NICOLE GULASEKHARAM

 "I come from a family of accountants and financial planners - very sensible, practical people. My mum is the youngest of twelve, and my dad migrated from Sri Lanka as a child (hence the long last name), meaning I was brought up to fit in like my life depended on it! 

So, you can imagine my family's horror when at nine years old, I was cast in the lead role of Annie for the 2001 national production opposite Anthony Warlow. From that point on, I was doomed - completely enamoured with performing and storytelling. It was the first time I experienced the magic of a room full of strangers suddenly sharing the same emotional moment.

From there, I continued working as an actor across television, film and theatre, appearing in projects including As the Bell Rings, Matching Jack, Barracuda, and most recently the upcoming comedy-horror series Gnomes opposite Asa Butterfield.

Alongside acting, I’ve always loved creating my own work - from sketches and web series to live comedy and short films. I’m drawn to stories that sit in the space between comedy and empathy, exploring messy human behaviour with both humour and compassion.

A lot of my work centres around social observation, emotional labour, identity, and the strange systems we spend our lives navigating. I’m particularly interested in stories that connect people with different perspectives, and help them to recognise something of themselves in each other.

I’m currently developing the mockumentary sitcom Casual Receptionist of the Quarter, inspired by my real-life experience working at the front desk of a commercial gym for the past twelve years."