Rival Mag LA Talks to Natasha Calis aka 'Nurse Ashley Collins' from NBC's hit drama Nurses

Natasha Calis discusses growing up on set & her newest role on NBC'S Nurses.

There is a misconception of child actors in Hollywood by the general public that these children are forced into acting by money or fame seeking families. Natasha Calis, starring on NBC's new show Nurses is a well rounded actress that got her start at the early age of seven. As a mother and actress myself that often acts with my own children it's refreshing to hear Natasha's positive experiences from growing up on set, and why she loves her current role on Nurses.

RIVAL: You started out acting as a child. What is your first/ most memorable memory of acting as a kid?

NC: One of my first movies was a Christmas movie I did with Shannen Doherty. It was my first on set experience and Shannen was absolutely amazing at making it so incredibly special for me. We became so close while filming, she completely took me under her wing. It was so much fun and an experience/memory I will cherish in my heart forever.

RIVAL: That's so wonderful to hear. Often people assume that kids on set are not treated well. I love hearing that you had a great experience and have fond memories from that movie. Was acting something you were drawn to as a kid or is it something your parents put you into and then you thrived?

NC: Acting was something I was always doing as a kid, just innately. Movies and characters fascinated me and I would love studying them and reenacting them. My parents saw this but waited until I was old enough to actually decide for myself if I wanted to take it to the next step. So, when I was seven, they got me an agent and the rest is history.

RIVAL: What advice would you give to parents of young actors?

NC: Make sure it is something they are truly passionate about. It’s a tough industry. The passion and love for the craft needs to be the driving factor.

RIVAL: It's often hard for children to transition to adult roles, what was your experience with this?
NC: I made having “normal” teenage years and a high school experience a priority. I wanted to have all the life experience I could to grow into the young adult I am and to then use those experiences to draw from and shape my characters. I think that really helped.

RIVAL: What role has been your favorite to this point?

NC: My role in The Possession was such a game changer for me. It was a very intense role at such a young age and so it taught me a lot about myself as an actor and I really discovered my range. Had a lot of fun while doing it too

RIVAL: What's your dream role?

NC: Like a Laura Croft Tomb Raider type role. Being a badass action hero would be amazing and has always been a dream of mine. There are pictures of me at like 5 years old pretending to be her lol.

RIVAL: What's your favorite part of being on a TV show like Nurses?

NC: Getting to tell the stories of nurses that often aren’t touched on in other medical shows. Now more than ever, it’s a really important thing to do and I feel honored to be a part of this show and to do my part in bringing these stories to life. Healthcare professionals are definitely overwork

RIVAL: Do you have special tricks for learning the medical terms?

NC: Repetition. Plugging them into Google and hearing the automated voice say it over and over also really helps.

RIVAL: Is there a particular actor or actress that inspires you and you hope to emulate in your career?

NC: If so what draws you to them? Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman are a few actresses that I really look up to and are incredibly inspiring to me

RIVAL: Those are some incredible women! What's your method for getting into character? For example, some actors use the character's shoes, or development music playlists to help connect to the character.

NC: That process differs from character to character for me. One thing I do though that remains consistent is that I read the script 4-5 times before anything else

The reason misfortune and sadness are often assumed experiences of kids growing up in Hollywood is because there are some very famous examples of that experience. However, it's important to remember there are so many wonderful child actors who thrived in the arts. One that comes to mind immediately is Ron Howard; who got his start on The Andy Griffith Show and now is a household name. Natasha pointed out that "Acting was something I was always doing as a kid, just innately" and her parents took notice of these interests. Her parents gave her tools to nurture her passion and that support gave her a strong foundation to launch from. Each of us are born with unique talents and most of us spend our lives trying to figure out what those are and who we want to be. It's beautiful to hear how Natasha got her start and hopefully a reminder to all of us that we can help people in our lives pursue their dreams by being a source of encouragement and support

Photo credits – Photography // Noah Asanias @noahasanias | Makeup Artist // Min-Jee Mowat @minjee.Mowat | Styling Artist // Joanna Kulpa @joannakulpastylist | Hair Artist // Jade Kugelman @jadekugelmanhair

Meet the Author

Kristina looks Midwestern but this girl was born and raised in the jungles of Africa. A mix of cultures herself, Kristina knows people aren't always what they seem. She loves meeting new people and seeing their hearts. She is a mom and for the past 10 years also a military spouse. Kristina is also an actress and hopes to teach her children that with hard work dreams can come true. @kristinaburke16