About Me
NATALIJA NOGULICH was born in Chicago and educated in Illinois and in Spain and Italy. Studying and traveling throughout Europe, she gained command of five languages. After receiving her B.A. from Lake Forest College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, she went on to study and work with David Mamet at the St. Nicholas Theatre Company, which he founded in Chicago in the late 70’s. Later she was under the tutelage of Stella Adler both in New York and Los Angeles. Natalija was also a student of Kenneth McMillan until he inaugurated her teaching and directing career in 1986.
In New York, she played on Broadway in HURLYBURLY, THE ICEMAN COMETH, and ACCOMPLICE; as well as innumerable off-Broadway productions. On Los Angeles stages, she has been seen at the Mark Taper Forum in SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION; in the title role of TAMARA; and has won four Drama-Logue Acting Awards for: THE THREE SISTERS; HEDDA GABLER; THE WHITE ROSE; and ONCE IN A LIFETIME. Additionally, she has starred in many regional productions throughout the United States, including the Pulitzer Prize Finalist, THE WAVERLY GALLERY at the Pasadena Playhouse, last year, and most recently, Bernard Shaw’s MISALLIANCE at Center Stage in Baltimore.
Natalija has been featured in five David Mamet films: SPARTAN, HOMICIDE, THINGS CHANGE, THE WATER ENGINE, and as Jack Nicholson’s wife in HOFFA. She has done over thirty films including: THE HOLLOW, STEAL BIG, STEAL LITTLE; ABOVE SUSPICION; AN EYE FOR AN EYE; THE GLASS SHIELD; THE CHASE; POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE; BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT; THE GUARDIAN; CHRISTMAS VACATION; FOUR FRIENDS; STONY ISLAND and others. On television she is most known for her role as Admiral Nechayev in STAR TREK- THE NEXT GENERATION; and has done numerous MOW’s including: JANE DOE 9, LOCUSTS, PIZZA WARS, GROWING PAINS, DYING TO DANCE, THE SLEEPWALKER KILLING, LAZARUS MAN. She has recurred in episodics, such as: STRONG MEDICINE, WEST WING, THE PRACTICE; THE PRETENDER; BROOKLYN BRIDGE; TRACY TAKES ON; MURDER SHE WROTE, SO NOTORIOUS. She has recently guest starred on David Mamet’s new series for CBS, THE UNIT; other guest star appearances include: BONES, NIP/TUCK, THE CLOSER, HUFF, CROSSING JORDAN, WITHOUT A TRACE, JAG, FRASIER, NEWSRADIO, COACH,THE LOT, ALLY MCBEAL,CHARMED and most recently, THIS JUST IN, and the award winning, 24.
As Artistic Director of THE GRACE PLAYERS THEATRE COMPANY, which she founded in 1994, Ms. Nogulich produced and directed the West Coast Premiere of David Mamet’s adaptation of Chekhov’s THE THREE SISTERS, which garnered four Drama-Logue Awards including Best Direction and Best Production. She directed the World Premiere of Jason Milligan’s comedy WALKING ON THE MOON; six ONE ACT FESTIVALS, and over twenty other projects featuring actors George Segal, Joe Mantegna, Frank Langella, Burt Reynolds, Gary Marshall, Marion Ross, Carol Kane, and others. She directed David Selby in his play LINCOLN AND JAMES at the 1400-seat Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. in 1998. In 2000, she directed her own adaptation of ROMEO AND JULIET IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR at Davis Theatre in Illinois, and in 2001 she directed a production of her new adaptation of AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. In Los Angeles, last spring, she directed SUPREME THERAPY, a world premiere play written by Michael Davidson starring Ray Abruzzo of “The Sopranos.†In the fall of 2004, also in Los Angeles, she directed and starred in the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Alexander Dumas’ novel, “Camille,†entitled THE DAME OF NEW ORLEANS, which she wrote; and will be directing the West Coast Premiere of Mamet’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD in 2007.
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Natalija has been a Visiting Professor in the Theatre Department at Principia College, and has also taught at the Los Angeles County High School of Performing Arts. She currently teaches professional actors and writers at her theatre company, THE GRACE PLAYERS, that has its theatre home at the Egyptian Arena Theatre in the heart of Hollywood.
Ms. Nogulich is also a screenwriter and filmmaker. She recently wrote and directed a documentary short called CORPORAL JAKE, about World War I Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Jake Allex. It was filmed in Kentucky and Chicago and was produced by BGFilmz of Chicago. She is currently developing her original screenplay, A WOMAN’S WAR, a dramatic love story which transcends the strife of the recent Balkan wars, and deals with the universal need to overcome revenge with forgiveness. David Mamet will Executive Produce. She has just completed her first novel, FIGHT FOR LOVE which will be out in the fall of 2007. It is the first of a trilogy.
Natalija is currently directing a revival of BURN THIS, Lanford Wilson’s hit play. It will open in January, 2007 at the Egyptian Arena Theatre, and features members of her theatre company, THE GRACE PLAYERS. She continues to act, write, direct and teach across the country.
