Virenia "Nia" Gwendolyn Peeples

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Nia Peeples
Genoa City Presence
At A Glance

Nia Peeples joined the cast of The Young and the Restless in April 2007 as Karen Taylor, a savvy political operative who, after managing Nikki Newman's senatorial campaign, landed a powerful executive position at Newman Enterprises.

Peeples found success in her first starring role on the hit television series Fame. She went on to star in independent films such as The Riff and Inside Out, as well as the big budget feature Blues Brothers 2000, Nielsen-topping mini-series Return to Lonesome Dove and the long-running series Walker, Texas Ranger. She also appeared in the critically acclaimed urban comedy I Don't Buy Kisses Any More and the surf cult classic North Shore, as well as film festival favorite Bruised. She portrayed a villainess in the action-thriller Half Past Dead, in which her fight scenes earned her a nomination for a World Stunt Award. Her most recent projects include Connor's War and a voice-over role in the upcoming animated film Firedog.

Emerging as a singer/dancer on Fame, Peeples carried this momentum into her career as a successful recording artist, whose accomplishments included Top 10 Pop and Club hits, a number one dance hit (Trouble), numerous Billboard and Cashbox awards, and an MTV choreography nomination. She also hosted Friday Night Street Party, the syndicated Nia Peeples' Party Machine and Top of the Pops. In addition, she developed a resume as a songwriter, penning tunes for both herself and other chart-topping artists and contributing songs to projects like A License to Kill, Melrose Place, The Cutting Edge and the animated feature, Firedog.

Peeples remains a popular musical artist, and has recently performed shows in Los Angeles, Chicago and Parma, Italy.

She has proven herself equally creative off-stage, and has written two screenplays, including "Educating Annie" which sold to Peace Arch Entertainment. In 2006, she directed Back in Love, a music video for Unified Tribe, Britain's number one soul band, and her film directorial debut, the short feature Treading Water (which she also co-wrote and produced) garnered an Honorable Mention at the Indie Producer Awards.

In her spare time, Peeples contributes her energy and resources to various non-profit groups, including VEPAG (Vision Entertainment Performance Art Group) which provides music and performance art opportunities to inner city children, as well as IHF (International Humanity Foundation), an international organization committed to the abolishment of child trafficking

In 2005, she traveled to the wilds of Indonesia, where, in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated South East Asia, Peeples spent a month at sea in a 75-foot Bugi pirate schooner, delivering emergency supplies and medical care to the isolated villages on the west coast of Sumatra. An avid surfer, she has ridden the waves up and down the coast of California, as well as exploring for surf in more far-flung locales like Hawaii, Baja, Costa Rica and West Africa.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION
The Young and the Restless
Karen Taylor
April 18, 2007 to May 14, 2009

Alpha Mom
Susan
2006

Special Unit
Tara
2006

Barbershop
Det. Hahanna
2005

The Division
Sandra Prestiss
2004

Andromeda
Rox Nava
2004

The Coven
2004

The Chang Family Saves the World
Pearl Empress
2002

Walker, Texas Ranger
Sydney Cooke

Poodle Springs
Angel
1998

Real Life
Maya
1998

Tower of Terror
Jill Perry
1997

Crisis Center
Lily Gannon
1997

Early Edition
Sister Mary
1997

Odd Jobs
Assassin
1997

Bloodhounds II
Nikki Cruise
1996

Terminal
Janet Reardon
1996

Mr. Stitch
Doctor Elizabeth English
1995

Courthouse
Veronica Gilbert
1995

Deadlocked: Escape from Zone 14
Allie Thompson
1995

Marker
Lisa
1995

Touched by an Angel
Angela Evans
1994

XXX's & OOO's
Sasha Townes
1994

Highlander
Nefertiri
1994

My Name Is Kate
Annie
1994

Return to Lonesome Dove
Agostina Vega
1993

The New WKRP in Cincinnati
Sierra Smith
1992

The Party Machine with Nia Peeples
Host
1991

Nasty Boys
Serena Cruz
1990

Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer
Cathy Redding
1990

Matlock
Morgan Gerard
1989

Swimsuit
Maria
1991

T.J. Hooker
Maria Dominguez
1984

Fame
Nicole Chapman
1983-1986

Days of Our Lives
Mallory
1983

General Hospital
Carla Escobar
1983-1984

Hardcastle and McCormick
Waitress
1983

Flying Down to Rio
Waitress
1983

Tales of the Golden Monkey
Zita Henriques
1983

The Music Shoppe
Darcie
1981

A Single Light
Deaf girl
1981
Acting Portfolio: FILM
Inside Out
Maria
2005

Firedog
Voice of Haley
2005

Half Past Dead
49er Six
2002

The Riff
Heather Anderson
2001

Alone with a Stranger
Beth Jenkins
2000

Blues Brothers 2000
Lieutenant Elizondo
1998

Improper Conduct
Bernie
1994

I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore
Theresa Garabaldi
1992

DeepStar Six
Scarpelli
1989

North Shore
Kiani
1987
Awards & Acclaim
Image Awards Nomination, Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series (2009; for The Young and the Restless)
Vital Statistics

PLACE OF BIRTH: Hollywood, California

DATE OF BIRTH: December 10th, 1961

HEIGHT: 5'2"

MARITAL STATUS: Divorced; Guy Ecker [May 26th, 1984 to 1986]

MARITAL STATUS: Divorced; Howard Hewett [1989 - 1993]

MARITAL STATUS: Divorced; Lauro Chartrand [Nov 22, 1997 to Jun 1st, 2004]

CHILDREN: Two

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