Biography

Nija is a proud South Bronx, NY native. She is a graduate of Juilliard where she received a full, merit-based scholarship. While there she also received the Marian Seldes Award. She also is a graduate of LaGuardia (the Fame school).

For her stage work, Nija recently starred in BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY as ‘Angel’, directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum. This production was recently named one of the best plays of 2022 by Charles McNulty of the LA Times. She has also played ‘Rena’ in the National Broadway Tour of JITNEY directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, ‘Risa’ in August Wilson’ TWO TRAINS RUNNING at the Matrix directed by Michele Shay, ‘Zoey’ in the 2018 world premiere of the Matthew Lopez play ZOEY’S PERFECT WEDDING at Denver Center, as ‘Jo’ in the Geffen Playhouse’s West Coast Premiere of THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE as well as ‘Dussie Mae’ in August Wilson’s MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum.

Regionally, she starred in THE MOUNTAINTOP (Cape May Stage), BOSSA NOVA (Sundance Theatre Lab), FOR COLORED GIRLS… (Aaron Davis Hall), A CHASTE MAID IN CHEAPSIDE (Aaron Davis Hall), BLUEPRINTS TO FREEDOM (La Jolla Playhouse) AND JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Mark Taper Forum).

Nija has received, for her theatrical work, four LA Drama Circle Awards and an Ovation Award, among many others.

On the small screen, Nija has guest starred on such shows as 9-1-1: LONE STAR, ANIMAL KINGDOM, THE DUECE, HAIL MARY (opposite Minnie Driver), SOUTHLAND as well as the Duplass Brothers Productions’ Showtime series CINEMA TOAST directed by Marta Cunningham. She recurred as ‘Alma’ in the second season of the Crackle series START UP starring Adam Brody and as ‘Nessa’ in the “Due North” series within a series on HBO’s INSECURE opposite Regina Hall, Scott Foley and Michael Jai White as well as on MONDAY MORNINGS starring Alfred Molina and Ving Rhames. Currently Nija can be seen in the Disney+ film HOLLYWOOD STARGIRL with Uma Thurman, Judd Hirsch and Judy Greer. She also stars as ‘Florence Gilpin’ in the independent feature film THE BLACK EMPEROR OF BROADWAY and has a lead role in THE STAY opposite Rob Mayes. Next up, Nija star’s in the thriller REBROKEN opposite Tobin Bell.

Nija is currently based in Los Angeles.