'No Good Nick' season 1B: Siena Agudong promises big reveal for Nicole, aka 'Nick', in episode 15 of Netflix series
Siena Agudong has struck the right chord with her role as a street-smart con artist Nicole, aka "Nick", in the Netflix series 'No Good Nick'. Born and raised in Hawaii, she started her career as a child actress at the age of seven. Known for her roles in the Nickelodeon series 'Star Falls' and the film 'Alex & Me', she earned much recognition with several Young Artist Award and Young Entertainer Award nominations since 2015 and an award for Best Guest Starring Young Actress – 12 & Under in 2017.
As the second part of season one gets ready for release, Siena sheds light on her major challenges and the big points of the show in an exclusive interview with MEA World Wide (MEAWW). Recalling how she first got the part, Siena said, "So, I first saw the script. I remember reading it and I was like 'I really want to be on this project and I really want to experience this.' I just was immediately drawn to how complex the series is and how topsy turvy the plotlines are. Even though it is a dramedy, it has these cliffhangers at the end of each episode and that was really special as it made the show unpredictable. So, at the audition, I was like, I really want it and I want to try hard for this. Then I went through all the audition steps, callbacks and finally got to the test. I remember when they told me [I was selected], I was like literally in the studio and I screamed so loud."
The comedy web television series is unique as it is played in front of a live audience. Calling it an "awesome" way of presentation, Siena said, "We can see the audience reaction right in front of us to certain twists. At times, the humor makes them laugh and the cliffhangers make them shocked. This one time, there was this big twist that happens, and at the end of the scene, someone in the audience loudly said 'Oh my gosh'. We still kept the reaction in the cut and it is quite a lot of fun."
Delving deeper into how her character Nick's journey will differ in the second part as compared to the first 10 episodes, she said, "In part one, there was a lot of pressure on her but the stakes are not as high in part two. She has much more pressure on her because she's earning the money for her dad so these things are piling up on her. In part two, she questions things as she gets closer to her dad and wonders which path to choose. There's a lot of drama in part two, there are lots of twists and turns, there is still a bit of comedy. I would say the second part focuses a lot on her job."
On playing a child in the series, she added, "Nick does start to see a new side in herself as a kid because she starts to find her family. There's another side to her. She starts to fade. Without giving anything away, I would say there is too much on her mind and when things get tough, she questions everything and there's a lot more pressure on her."
What was the most challenging aspect of filming her character? "Everything she does has a deep intention underlined beneath. She does bad things but they are ultimately for a good reason. The toughest was to film the emotional scenes. I like doing drama and stuff but emotions are hard because it's something deeper and you have to get to that moment of being overwhelmed. Even though it was my favourite part, it was also really hard."
Nick's choices are quite divided. So, was it difficult for Siena to rationalize what she was doing in the show. "Even though the things she is doing are not right, but in hindsight, it can be seen that there is a reason behind it. Dropping a major hint, she said that "in episode 15, a lot is revealed" and the audience will be like: 'Wait a second, who do I root for?' She has intentions and knows she has to do a certain thing but ends up doing something else. Confronting her dad is one of the pivotal points as he is putting a lot of pressure on her. I think that is one of her big mistakes," she said, adding, "The second part will reveal several secrets and flaws of the characters and it may get more intense."
Filming with actors Sean Astin (Ed) and Melissa Joan Hart (Liz) was an "incredible" experience for Siena. "They are like my parents but they also treat me like an actor and they give me notes, tips, and advice which I really respect because it helps me get in the moment and grasp the right amount of drama. They also give me advice as if I was their own child about life in general, friends and family and the industry. I love it because they're just the sweetest and most caring people."
Talking about her future projects, Siena said, "I am thrilled and grateful as I just finished filming an Indie film 'Let Us In', which is a sci-fi thriller, directed by Craig Moss. It also stars Makenzie Moss, Mackenzie Ziegler and a bunch of new actors. I just found out I landed two roles in two more movies and I am really excited about that."
