Nia Peeples: I am glad to be here! Hello! This feels kinda foreign but I am up
to anything!

AOL: Ms. Peeples we have many questions ready for you. How about the
first one. Ready?

Nia: I am ready, fire away!

AOL: It has been fun watching you and Cynthia Gibb rise to post-Fame
success. What did you enjoy most about the experience of doing the Fame series?
Was it like being at a real High School for the Performing Arts?

Nia: The answer was no, it was not like being at a real high school!
These were professional kids at a school, there was a freshness at the show
though! There was a lot of togetherness with the people who worked on the show
and that is something that you don't get on a lot of other show! Fame was a very
special show! Although, we did have food fights in the cafeteria a lot of times! :)

AOL: Here's one about your new show! Has doing Crisis Center been
emotionally taxing for you since you? Are dealing with serious dramatic traumas
rather than light comedy or music?

Nia: Yes, it is very heavy for me. Not just the situations, but my
character is very heavy! The way she deals with these situations is not the way
I (Nia) would deal with those situations. She depresses me a lot! It is very hard!
But there is hope for Lilly yet.

AOL: What does "Crisis Center" bring to network television
that is different than other shows of its genre such as "E.R."and "Chicago Hope"?

Nia: Humm, well, me and Kelly Martin! (Ha Ha.) Those are great shows to
compare it too! I think that the kind of crisis on our show are very different, the
sky is the limit, from drug addiction to marital problems. Of course as the show
goes on and we find our legs, you will find there are more humor in our stories.
Because we are not just an "ER" with physical trauma there are moments
for levity.

AOL: Here is one about the future: What does Nia see herself doing in
the next couple of years?

Nia: What would I like to see myself doing? Humm, I would love to have
a successful series on a show with wonderful people and very short hours (Ha Ha)
and enjoying my family and friends at home. I would also like to direct more!

AOL: And one about dreams: Is there a particular theatrical role that
you have always wanted to perform?

Nia: Humm. When I was a little girl, I wanted to play "My Fair Lady" on
Broadway, but I don't think that is anywhere in my future, but that is my wish! :)

AOL: What are some of your projects you have worked on lately?

Nia: Well, "Crisis Center" took up the majority has taken up
most of my time for the second half of last year. And, my short film that I directed
took up the remainder of my time! Because it is a low budget film, I've managed to
talk many friends into working on the project for a low cost. But this project has
consumed all of my time! Also, I have spent some of my time writing, like pilots for
series. :)

AOL: Did you ever marry?

Nia: Yes! Opps! But I am older and wiser now!

AOL: Welcome Back to TV. I know that musicals are not that hot in Hollywood,
but what do you think of the idea of co-writing one?

Nia: Actually, I have always thought about doing that, but I know that
would take a lot of commitment and time! But is something that I have always
wanted to do.

AOL: Are you gonna be in any new movies?

Nia: No, darn it! It is tough when you do TV because it limits your time
for Film. But I would love to move to the big screen because the roles for women are
usually juicier!

AOL: What is your favorite film?

Nia: Uhhhh, Ohhhh, that is a tough question! I think for the musical
aspect, I loved "West Side Story!" The music and the choreography in that
was the best!

AOL: Nia were you from?

Nia: I am from a suburban from LA called West Covina.

AOL: What other actors are on your new series?

Nia: Kelly Martin, Dana Ashbrook, Matt Roth, Tina Lifford and Clifton
Gonzalas-Gonzalas.

AOL: NIA: Out of all the different ventures you've had in the entertainment
biz, what do you consider to be your favorite? What do you enjoy doing best?

Nia: I have to say the best experience was on "Fame!" But it is difficult
to say if I prefer music to acting, because they are both forms of
communicating! It really matters as to how creative the project is and how I am
allowed to be with the project.

AOL: What was the last good book you have read?

Nia: Ohhhh. Actually, umm, I am in the middle of a good one right now,
called the "Angle for Silence". But the last good one I read was "First You Have to
Row a Little Boat".

AOL: Have you done any dancing shows? I remember you danced beautifully!
My husband thinks you are so cute!

Nia: Not since "Fame!" Unless you count the "Party Machine". I
was really trying to move out of the way of the people who thought they were dancing!
(Ha Ha).

AOL: A personal question: How old are you?

Nia: Let me say that I don't mind telling people how old I am, I usually
just don't like to tell casting directors that info because they tend to limit in
their minds what roles I can play. But, I am 35! And, 35 is better than 34 and better
than 24! :)

AOL: What is the show "Crisis Center" about?

Nia: The "Crisis Center" is about a Social Assistance Center in
San Francisco. Actually, it is about the people who run the center and how they are
affected by what they do!

AOL: I recently saw Kelly Martin on the "Tonight Show" with Jay
Leno she seems to be a nice person, is she? How did you first get into acting?

