When she was younger, Nicole Ari Parker wanted to be many things: Diana Ross, Wilona from "Good Times," a doctor, a schoolteacher, even a superhero. But through all her fleeting childhood fancies, one thing this caramel complexion beauty always knew, was that she wanted to be an actress. Growing up the only child of divorced parents, Parker found that spending hours acting out her own plays was not only a great way to pass time, it provided her with company. The imaginary worlds she created would turn out to be a lifelong escape for the talented actress, whose living room productions were the first step toward a successful acting career.Parker attended a private all-girls school in Baltimore where she was one of only a handful of non-white students. She says it was the support of her parents that saved her from "spiraling down into a budding identity crisis." Far from having a breakdown, or feeling insecure in any way, Parker excelled in her academics, despite being a notorious class clown. She also acted in local theater productions and by the time she graduated high school, was confident in her choice to pursue acting in college. Though she had already won a statewide acting competition playing "The Madwoman of Chaillot," her parents were still not thrilled with the idea of her acting full time. Not one to be swayed from her dream, Parker secretly auditioned for a spot in NYU's selective drama program. When she told her parents she was accepted, they finally came around to giving her their full support and off went the young actress to the big city.
It was during her time at NYU that Parker landed an agent, whom she met while performing "King Lear" in drag. Parker was still working as a "volunteer" actor during her school years and those that followed, despite going to auditions frequently. To pay the rent while taking non-paying acting gigs, she worked as a phone operator in the trendy Paramount Hotel as well as several small jobs in the garment industry. Gradually however, her theater rolls began to pick up and Parker set her sights on being a Broadway star. But before she made it to the big stage, she was called to the big screen. Parker made her feature debut in the indie cult classic "The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love" in 1995. She starred as a young woman embarking on her first lesbian relationship. At 25, this was a daring role for Parker, as the film contained sex scenes so explicit, it nearly earned a NC-17 rating.
This bold debut was followed by some TV movie work and some other roles in low budget films. In 1997, Parker appeared in the Paul Thomas Anderson's porn epic "Boogie Nights" and in 1999 appeared in the Gen-X flick "200 Cigarettes." Next came a slew of small roles in increasingly mainstream films such as "A Map of the World" and "Blue Streak," both in 1999 as well. Parker was still very much a player on the sidelines at this point, but she was quickly amassing an impressive resume. Her status as the pretty girl in the background was about to change though; the big break came in 2000, when she was cast in the Showtime series "Soul Food."
Based on the movie of the same name "Soul Food" was a drama about three African American sisters. Parker played the eldest sister, Teri Joseph (who was played by Vanessa Williams in the film version). The series was a success and Parker's portrayal of the controlling attorney Teri has earned her widespread recognition. That same year she appeared in "Remember the Titans" as Denzel Washington's wife. Parker's career had begun to pick up steam and the young actress found the offers pouring in. Her dazzling beauty and versatile talent made her in high demand for a variety of roles. She had a recurring role in the 1999-2000 series of "Cosby" and later guest starred in the drama "C.S.I."
Also in 2000, Parker appeared in the film "Dancing in September," where she played a television executive struggling with the challenges of producing a black television show. Parker felt this was a role especially close to her heart, having learned first hand the difficulties of starring in one of the only successful black dramas on the air. She found she was often asked the significance of being a prominent black actress and while she acknowledges race is a factor in the entertainment industry, she also believes black women must work not to limit their own possibilities. While her next project was the urban romance "Brown Sugar," (2002) starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, Parker is looking for roles traditionally saved for her porcelain skinned counterparts. She would like to star in some kind of epic romance, a lavish period piece complete with whalebone bodices delicately ringleted locks. And given Parker's determination, as well as her lifelong dedication to the art of the envisioning a character, there is little doubt she can turn whatever role she imagines for herself into a reality. Parker next appeared in “King’s Ransom” (2005), a comedy sans laughs about a millionaire businessman (Anthony Anderson) whose plot to kidnap himself to avoid a messy divorce goes awry when his numerous ene