FEBRUARY 1, 2022
BY KEVIN SINCLAIR
Coat EMPORIO ARMANI.
Nick Creegan is best known for his recurring role on NBC's Law & Order: Organized Crime as Richie Wheatley. An ex-journalist-turned-actor, Nick is currently starring as Marquis Jet in season 3 of Batwoman. The New York-based actor revealed his thoughts on becoming the Joker, his relationship with his character, and what it was like to be part of such a significant project that represents diversity and change in Hollywood.
Violeta Nicola __ Was becoming an actor something you wanted from an early age, or did it happen later in life?
Nick Creegan __ I went back and forth on whether I had wanted to become an actor since I was a kid. When I was little, my favorite activity with my mom and grandmother was watching the Oscars. I've always loved films. Actors like Jim Carrey and Jamie Foxx influenced me, so whenever I saw these talents accepting awards, I would envision myself making an Oscar speech one day. But I never thought acting was a realistic career path; nobody in my family was an artist, and everyone had blue-collar jobs: teachers, nurses, and construction workers. Although acting was at the back of my mind growing up, I didn't think it would come to fruition. What set off my acting career was making an Instagram video for Comic Relief that was noticed by Oprah Winfrey's team, who asked me to audition for David Makes Man, which became my first acting role.
VN __ You were added as a series regular for season three of Batwoman for the CW Network. In a recent episode, your character, Marquis Jet, is revealed to be the Joker. That is arguably the most iconic villain in the DC Universe. How does it feel to portray such an iconic figure?
NC __ It feels amazing! When I found out I would play the Joker, my mouth dropped. I was on Zoom with the showrunner Caroline Dries, and she told me my character's arc is pretty interesting. She asked me if I knew what would happen, and I just assumed Marquis might do something bad or mischievous. She said, "Well, it's a bit more than mischievous; you become the Joker." When I think of the Joker, names like Heath Ledger, Joaquin Phoenix, and Jack Nicholson come to mind, so becoming a part of this community of actors is absolutely an honor. I recently met Jared Leto at a party in Miami. One of my friends told me he was right beside Jared Leto and wanted to introduce me. My friend said, "Jared, meet Nick! You guys both portrayed the Joker, so I think you two should meet". Jared was kind and told me just to get lost in the role, so that's what I've been doing. I'm incredibly excited for the world to see Marquis turn into the Joker.
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VN __ It feels like the industry is changing in terms of representation on screen. What do you think about that, especially with this role you will be taking on?
NC __ I think it’s a beautiful time for actors of color, people of different sexual orientations, and everyone in between. Right now is the time to let go of past ideas, and it’s beautiful to know that the world is starting to open up for all of us. When Caroline told me I would be the first Joker played as an actor of color, it put me in the mindset of a young kid. Growing up, I had not seen many super-characters who looked like me. So now, knowing that kids can watch the Joker on screen, see themselves, and say, “I wanna be the Joker for Halloween,” means a lot to me.
VN __ You were also recently seen in NBC’s new Dick Wolf series Law & Order: Organized Crime. What was that experience like? Were you a fan of the show?
NC __ I was familiar with the show; everyone has heard of it to some extent, but I cannot say I was a fan. I had never really sat down and watched it until I started to audition for it. When I got the audition, I watched all of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit because I have relatives who love it, don’t miss a week of it, and I wanted to see what the hype was about. My uncle is a huge fan, so he would call me and give me his predictions about what would happen in the upcoming week. It almost felt like we had a podcast together; every week, he interviewed me virtually about my role and the show in general. It was incredible to be a part of that project. And they’ve brought me back this season for the crossover, and I will be returning after that. People have not seen the last of Richard Wheatley yet. It was an incredible honor to get to know Dylan McDermott on a personal level. He is a great friend and a dear mentor of mine; we still speak consistently, and when I heard that I was going back on Law and Order, I texted him. We were both excited to work together again. The fact that I could do multiple episodes on such an iconic show is fantastic.
VVN __ With a background in journalism, do you hope to use those skills in the future when it comes to creating shows or movies?
NC __ I have thought about making a film or a series loosely based on my life, so I would definitely love to include pieces of that story. Also, being able to have conversations with the journalists interviewing me now is nice. I know how hard it is to make someone comfortable and open up, so I’m always super open and honest to ensure journalists get what they need. I’m also looking to do a docu-style interview series similar to Stanley Tucci's Searching for Italy. I still have a passion for journalism because it never leaves you once you get into this profession; I love asking questions about different cultures, interacting with people, and seeing new places.
VN __ As a journalist, how is the shift from being the interviewer to being interviewed? Do you feel like you have a different perspective because of your background?
NC __ I love being on the other end. I don’t have to prepare before a conversation; I do the research. I don’t have to come up with questions, so it’s fun to see how interested the interviewer is in my story because you have to do your homework beforehand. For example, you did your homework and knew I was a journalist ahead of time, which is excellent. Conversing with people is one of my favorite things to do. One of the reasons I love traveling so much is because I get to meet new people. Sometimes when I’m in a restaurant eating by myself, my favorite thing is to spark a random conversation with the person next to me. You never know what you’ll discover.
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VN __ You co-created A Balcony in Brooklyn during quarantine. What can you tell us about it?
