Julia Nickson

{{Infobox person

| name = Julia Nickson

| image = Julia Nickson (cropped).jpg

| caption = Nickson on the set of Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| other_names = Julia Nickson-Soul

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1982–2025{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DHzg-dsJaFd/ |date=2025-03-29 |url-access=limited|title=I have retired for personal reasons. I grew up in Singapore where most of our moms didn’t have careers. Working over 40 years in the US has been an extraordinary journey with many ups and downs. Feeling extraordinarily grateful for so many talented actors I have had the opportunity to be with on the screen. Forever grateful ❤️ #PeacefulDays #HappyMemories #LoveAlways 😘|last=Nickson|first=Julia|website=Instagram.com|access-date=2025-04-16}}{{cbignore}}

| spouse = {{marriage|David Soul|1987|1993|reason=divorced}}

| children = China Soul

}}

Julia Nickson is an American{{fact|date=May 2025}} actress. She first came to the attention of audiences in the United States in the Sylvester Stallone film Rambo: First Blood Part II. She appeared in the 2004 film Ethan Mao and in the 2008 independent film Half-Life.

Early years

Nickson is the daughter of a British father and a Chinese mother.{{cite news |last1=Crockett |first1=Lane |title='Around the World' in six hours |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-julia-nickson/171314115/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=Florida Today |agency=Gannett News Service |date=April 16, 1989 |location=Florida, Cocoa |page=15}} After her father's death in an automobile accident when she was 6, Nickson and her mother had to live in a house with three more families. Her grandmother often watched Chinese operas on television, and that kindled Nickson's interest in performing. When she was 17 she left Singapore to study at the University of Hawaii.{{cite news |title=80 dazed days: Julia Nickson keeps 'em in the air |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/el-paso-herald-post-julia-nickson/171317684/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=El Paso Herald-Post |agency=United Media Enterprises |date=April 15, 1989 |page=46|via = Newspapers.com }} Her successful audition for a play while she was there led to a shift in interest from business administration to drama. She left the university after two years to work as a model, study acting, and perform in community theater productions.{{cite news |last1=Hilton |first1=Pat |title=From 'Rambo' gloom to miniseries glory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-julia-nickson/171314697/ |access-date=April 29, 2025 |work=USA Today |date=February 24, 1988 |location=Virginia, McLean |page=8|via = Newspapers.com }}

Career

While attending the University of Hawaiʻi, Nickson was a model in Honolulu. There she appeared in her first play, The Winter's Tale. After acting classes, community theater, and roles on Magnum, P.I., she appeared as the female lead in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985).{{cite news |last=Kempley |first=Rita |date=24 May 1985 |title='Rambo': Pumping Iron, Spraying Blood |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/05/24/rambo-pumping-iron-spraying-blood/d6c2631d-f9e4-4bd3-ba76-f471321c182d/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2 March 2018}}[http://www.chssc.org/honorees/2006/julianickson.htm The Chinese Historical Society of Southern California 2006 Honorees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001022150/http://www.chssc.org/honorees/2006/julianickson.htm |date= 1 October 2011 }}: A Salute to Chinese American Actors She appeared with Chuck Norris in Sidekicks (1992).

Her other film appearances have included roles in Glitch! (1988), China Cry (1991), K2 (1992), Double Dragon (1994), White Tiger (1996), Devil in the Flesh (1998), Ethan Mao (2004), Half-Life (2008), Dim Sum Funeral (2008), and One Kine Day (2011).

Nickson guest starred in the final episode of seaQuest 2032 as Lieutenant Commander Heiko Kimura, a role that would have been a main character had the series continued, and in two Star Trek series: The Next Generation episode "The Arsenal of Freedom" as Enterprise-D crewmember Ensign Lian T'su, and the Deep Space Nine episode "Paradise" as Cassandra, a villager who attempts to seduce Commander Benjamin Sisko. She played Catherine Sakai, Commander Jeffrey Sinclair's love-interest, in the first season of Babylon 5.

She had a recurring role as Dr. Susan Lee on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger (reuniting her with Chuck Norris), and as Princess Aouda in the 1989 miniseries version of Around the World in 80 Days opposite Pierce Brosnan and Eric Idle. She had a supporting role in the television version of the novel Noble House, again opposite Brosnan.{{cite news |last=Broeske |first=Pat H. |date=6 September 1987 |title=RAMBETTE NO MORE |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-09-06-ca-6325-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2 March 2018}}

Julia retired for personal reasons on March 29, 2025

Personal life

Nickson was married to actor/singer David Soul from 1987 to 1993. They have one daughter, China Soul, a singer/songwriter.{{cite web |url=http://chinasoul.co.uk/node/4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016230407/http://chinasoul.co.uk/node/4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2016 |title=Biography |website=China Soul: OFFICIAL WEBSITE |access-date=16 October 2016}}

