Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Actress Laura Niemi Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry

…Mental health. We need to demand more from our leaders to help the millions of Americans struggling with mental health. These are our brothers and sisters, and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see those with mental health struggles being abandoned by our society. It is our greatest shame, but also has the potential to be our greatest victory. It’s non-political. It’s just love…

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Laura Niemi. Best known for her performance as “Marilyn Pearson” on the NBC series “This Is Us.” As the mother in Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) struggling and dysfunctional working class family, her character has gained critical recognition which has landed Niemi an FYC Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in both 2019 and 2022.

A native Angelino, she started studying at The Academy of Performing Arts in Los Angeles at a young age.

The daughter of a movie producer and an insurance salesman, the family then moved to the east coast where she studied piano at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY.

She spent her teens and early 20s back in California, where she swapped her piano for a bass guitar playing in many L.A. based bands.

As a trained theater actress she has performed at The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Rep and The Taper and is the Artistic Director and founder of the multi-award winning Lost Angels Theatre Company (which landed her awards both as a producer and an actor).

She landed her first TV credit in Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” and has been continuously working in television and film ever since.

Thank you so much for doing this with us Laura! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us your “Origin Story”? Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I am a native Angelino. My mom was a TV and film producer and I spent a lot of time on sets and visiting her on location. Growing up I was always performing. Like most actors, I would put on shows for my parents. As an only child, I spent a lot of time in my imagination. I remember I went through this phase where I’d go out to to dinner with my mom and would make her translate to the waiter my order as I spoke a gibberish language. I think my mom knew early on that I was destined for the arts.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

The truth is that I was at a moment in my life I didn’t change my circle, I was going to crash and burn. I had to find a new community. So I returned to my first love, which was theater. I took a job selling tickets at The Odyssey Theater and joined the resident acting troupe (Circus Theatricals). I changed my circle which changed my life. And I am lucky enough to say I have never had to look back.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Yes, but it’s not career related directly. It’s life related.

I had become a big fan of Homeboy Industries. They are an LA based organization that hires ex gang members and tries to rehabilitate them into mainstream society. It’s run by Father Boyle. I became fascinated by this man and paid to go see him speak at a small charity lunch. He arrived and spoke for about 15 minutes. During his speech, I happened to look down at his feet. His shoes were falling apart. Literally. Massive holes. The sole was peeling away from the upper. The man that I admired so much, and who was genuinely making this world a better place couldn’t afford new shoes, or was simply unaware of such trivial matters.

I was filled with such love and gratitude in that moment that it profoundly affected me, and does to this day. I gave him the deepest hug at the end of his speech and tearfully thanked him for just being him.

For those who do not know who Father Boyle is, here is an interview I did with him during the pandemic on an Instagram Live show that I had, “Checkin In With My Peeps” https://tinyurl.com/ykaww8zs

It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Oh god. Okay. Here goes.

I was auditioning for one of my favorite plays, “The Dutchman” by Leroy James. It was being directed by Cedric the Entertainer. At the audition, they had an intern reading opposite me. The scene was a little “frisky” and I got into it. Way too into it. Uncomfortably into it. I started grinding on this poor intern and draping myself all over him; so much so that Cedric eventually had to yell at me to stop. He leapt to his feet and yelled “Whoa! Okay I am going to stop you there. THANK YOU, THAT WILL BE ALL”. I came out of my dramatic fugue state and realized what I had done. I was mortified. That poor intern. I was so disturbed that I bawled my eyes out when I got home.

The lesson I learned is that acting sometimes requires more technique and less grinding.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who made a profound impact on your professional life? Can you share a story?

I have three.

The first is my mom. She was a producer in this business. I was able to see at an early age what it really meant to sustain in this industry. All the ups and downs. It gave me insight and perspective of what I was getting into. Plus she’s my #1 cheerleader.

The second is a group of people: casting directors. I have met many who have been in my corner since the beginning, even when I was finding my way in the craft. They have been some of the best cheerleaders and advocates in my career.

Lastly, William Friedkin. He didn’t know me from Adam but he took a chance on me, saw potential, and helped me launch my theater company (www.lostangelstheatre.com) with our production of Killer Joe. He also cast me in a play he was directing at South Coast Rep which landed me my Equity card. I owe him a lot.

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

I just finished working on a Mindy Kaling series. I’m so grateful to have finally worked for her. I respect her so much. She is ferocious in her work and a real icon in the industry.

Next I am focusing on finding a compelling and meaty series regular role on a show working with people I adore and a character I can really sink my teeth into.

As you know, This Is Us is one of the most popular television shows of the past few decades. In your opinion, what was it that really captured people’s attention about the show?

Dan Fogelman. It starts at the top. The mind of Dan Fogelman and the incredible strength and diversity of his writing team. They created a compelling and authentic landscape for the Pearson family and tapped into themes that everyone can relate to. Whether it be love, loss, parenting, grief, fear… Dan Fogelman just nailed it every time. That show was such a gift. I get choked up thinking about it.

What lessons do you think our society today can take from This Is Us ?

I’m gonna quote directly from the show.

As the late great Ron Cephas Jones said “the way I see it, if something makes you sad when it ends, it must have been pretty wonderful when it was happening.” What a beautiful way to look at life, love and loss. Told you those writers were amazing.

How would you compare and contrast your personal character to Marilyn Pearson, the character you play in the show? How are you similar and how are you different?

Marilyn’s entire life was a struggle, and that is the truth for so many people. Honestly, It took work for me to get there as though I have had struggles in my life that I could tap into, playing that role was a constant reminder of just how blessed I am.

This is our signature question that we ask in nearly all of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? If you can, please share a story or example for each.

Can you share with our readers any self-care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Please share a story for each one if you can.

I am a big believer in therapy. Two heads have always been better than one and being able to process your experiences with a person that is not obligated to love you has been extremely beneficial.

Moving my body as soon as I wake always sets the tone for the day I am going to have.

Humor. Thank god I have some extraordinarily funny people in my life as I live to laugh. Even the darkest days in my life have had laughter. Laughter, and if you’ve heard my actual laugh you’ll understand this, is at the core of my soul.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Mental health. We need to demand more from our leaders to help the millions of Americans struggling with mental health. These are our brothers and sisters, and it is absolutely heartbreaking to see those with mental health struggles being abandoned by our society. It is our greatest shame, but also has the potential to be our greatest victory. It’s non-political. It’s just love.

This is what we call our “matchmaker question”, and it sometimes works. Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have a power lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

Toni Collette. She is one of my favorite actors. Her work is so layered and she transcends all genres.

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

Yes, I go through ebb and flows with keeping up but here i am:

Instagram: @lauraniemi

Facebook: @aboutlauraniemi

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!