: "Family Remains"
2009 Heroes Young Angela Shaw Episode: "1961"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Hannah PorterEpisode: "The Magic Bullet"
2009 Raising the Bar CaitlinEpisode: "Maybe, Baby"
2010 Criminal Minds Jane McBrideEpisode: "The Fight"
2011 Lie to Me Amanda DobarEpisode: "Funhouse"
2011 Family Guy Voice: Crying Teen GirlEpisode: "Brothers & Sisters"
2012–2013 The Walking Dead HaleyEpisodes: "Hounded", "Made to Suffer" and "The Suicide King"
2013 Mad Men WendyEpisode: "The Crash"
2024 Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV HerselfDocumentary series; Episode: "Too Close to the Sun"
Music video roles
YearTitleArtist(s)Ref.
2006"Come Back to Me" Vanessa Hudgens [28] [29]
2013"Slow Down" Milosh [30]
2013"This Time"Milosh [31]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRefs
2005 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film — Young Ensemble Cast (shared with Motocross Kids cast)Motocross KidsNominated [32]
2006 Young Artist Awards Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (shared with Zoey 101 cast) Zoey 101 Won [33]
2007 Young Artist Awards Best Young Ensemble Performance in a TV Series (shared with Zoey 101 cast)Zoey 101Won [34]

Notes

  1. Nikolas' tenure as a Youtuber began in the late 2010s, and later as an activist sometime in 2022, while her time as an actress was from 1999 until 2013.

References

  1. "Alexa Nikolas". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  2. Shafer, Ellise (August 26, 2022). "Who Is Alexa Nikolas, What Is Eat Predators and Why Does It Target Music Companies?". Variety . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  3. Spears, Jamie Lynn (January 2022). Things I Should Have Said. Hachette Book Group, Inc. pp. 39–41. ISBN   978-1-5460-0100-3.
  4. Connolly, Jason (January 25, 2023). "What Happened To Nicole On Zoey 101?". Looper.com . Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  5. "People: Don't mess with Spears' little sister". Denver Post. August 29, 2005. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  6. Hughes, William (August 26, 2022). "Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas said she "did not feel safe" around creator Dan Schneider". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  7. "At Burbank protest, former Nickelodeon star says network's child actors 'were not safe'". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
  8. MGDSQUAN (June 6, 2013). "Review: Detention of The Dead". Horror Society . Retrieved July 20, 2017. And there is not one likable character in the entire movie, except for "Willow" played by Alexa Nikolas.
  9. "Alexa Nikolas: What Really Happened On Set Of Zoey 101 - Real Pod (Full Episode)". youtube.com.
  10. Young, Wyld; Williams; Steph; Nikolas, Alexa (September 22, 2022). Zoey 101 Star Alexa Nikolas Talks Scandals & Life After Nickelodeon. TMZ Verified. Note: See 0:20-2:50
  11. Hooks, Sloan; Nikolas, Alexa (April 11, 2023). Alexa Nikolas EXPOSES Her Abusive GROOMER and TOXIC Career in Hollywood. Let’s Get Into It. note: see 12:40-13:30
  12. Brown Garrick, Victoria; Nikolas, Alexa (October 28, 2022). Alexa Nikolas: What Really Happened On Set Of Zoey 101. Real Pod with Victoria Garrick Browne. Note: see 0:25
  13. "'Zoey 101' Star Alexa Nikolas Breaks Up With Husband". J-14. August 31, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  14. Werthman, Christine (February 1, 2018). "After a Divorce & Parting Ways With Founding Member, Rhye Leaves the Gloom Behind on 'Blood'". Billboard . Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  15. Shaffer, Claire (March 16, 2021). "Rhye Accused of Sexual Abuse, Assault, Grooming by Ex-Wife". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  16. "Rhye's Michael Milosh Sued by Ex-Wife for Sexual Battery, Gender Violence, and More". Pitchfork. August 25, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  17. Naumann, Ryan (March 16, 2022). "Rhye's Michael Milosh Sues Ex-Wife's Attorneys Over 'Frivolous' Sexual Abuse Case". Billboard . Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  18. Donahue, Bill (September 2, 2022). "Rhye's Michael Milosh Sues Ex-Wife's Attorneys Over 'Frivolous' Sexual Abuse Case". Billboard . Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  19. Minsker, Evan. "Michael Milosh of Rhye's Lawsuit Against Ex-Wife's Attorneys Thrown Out". Pitchfork.
  20. "Zoey 101 Cast, Then and Now". E! . October 27, 2020.
  21. "Where Is 'Zoey 101' Alum Alexa Nikolas Today After Leaving Nickelodeon? The Actress Is an Advocate". intouchweekly.com. In Touch Weekly. July 28, 2023.
  22. Del Rosario, Alexandra (August 26, 2022). "At Burbank protest, former Nickelodeon star says network's child actors 'were not safe'". Los Angeles Times .
  23. Brown, August (November 12, 2023). "The music industry is finally having its #MeToo moment". LA Times . Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  24. Brathwaite, Lester Fabian (July 12, 2023). "Zoey 101 star Alexa Nikolas accuses Jonah Hill of forcibly kissing her when she was 16". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  25. Wanshel, Elyse (July 11, 2023). "'Zoey 101' Star Alexa Nikolas Says An Adult Jonah Hill Assaulted Her When She Was 16". Huffington Post . Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  26. Caroline, Brew (February 8, 2024). "'Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV' Trailer: Docuseries Alleges 'Abusive' Work Conditions on 'iCarly,' 'Zoey 101' and 'Victorious'". Variety . Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  27. "Review: 'Detention of the Dead' is held captive by cliches and idiocy". baltimoresun.com.
  28. "Vanessa Hudgens – Come Back to Me". YouTube . Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  29. "Vanessa Hudgens – Come Back to Me (Director's Cut)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  30. "Milosh – Slow Down (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  31. "Milosh – This Time (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  32. "26th Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
  33. "27th Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
  34. "28th Young Artist Awards". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2010.