NC __ I was at a creative roadblock during quarantine in 2020 because I hadn't worked for almost two years by then. I have friends in the creative field, and one day I was sitting down with a good friend, watching a movie by Childish Gambino called Clapping for the Wrong Reasons. As we watched it, we said; You know what would be cool? To create something that was an ode to Clapping for the Wrong Reasons centered around Covid. A Balcony in Brooklyn takes place in a dystopian society where Covid is still a thing in 2025, which, at this point, might happen. When we created the short, we thought Covid would be gone by 2021. Nick and Glad are two roommates who are starting to get to know each other. As my character tries to follow all the rules and his roommate is on the opposite end of the spectrum, you get to see them clash over their opposing views. The film explores themes of racial tension and love during COVID and is available on Vimeo.
Violeta __ How has the quarantine and the pandemic changed your mindset as an actor? Is there a specific lesson you learned during that time?
NC __ While COVID put a damper on things and, unfortunately, some people lost their lives or loved ones, for me, it was an incubation period. I saw 2020 as a time when I got to sit still and dive into myself. I meditated a lot and got into manifestation and that sort of thing. I spent a lot of time studying and taking classes with my acting coaches. As an actor and artist, 2020 showed me that life is very uncertain, so I shouldn't worry about when the next job will come; I should focus on staying ready for whenever it does.
VN __ From your social media platforms, I see that you are a travel lover. Where are some dream destinations you would like to visit in 2022? Perhaps film there?
NC __ If Covid allows me to travel, my grand plan is to spend about two months in Europe. I've been to Spain, Italy, and Portugal, but I would love to see more. Ideally, I'd use one of those places as a home base and travel to see other countries from there: Prague, Greece, and spend some time in Ireland, where my dad's roots are. And while I'm in Europe, hop over to Northern Africa and Romania. I have a Romanian friend, and he always gets so excited when I mention his home country. I'd love to visit all the places I've heard so much about.
VN __ What shows and movies would you love to star in? Is there a specific genre you want to explore?
NC __ I have a specific show that I would love to be a part of. Succession is my favorite television show right now. I feel like it’s brilliant, and I’d love to be a part of it. I am also fond of The White Lotus. The dark comedy genre is my favorite right now. As a writer and actor, you have to be so intelligent to weave in comedy undertones with very serious material. I would also love to be in an action movie acting alongside Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, or Will Smith. Other than that, I am a fan of science fiction; Interstellar is my favorite movie of all time. Any Christopher Nolan project that has a vein of time not being real is on my radar.
VN __ If you could choose three actors you’d like to work beside, whom would they be and why?
NC __ I would love to work alongside Viola Davis. She is such a talent, and it would be a privilege to work with her. Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most talented actors of our generation. Denzel Washington is an icon. I think all these actors are incredible, and I feel like I could learn so much from interacting with them.
VN __ What is the best advice you have gotten, and from whom?
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NC __ One piece of advice that I have gotten from Dylan McDermott is to pick an animal at the beginning of a project and have your character move, act, and embody that animal. For Law and Order, he told me that he was picking a rat because it can fit into tiny spaces; it is sneaky and sleazy, goes out at night, and is hard to catch. His character has the same vibe, and it made so much sense. For my role in Law and Order, I decided to pick a lion cub, somebody who wants to roar but is not heard and might have to find another way to be heard. I think that was excellent advice because it’s not the generic, typical answer you would expect. You would probably expect a veteran actor to be like, “just believe in yourself,” or something along those lines, but he was super specific, and I appreciated that.
VN __ That’s fascinating advice indeed. For the Joker, did you pick an animal?
NC __ For the Joker, I was thinking pretty much of a chameleon. Marquis Jet figured out a way to tug at his family members' heartstrings, feed on their vulnerability, and tell them what they wanted to hear at that moment. I felt like a chameleon was a fascinating animal to pick for this role, but also an octopus. An octopus is very intelligent and knows how to trick its prey, and I felt like my Joker could feed on the vulnerabilities of everyone else and make you want to root for him.
VN __ What would you say to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps and pursue acting?
NC __ I would tell them to do it; don’t wait for an opportunity to come knocking. I picked up the phone and wrote my own sketch about something as silly as Axel Gravy. The next thing I knew, it went viral, and casting directors asked me to audition for shows. I am not saying it will happen to everyone, but we’re living in an age when we have access to platforms like TikTok and Vimeo. I have friends who created YouTube series during the pandemic, and they’re starting to get popular. There’s always a way to do art if you are not in it only for the money and fame. One thing I learned is that your art is not meant for every single consumer; even one person is enough.
VN __ What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
NC __ My biggest accomplishment so far has been that there’s no quitting in me. I’ve never stopped; I’ve kept going even when I felt low. I tried my very best to put my feet on the concrete and keep going, so I’m proud of myself. The only way you can ever lose is when you stop and decide to give up. I love the fight that’s in me. I would tell myself and everyone else to keep on with their passion and not give up.
VN __ What are your plans for the future? Is there anything specific you hope to accomplish?
NC __ One of my favorite books is The Alchemist. It changed my life when I read it. I’ve always had a challenging time living in the moment, as I usually think very far into the future. I do envision myself often in certain situations in the future, but I also love living in the moment and being grateful for what I have right now. I’m thankful for this interview; I’m thankful to meet new people, and so on. So for the future, I would like to take each day as it comes and know that the best is yet to come.
Photography and styling Kevin Sinclair, Creative Director David Gargiulo, Interview Violeta Nicola, Groomer Mirna Jose, Talent Nick Creegan (Advantage PR)