Nicole Leier is an actor, a producer, a director, and an activist. She’s African Canadian, she’s currently in LA, and she’s been nominated for two Leo Awards for acting: one in 2017 for Black Chicks – which was written and directed by Neil LaBute and explores race and racism in cishet relationships – and another this year for A Score to Settle, in which she acted opposite Nicolas Cage.

Over the last few days – while millions of people around the world, including in 140 American cities, have flooded the streets in peaceful protest, heartbroken and enraged by the murder of George Floyd – Nicole has been active on her Instagram page. She’s recorded numerous IG Live videos about the protests in LA, about #BlackLivesMatter, and about the work she’s doing and that still needs to be done. She’s currently collaborating with Farrah Aviva’s Bite The Bullet Stories, and shared a story of her own about her experience with police violence and harassment in Canada.

In this special episode of the YVR Screen Scene Podcast, Nicole talks about the intersection of race and the film industry, why she was determined to make Black Chicks with Neil LaBute, and her message to Canadians who want to do better. Episode sponsor: UBCP/ACTRA