Nikki DeLoach is a woman of many talents: actress, producer, Hallmark star, philanthropist, writer, blogger, and entrepreneur. She chatted about her latest endeavors.
She will be starring in the forthcoming holiday film “The Gift of Peace” opposite Brennan Elliott. It will premiere on December 10th as part of the “Miracles of Christmas” lineup exclusively on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
“This was a hard movie to film just because of the subject matter,” she admitted. “I came into the movie very much in the same place as my character was. I play Traci, who is two years into her grief. She lost her husband and is very stuck in her life. She can’t paint anymore, she used to paint with her husband so their work and their lives were completely intertwined.”
“My father passed away last July and I didn’t realize how stuck I was, to the honest, until the first anniversary of his passing. Through the process of doing this movie, and playing Traci, I learned something similar, which is ‘we are not supposed to carry our grief for long.’ The more that we share it with other people and allow other people to help us carry our grief, the more healing it is for you,” she elaborated.
“By doing this movie, I let others help me carry my grief and I found a lot of healing in that. I hope other people when they see this movie, it affects them in the same way,” she added.
Previously, she starred in “Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate” on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries” opposite Andrew Walker. “I am working with Andrew again soon in Canada,” she foreshadowed. “I am so excited. Andrew is such a great actor, he is tremendous to work with. It is effortless and such a treat, we had a lot of fun on set working together. I am so excited to play with him again, Andrew is amazing.”
She serves as the President of the Foundation Board of Trustees for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which provided life-saving care for her son.
“We have over 150 board members, my position is a two-year position. I am so lucky that I get to do what I love to do for a living but the philanthropic areas in my life have my heart, soul, and my passion,” she said.
“I have found it very healing to give back to this hospital. It’s a safety net hospital and that’s the most important thing. No parent should ever have to decide between lesser treatment or no treatment because they either lack insurance or money. It is the No. 5 specialty hospital in the country,” she elaborated.
“This hospital is a gem that has to be protected and it will be my life’s work to make sure that this hospital always remains a safety net hospital and that the kids and the staff are always taken care of. It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles,” she added.
Speaking of the hospital, she recently helped to raise over 5.5 million dollars for their annual GALA by getting her close friend Justin Timberlake to perform. “I didn’t have to twist his arm. I have known him since we were kids. I asked him one time, and he said ‘let’s do it, and let’s make it happen.’ While Justin is very private, he shows up for the people that he loves in his life and the people that matter to him,” she said.
“That night was a testament to Justin’s big heart,” she said. “Justin did something special, he performed a 40-minute concert for everyone in the room. I will be forever grateful for what Justin did for that hospital.”
DeLoach was one of the new members of the popular 90’s cult classic show “The Mickey Mouse Club” along with Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, and Ryan Gosling.
She serves as a spokesperson for The Alzheimer’s Association in honor of her father who bravely battled Pick’s Disease, a rare form of dementia. Also recently joined the board of Mind What Matters, a non-profit that provides support to Alzheimer’s caregivers.
DeLoach revealed that she is looking forward to ChristmasCon this December in New Jersey. “I am excited,” she exclaimed. “I like that there is a giving back element to that. It’s fun and it brings people together. It is just such a happy place to be in that convention center with everyone.”
To learn more about actress Nikki DeLoach, follow her on Instagram.
