Nikiya Mathis

Nikiya Mathis is an American actress known for her work on stage and screen. She was born and raised in New Jersey and attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Mathis got her start in theater in New York City, performing in off-Broadway productions before making her Broadway debut in 2014.

Mathis' Broadway debut was in the Tony Award-winning play "The Trip to Bountiful" by Horton Foote. She played the role of Thelma, a young woman who helps an elderly woman on a journey back to her hometown. Mathis received critical acclaim for her performance, with The New York Times praising her "naturalness and ease" on stage.
In addition to her work on Broadway, Mathis has also appeared in numerous off-Broadway productions. She starred in the world premiere of "The House That Will Not Stand" by Marcus Gardley at New York Theatre Workshop in 2014. The play, set in New Orleans in the 1800s, explores themes of race, class, and gender through the lives of free women of color. Mathis received an Audelco Award nomination for her performance.
Mathis has also worked extensively in regional theater. She has performed at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Some of her notable roles include Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet," Hermia in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and Nina in "The Seagull."
In addition to her work in theater, Mathis has also appeared in film and television. She had a recurring role on the HBO series "Vinyl" and has appeared in the films "The Taking of Pelham 123" and "The Company Men."
Mathis is also a talented singer and has performed in several musicals. She played the role of Dionne in a production of "Hair" at the Public Theater in New York City and has appeared in "The Wild Party" and "Avenue Q" at regional theaters.
Most recently, Mathis appeared in the off-Broadway production of "Mlima's Tale" by Lynn Nottage at the Public Theater. The play tells the story of an elephant hunted for its ivory and explores themes of exploitation and greed. Mathis played multiple roles in the production and received critical acclaim for her performance.