Nia: Yes Kelly Martin is a doll and is very sweet! And she is good at what
she does! I think if you want to make a living at acting, you have to be at the place
where acting takes place or teach it. Then read the trades and keep trying over and
over again. I got started purely by accident. I took a friend for a fitting for a
children's series, and I was noticed by someone there and they asked if I wanted to act.
I said sure and things went from there! From that point on I started learning my craft
and continue to do so.

AOL: What do you like most about your career?

Nia: Humm, I think what I like most is that I get to earn
a great living honoring a great gift that I have. Which I think is a real privilege.
Also it affords me a great opportunity to travel and meet new people and the ability
to play different people of different cultures and places and I think that is
incredible!

AOL: What is it like being surrounded by all the bad news in the world?
Does it diminish your faith of other human beings?

Nia: I am not sure where you would think that I am surround by more bad
news than anyone else, in fact, I think that I am more protected from it because I
live in an imaginary world! But all the bad things were are surround by, that is
what the world is, but there are those lighter moments that bring you back to life
(like a new born child) and those things pick you back up and keep you going!

AOL: Did you always want to be an artist? You seem to be very gifted :)

Nia: Now at some point I wanted to be Tinkerbell of a Marine Biologist!
But I realize that was just role playing, sooo, yeah, I guess so. But for me, it is
not just wanting to be an artist, but it is meeting your destiny! People are happiest
when they are courageous enough be what they are, and that has always been my goal!

AOL: When are you going to release another album?

Nia: Ohhh! I decided not to record another album until I was more
developed as an artist. To do an album requires you to be more of a solid artist
so that the record company doesn't have the ability to mold you to what they want.
When I feel like a more solid artist with the ability to control the company and
produce albums, that I want then I will do so. Hopefully in the next couple of years! :)

AOL: You always seem so beautiful and fit, how do you do it?

Nia: Well first of all, I am not always beautiful and fit! I think what
you eat has a lot to do with how you feel. How you feel, has a lot to do with what
you eat! I try to eat a healthy diet but I do splurge! As far as working out, I try
to keep a 40-45 minute exercise, unless I am training for something special. Routine
is the key! Keep your routine!

AOL: Do you think there is going to be a "Fame" reunion?

Nia: People have been talking about that for a long time! Every time people
ask that I have to remind them that I died on the show! But there is a "Fame" series
being worked to be based in LA and they are looking for people! That is something you
can look forward to! :)

AOL: Hi Nia! Still have a couple of your "Fame" episodes on tape and I have
always thought you have a great voice. Can you tell us more about the short film you
are directing?

Nia: Thank you, thank you! The short I am directing is "Treading Water".It
is about 6 low budget film makers who are trying to get the writer to quit by constantly
asking him to keep change the script. They want him to quit so they can pocket the money!
But he doesn't quit, and writes an even better script so they decide they have to kill
him! That is what the short is about! The reason I decided to do it was because I thought
it was time to do it and because it was an opportunity for creative people to get together
and be creative. And I was amazed at the number of my friends who came together to be
creative and to do so for free. Is has been an exhaustive experienc but has also given me
a lot of joy.

AOL:: This is apparently about, "Crisis Center:" Do you get a chance to shoot a lot
of exteriors in gorgeous San Francisco? What is your favorite place there?

Nia: When they asked me to do this show, they said it was about a crisis
show in San Francisco and I jumped at it! To get the chance to move to San Francisco!
Then they told me well, we are gonna probably shoot it in Vancouver! I said, OK., great.
Vancouver is like San Francisco! Then they told me that we would be shooting it in
Burbank! Not what I expected and not a great view! :)

AOL: What character did you play on the soap?

Nia: Carla Escabar! She was a track star that was having a leg problem.

AOL: Do you get online often when you are at home?

Nia: No. I tried it once but I tend to be someone who doesn't sit still long
so if I am sitting at my computer I am usually writing! Online is still a little scary
for me :)

AOL: Ms. Peeples, we have time for one last question. Time seems to move so
fast: How can you be a role model for kids who aim to be actors/singers, etc.? And what
advice would you give them to help them out?

Nia: Well, gosh, being a role model is a big thing, it is a fact that goes
along with what we do. Remember who you are and believe in what you do and honor that!
Don't let anyone tell you that you are not good, because it is about individuality, not
about good or bad. Be true to yourself!

AOL: Ms. Peeples, any closing comments for our members?

Nia: Yes! An inside scoop! When you watch the premiere of "Crisis Center", if
you watch really carefully you will see how stiff everyone is and sweaty, this is because
the air conditioning broke down for the first 3 days so it was like 120 degrees. Everyone
was afraid to move to much and cause more heat! So watch carefully! Thank you for being
here tonight and for letting me be here! It was great!

AOL: Thanks Nia, for being here! Also, thanks audience members for the great
questions. Great having you Nia!