NATALIJA NOGULICH recently completed a guest star role for CHICAGO MED, on the heels of indie ALL HAPPY FAMILIES also filmed in Chicago. Previously she did a dynamic “horror” film, THE SPRINGFIELD THREE, directed by the talented, award winning Sam Gonzalez. Another indie, UNTHINKABLE, garnered Natalija the Pinnacle International Best Actress Award for her lead role. Other recent highlights were episodes of SHAMELESS and PRESUMED INNOCENT with the great Kelsey Grammer. She supported in THE LAST WORD, directed by Mark Pellington; and DANGEROUS GAMES, directed by Daria Nazarova, which was accepted into the Shorts Program at the Cannes International Film Festival. Natalija has guest starred on Netflix Series, FULLER HOUSE, and on NBC Pilot, DUMB PRINCE directed by Amy Poehler, as well as NCIS, CRIMINAL MINDS and KC UNDERCOVER, GLEE, 2 BROKE GIRLS, and WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE REUNION with Selena Gomez, and many others.
Natalija was series regular on ABC series, RED WIDOW, where she played Russian mob wife, Elena Petrova. Her role as Italian reporter, Giovanetta Ricci in HBO biopic PHIL SPECTOR with Al Pacino, reunited her with director David Mamet, with whom she has done six films: (SPECTOR, HOMICIDE, SPARTAN, THINGS CHANGE, THE WATER ENGINE, and HOFFA opposite Jack Nicholson.) Other films include COMMENTARY, INCARNATE, SHARKSKIN, 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, FOUR FRIENDS, COMMENTARY, STONY ISLAND and the ever popular, widely viewed NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION.
Natalija is perhaps most known for her role as Admiral Nechayev in STAR TREK – THE NEXT GENERATION, and was also featured in Hallmark’s JANE DOE 9, LOCUSTS, PIZZA MY HEART, GROWING PAINS, DYING TO DANCE, THE SLEEPWALKER KILLING, LAZARUS MAN. She recurred on THE WEST WING, THE PRACTICE, THE PRETENDER, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, TRACY TAKES ON.
Natalija started her theatrical career in her hometown of Chicago, where she worked in St. Nicholas Theatre Company founded by W.H. Macy, David Mamet and Steven Schachter. Graduating with her BA (Phi Beta Kappa) from Lake Forest College in Illinois, she expanded her studies to Spain and Italy and gained command of five languages. Later she attended the Stella Adler Conservatory in New York City, which led to her starring on Broadway in HURLYBURLY, THE ICEMAN COMETH and ACCOMPLICE, in addition to many off-Broadway productions including RESTORATION by Claudia Shearer. Later she did innumerable Los Angeles productions: SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION, TAMARA, THE THREE SISTERS, HEDDA GABLER, THE WHITE ROSE and ONCE IN A LIFETIME. The last four garnering her DRAMA-LOGUE CRITCS AWARD for Outstanding Performance. Her work in Ken Lonergan’s WAVERLY GALLERY at the Pasadena Playhouse resulted in ENTERTAINMENT TODAY’s BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS AWARD.
Ms. Nogulich was Founder and Artistic Director of THE GRACE PLAYERS THEATRE COMPANY in Hollywood, where for fifteen years, she produced and directed classical and contemporary plays, including the West Coast Premiere of David Mamet’s adaptation of Chekhov’s THE THREE SISTERS, which won four DRAMA-LOGUE AWARDS, including Best Direction. She directed the World Premiere of Jason Milligan’s comedy, WALKING ON THE MOON, six ONE ACT FESTIVALS, SUPREME THERAPY, THE DAME OF NEW ORLEANS, A TRIBUTE TO EUGENE O’NEILL, BURN THIS, SUPREME THERAPY (with Sopranos’ Ray Abruzzo) and many other projects featuring actors, Joe Mantegna, W.H. Macy, Peter Falk, George Segal, Burt Reynolds, Carol Kane, Frances Fisher, and others.
In Washington, D.C. she directed David Selby in his play LINCOLN AND JAMES at the 1400 seat Lincoln Theatre in honor of the dedication of the first Monument to African American soldiers of the American Civil War. She also directed her own adaptation of ROMEO AND JULIET IN THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, in Southern Illinois, and later her adaptation of Ibsen’s AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.
She authored the historical novel, ONE WOMAN’S WAR, (the first of a trilogy) which is now being developed into a screenplay. She also wrote and directed a documentary short called CORPORAL JAKE, about World War I Medal of Honor Recipient Jake Allex.
Natalija was Adjunct Professor to Graduate and Undergraduate film and theatre students at ArtCenter College of Design, American Film Institute, Principia College, Notre Dame University and Cal Poly Tech. She now lives in her native Chicago where she continues to act, write and teach.