She was a practising Scientologist, having joined the Church of Scientology in 1996. She credited the organization with helping to improve her health.{{cite web |url=http://www.our-home.org/julianickson/success.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301065641/http://www.our-home.org/julianickson/success.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 March 2012 |title=Scientology Success – Julia Nickson a Scientologist |website=Scientology Success |access-date=1 March 2012}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1985 \| Rambo: First Blood Part II \| Agent Co Phuong Bao \|
1987 \| Tian guan ci fu \| Julia \|
1988 \| Glitch! \| Michelle Wong \|
1988 \| Chiari di luna \| Yumi \|
1990 \| China Cry \| Sung Neng Yee \|
1991 \| K2 \| Cindy \|
1992 \| Sidekicks \| Noreen Chan \|
1993 \| Amityville: A New Generation \| Suki \| Direct-to-video
1993 \| Bei mei \| \|
1994 \| Double Dragon \| Satori Imada \|
1996 \| White Tiger \| Jade \|
1998 \| Devil in the Flesh \| Anna Nakashi \| Direct-to-video
1999 \| Life Tastes Good \| The Woman \|
2004 \| Skin Trade \| The Lady Ping \| Short film
2004 \| Ethan Mao \| Sarah Mao \|
2005 \| Final Approach \| Hanna Reitsch \| Direct-to-video
2007 \| Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter \| Detective \| Uncredited
2008 \| Half-Life \| Saura Wu \|
2008 \| Dim Sum Funeral \| Elizabeth \|
2008 \| Lost Warrior: Left Behind \| Police Sergeant \| Direct-to-video
2011 \| One Kine Day \| Suzie \|
2016 \| Beyond the Game \| Police Sergeant \|
2016 \| The Unbidden \| Kat \|
2018 \| Ready Player One \| JN / Commuter \| Uncredited

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1985

| Rambo: First Blood Part II

| Agent Co Phuong Bao

1987

| Tian guan ci fu

| Julia

1988

| Glitch!

| Michelle Wong

1988

| Chiari di luna

| Yumi

1990

| China Cry

| Sung Neng Yee

1991

| K2

| Cindy

1992

| Sidekicks

| Noreen Chan

1993

| Amityville: A New Generation

| Suki

| Direct-to-video

1993

| Bei mei

1994

| Double Dragon

| Satori Imada

1996

| White Tiger

| Jade

1998

| Devil in the Flesh

| Anna Nakashi

| Direct-to-video

1999

| Life Tastes Good

| The Woman

2004

| Skin Trade

| The Lady Ping

| Short film

2004

| Ethan Mao

| Sarah Mao

2005

| Final Approach

| Hanna Reitsch

| Direct-to-video

2007

| Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter

| Detective

| Uncredited

2008

| Half-Life

| Saura Wu

2008

| Dim Sum Funeral

| Elizabeth

2008

| Lost Warrior: Left Behind

| Police Sergeant

| Direct-to-video

2011

| One Kine Day

| Suzie

2016

| Beyond the Game

| Police Sergeant

2016

| The Unbidden

| Kat

2018

| Ready Player One

| JN / Commuter

| Uncredited

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1982–1983 \| Magnum, P.I. \| Carla / Lani \| 2 episodes
1985 \| Airwolf \| Minh Van McBride \| Episode: "Half-Pint"
1987 \| Harry's Hong Kong \| Mei Ling \| Television film
1987 \| Crime Story \| Lizard Woman \| Episode: "Love Hurts"
1988 \| Noble House \| Orlanda Ramos \| Television miniseries
1988 \| Star Trek: The Next Generation \| Ensign Lian T'Su \| Episode: "The Arsenal of Freedom"
1989 \| Around the World in 80 Days \| Princess Aouda \| Television miniseries
1989 \| Man Against the Mob: The Chinatown Murders \| Kaylie \| Television film
1990 \| The Girl Who Came Between Them \| Nhung \| Television film
1991 \| Silverfox \| Shimoi Chen \| Television film
1992 \| The Fifth Corner \| \| 5 episodes
1993 \| Kung Fu: The Legend Continues \| Connie \| Episode: "Illusion"
1993 \| Dark Justice \| \| 2 episodes
1993 \| South of Sunset \| Jade \| Episode: "Custody"
1994 \| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine \| Cassandra \| Episode: "Paradise"
1994 \| Babylon 5 \| Catherine Sakai \| 3 episodes
1994–1995 \| One West Waikiki \| Laura Greystone \| 2 episodes
1995 \| Chicago Hope \| Leigh Sun \| Episode: "A Coupla Stiffs"
1995 \| The Marshal \| Lilly Chin \| Episode: "Love Is Strange"
1996 \| SeaQuest 2032 \| Lieutenant Commander Heiko Kimura \| Episode: "Weapons of War"
1996–1998 \| Walker, Texas Ranger \| Dr. Susan Lee \| 3 episodes
1999 \| The Wild Thornberrys \| Malay Wallah / Kid / Malay Woman / Wallah (voice) \| 2 episodes
1999 \| L.A. Heat \| Qiu Donnolly \| Episode: "Little Saigon"
1999 \| The Young and the Restless \| Ellen \| Episode: #1.6629
1999–2001 \| Nash Bridges \| Mindy / Denise Minato \| 2 episodes
2000 \| JAG \| Lynne Kennedy \| Episode: "JAG TV"
2001 \| The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie \| Villager / Forest Animal / Donnie's Mother (voice) \| Television film
2001 \| Love Bytes \| Rambo \|
2002 \| The Division \| Jasmine \| Episode: "Brave New World"
2002 \| Power Rangers Wild Force \| Mrs. Enrile \| Episode: "A Father's Footsteps"
2003 \| Days of Our Lives \| Real Estate Agent \| Episode: #1.9543
2008 \| Family Man \| Janet Loveland \| Television film
2009 \| Castle \| Mrs. Lee \| Episode: "Hedge Fund Homeboys"
2010 \| Seven Days \| Anita \| Television film
2010 \| Rex Is Not Your Lawyer \| Judge Lauren Arvale \| Episode: "Pilot"
2016 \| Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce \| \| Episode: "Rule #14: No Means... No"

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Title

! Role

! class="unsortable" | Notes

1982–1983

| Magnum, P.I.

| Carla / Lani

| 2 episodes

1985

| Airwolf

| Minh Van McBride