Meet Nika Gordeziani | Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nika Gordeziani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nika, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’m a simple guy. I’m inspired by the purest forms of life: nature; sounds; elements and of course people.
But nature it’s on top of my list of inspirations.
From a young age I was an observer.
I would observe people, I would observe the apple trees at my grandfather’s countryside house, I would observe the vineyards, the birds, all the environment, and I developed the ability to listen, which is a crucial skill for an actor.
By doing that I was never bored, I’m never bored.
Nature is always speaking.
I get my inspiration from observing and listening. That’s how I open the gates of my imagination.
Inspiration to me is the fuel of imagination and I’m the type of person that seeks this fuel. It gives me purpose, it moves my soul.
To think that everything ever created, ever dreamed, ever achieved is moved by people’s individual inspirations proves to me how we live in an inspiring world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m lucky to have started my career early in my life when it didn’t feel like work and I didn’t have the pressure of adult life to find my calling. I got introduced to the theater when I was 13 and had my first professional theater experience at 15.
When I was on that stage, I was sure that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I was even luckier to have had the opportunity of being trained by some of the best artists in my country, Georgia.
It all happened very smoothly and from theater, I transitioned to tv and from tv to movies.
My career grew very quickly.
From being part of incredibly talented ensembles in European Theater, to being part of audience record breaker’s TV shows in Georgia from having been part of amazing movies with outstanding filmmakers, give me so much to be proud of.

To cite some of my works, I’m very proud of the TV show “Herokratia”, which was relevant to my country’s political reality and where I had to portray a real-life person, I put a lot of effort and research to create that character and luckily it all paid off, the show became the most-watched tv show by time. I’d like to mention another show that basically put me on radar and brought me to fame in Georgia, it was called “With Us”. I’m also very proud of the international Chinese procedural “The Mask”, where I got to act along with one of the biggest stars of Georgia and China, including Hollywood actor Ryan Zheng.

Early in my 20,s I became a known face in my country and that opened the doors for me to pursuit an international career.
This has been my biggest challenge, to re-establish myself as an actor in a different country.
There are so many barriers a foreigner faces through immigration, and there are many more on top for immigrants who are pursuing an acting career.

I take these challenges with a lot of pride and encouragement.
This experience has helped me shape the better version yet of myself, and there is so much to achieve, so much more growth. I can’t express my excitement.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In my opinion, the coolest neighborhoods to hang out in are on the East side of LA. Los Feliz, Silverlake, Echo Park, Highland Park and Arts District in DTLA.
As for restaurants, if my friends are visiting, I always take them to Quarters Korean BBQ, because they would only have this experience in LA. Despite that, this is my favorite restaurants’ list:
Bacari in Silverlake, a vibey outdoor restaurant, tapas-style with amazing food and cocktails;
Bowery Bungalow, also in Silverlake, another vibey spot with the most amazing middle eastern food you can find in town;
Wabi on Rose, in Venice, for the best sushi and for best Italian food, with no doubt I suggest La Pergoletta, a small neighborhood restaurant hidden in the heart of Los Feliz.
Now talking about bars and venues with the most fun and interesting crowd, my number 1 is Gold Line in Highland Park and Lodge Room right next to Gold Line.
I would also highly recommend all the options of free museums this town has to offer. It’s amazing how accessible culture is here, one of my personal favorites is The Broad, but I highly recommend the Huntington Library, MOMA, and the Getty Center.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A lot of people were important in my journey. To all my mom for having introducing me to the arts and for all her support for my choices; a big shout out to my acting coaches, Goga Pipinashvili and Nanuka Khuskivadze, for their mentorship and for giving me love, passion and knowledge to the craft; to artists, writers and philosophers like Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Alan Watts, that taught me so much through their words and gave me insights into human nature.
Shoutout to Mr. Kerry Haynie for his guidance, support, and for sharing experiences in the industry.
And finally for my partner and driving force, Luciana Mello, for the love and endless encouragement.
I’m blessed for having these people in my life and I’m very grateful to have come across many more amazing individuals throughout my life.

Instagram: @nikushagordeziani

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikushagordeza/

Image Credits
Headshot by Anthony Anastasi