BY: JESSE ZAPATERO

Best known for his breakout role in the romantic comedy "The Thing About Harry" and his current portrayal of Dr. Lucas Adams in the long-running medical drama "Grey's Anatomy," Niko's story is as inspiring as it is intriguing.

Raised in Barbados, Niko developed a unique perspective on life and acting.

"Growing up in a place like Barbados, you really learn to see the beauty in everyday life," he reflects.

"Being a small island, there aren’t a lot of distractions. It really allows you to be present and focus on the quality of your life and interactions. Whether that be spending time in nature or building genuine connections with your friends and family."

In this exclusive interview, Niko opens up about his formative years on the island, the dramatic transition to New York City, and how his Barbadian roots have influenced his acting career. He discusses the challenges he faced breaking into the industry, the meticulous preparation that goes into portraying a doctor on "Grey's Anatomy," and the profound impact of joining such an iconic show.

Niko also shares his inspirations, from classic actors like Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando to the fearless career choices of Heath Ledger. He delves into the importance of his cultural background, his commitment to combating global warming, and his advice for aspiring actors.

Niko, you were raised in Barbados before moving to New York to pursue acting. How did growing up in Barbados shape you as a person and an actor? 

Growing up in a place like Barbados you really learn to see the beauty in everyday life. Being a small island, there aren’t a lot of distractions. It really allows you to be present and focus on the quality of your life and interactions. Whether that be spending time in nature or building genuine connections with your friends and family. As an actor part of your job is to be present and empathize with people. These are all characteristics I believe you start to pick up naturally growing up in place like Barbados. 

What was the transition like moving from Barbados to New York, and how did that experience influence your approach to acting? 

The change of pace was definitely quite dramatic. NYC has an energy that is unlike anywhere else in the world. Luckily I was prepared for it. I’ve considered NY like a second home from ever since I could remember. We would travel there almost every summer. I think I realized pretty quickly that who you are as an actor is all about your unique perspective. I knew I didn’t always fit in energetically, but I always saw it as an asset. I believe it’s definitely benefited me in my acting career. 

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when you first started out in the industry, and how did you overcome them? 

Probably the lack of control you seem to have at the start of your career. It’s weird because with a lot of different types of art you can create and work it on your own. But with acting you need other people involved for the most part. You need writers, other actors, producers. You need other people to say yes and that can be quite rare in the early stages of your career. 

In 2022, you started playing Dr. Lucas Adams on 'Grey's Anatomy.' How did you prepare for the role of a doctor, and what research did you do to bring authenticity to your character? 

There were a lot of bootcamps involved. The other interns and I had to learn a lot of different basic skills so that we really looked like we knew what we were doing during scenes. We also met with many surgeons and nurses to get an idea of what day to day life was like in that industry. That was one of the most fun parts of creating Lucas’ character.

How has joining the cast of such an iconic show like 'Grey's Anatomy' impacted your career and personal life? 

It has tremendously impacted both. It has always been a dream to be able to work with that level of material and such talented cast. And also for it to have such an impact on so many different people is incredible. Career-wise I could ask for a better environment to learn and progress as an actor. Working alongside such incredible talents in the industry is invaluable. 

Who have been your biggest inspirations and mentors in the acting world, and how have they influenced your work? 

I have such a fondness for actors like Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando and James Dean. They changed the landscape of acting in such a profound way. They brought a vulnerability to their roles that was unique for the time. I admire that and it definitely inspires me today. More contemporarily, I would say the career of Heath Ledger had been influential. I admire the bravery he showed in choosing his roles, and how he always sought to chart his own course and push himself. 

Can you share a particular moment or experience on set that has had a lasting impact on you as an actor? 

I don’t think I have one moment that I can point to. It’s mainly just a buildup of a ton of small moments. I’m still so early on so maybe that moment has yet to come. 

Outside of acting, what are some of your hobbies and passions? How do they contribute to your creative process? 

I believe that how I live my life outside of acting is the biggest contributor to my creativity. I like to collect experiences so that I can use them to help tell stories in unique and interesting ways. I love to travel and take in new cultures, play many different sports and spend a lot of time in nature. If you can’t get a hold of me then there is a good chance I’m out on the water or in a tree somewhere. 

Looking ahead, what types of roles or projects are you most excited to pursue, and what do you hope to achieve in your career? 

I am most intrigued by projects that allow me to step in to a world that I have no idea about. Whether that means being a doctor, like in Greys, or someone who flies dragons for a living. So looking forward I just hope to be surprised by my next role and learn something new. 

How do you see your cultural background influencing the roles you choose and the stories you want to tell? 

Growing up I would realize that a good amount people in other parts of the world either didn’t know where Barbados was or couldn’t imagine what it was like growing up there. This was also before social media was as expansive as it is now. But I think seeing that has made me gravitate to wanting to tell stories that haven’t been told before or at least haven’t been told very often. And I think that has been a through line in my career so far. 

What advice would you give to aspiring actors, especially those from diverse backgrounds, who are looking to break into the industry? 

I would say do your very best to surround yourself with people who are as driven as you and are doing what you want to be doing. If you live in a small town or a small island and there isn’t a lot of opportunity. Then see what you can do to go somewhere where there are. Or learn to write and produce so that you can create those opportunities yourself in your area. There’s going to be a lot of doubts from yourself and others. But if you know this is what you want to do, then do your best to drown those doubts out. 

You're very passionate about combating global warming. What drives your commitment to this cause, and what actions are you taking to contribute to the fight against climate change?

What drives my commitment to this cause is that I love this earth. Nature is the most beautiful thing to me. It’s truly so mesmerizing. And when you cherish something your instinct is to do your best to protect it. I’m still in the early stages, but I’ve been meeting with many people involved in the fight. Such as meeting with the Barbados government and learning about their Roofs to Reefs program. As a result of my career, the biggest help I can provide is to bring people together and make people aware of these initiatives and how they can help. 

Can you give us a glimpse into your upcoming projects? What exciting roles or endeavors do you have lined up next? 

I don’t think I can say too much but I will say that I’m very excited for what is to come. 

Can you tell us about the moment or experience when you discovered your passion for acting? What was it that made you decide to pursue this career? 

There’s really two moments I can point to and they were also my earliest memories. One is witnessing my mum act growing up. She would do plays in Barbados and also taught acting classes in our front yard. Another would be watching Harry Potter for the first time. I remember just wishing to be one of those kids and going through those experiences. And I guess i realized the closest I could get to being an actual wizard was to become an actor. 

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

If I were a book it would be The Little Prince. I think that book really sums up my approach to life and how I witness the world. If you haven’t read it then I’d definitely recommend you do, no matter your age.