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High Sea Talent
We speak with Aussie actor Nikolai Nikolaeff about starring in the popular local television series Sea Patrol, trying to make it in LA and his upcoming film roles…
Fluent in English and Russian - and capable of a decent American accent - the blond, blue-eyed Nikolai Nikolaeff seems destined for big things. Indeed, 28-year-old Nikolaeff has been working in television, film and on stage since his teens.
"I realised I wanted to be an actor at 12," Nikolaeff tells FILMINK. "So I enrolled in acting classes and got an agent." At 16, he won a lead role in the Australian Children's Television Foundation and Buena Vista co-production Crash Zone. "My first day of filming Crash Zone is etched into my memory. I was desperately trying to keep it together and not get overwhelmed by the process and knowing I was finally part of it."
Nikolaeff is excited to be a working actor, especially after experiencing a time when work was thin on the ground. "Sea Patrol is the show I've been waiting for, that I've been chasing for many years," Nikolaeff says of the hit series. "I'm playing a great character [cheeky Leading Seaman ‘2Dads'] and it's the perfect combination of prime time drama, exotic filming locations, and an amazing cast, crew and production team.
"Every show I've done, no matter how big the part, has been special to me," he says, referring to shows such as Round the Twist, The Saddle Club and Power Rangers. "But, to date, Sea Patrol has been the best. It's the ultimate acting gig."
Although a fifth series of Sea Patrol has been greenlit, Nikolaeff has not been resting on the laurels of his hard-won success. Like many actors hoping to ‘make it' internationally, Nikolaeff has already made the prerequisite trip to Los Angeles. "I've been busy in LA going in for meetings and getting to know the city. It really is the centre of the film world and has been eye-opening in the way they work there," Nikolaeff reveals. "Everything is so fast paced and competitive, but I wanted to be pro-active and not just waiting around for Sea Patrol."
But Sea Patrol isn't Nikolaeff's only sea-faring role of late. The short film Deeper Than Yesterday, set on a submarine (the crew of which is slowly going insane after being submerged for three months), has won prestigious awards at the Cannes and Sydney Film Festivals. "I never thought it would do as well as it has," Nikolaeff says. "But the script was great and Ariel Kleiman is a very talented director. I am extremely proud of the film and I feel privileged to work on big budget shows and then the next day be holding a boom or building a dolly rail to help out."
Nikolaeff will also appear on the big screen this year, with the Australian film The Wedding Party opening the Melbourne International Film Festival. A romantic comedy of errors, the film stars a powerhouse of homegrown talent, including Isabel Lucas (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Waiting City), and Nikolaeff's fellow Sea Patrol alumni Josh Lawson and Steve Bisley.
His role in The Wedding Party was an enjoyable challenge for Nikolaeff, who was able to put his Russian skills to good use, while also flexing his acting muscles. Nikolaeff plays Vlad, a young Russian man who is trying to stay in Australia to be with Anna (Lucas).
"Vlad was a challenge to play because although he comes across as strong, the uncertainty of his situation and absolute devotion to his girl, who is the love of his life, makes him an emotional mess inside," reveals Nikolaeff. "Trying to convey these feelings in Russian was especially challenging to do."
He's come a long way, and it is evident that Nikolaeff is grateful for his good luck. He is also hopeful for the future. "Having three seasons of Sea Patrol under my belt might help me be cast in the future because of Sea Patrol's calibre as a series and its cast," Nikolaeff reflects. "To get three series under your belt, whilst working with the best in the industry, is truly a special opportunity for an actor and one that is not lost on me."
The fourth series of Sea Patrol is currently airing on the Nine Network, Thursdays at 8:30pm. The Wedding Party opens the Melbourne International Film Festival on July 22 and will be released in cinemas later this year.