Double Oscar Dreams: Nicole Elise Nelson & Jonah Lees Share Their Journey

Host Izzy sits down with Oscar-nominated actors Nicole Alyse Nelson and Jonah Lees to discuss their nominated projects—Nicole's inventive Jane Austen–inspired period satire and Jonah's Blue Moon. They talk casting stories, character preparation, on-set moments, and Jonah's live piano performance in the film. The interview also covers their training, career advice for aspiring actors, the role of social media, hopes for the industry, and how they support each other as a couple during awards season.   Nicole Alyse Nelson stars in a supporting role in the 2026 Academy Award nominated live action short Jane Austen’s Period Drama, a sharp 1813 set satire that upends the traditional period romance. In the film, she plays Vagianna Talbot in a bold story that uses humor to challenge long standing taboos. Nelson first rose to prominence as a series regular on I Am Frankie, anchoring 42 episodes. She later shared the screen with Peter Stormare in Swedish Dicks and portrayed Charlotte in Netflix’s GLOW, in an episode Rolling Stone named one of the Top 5 TV Episodes of the Year. Additional credits include Deadly Daughter Switch, Mr. Student Body President, and What the Elf?! Jonah Lees stars as Morty “Knuckles” Rifkin in Blue Moon, which is nominated for two 2026 Academy Awards. His performance in the critically acclaimed film marks a major milestone in his career and places him firmly in this year’s awards-season conversation. He also joined the DC Universe as Dean Farr in Superman, working under the direction of James Gunn and expanding his reach into one of cinema’s most iconic global franchises. His other credits include portraying Jimmy Swaggart in CMT’s Sun Records, earning international recognition as Jussipo in Netflix’s The Letter for the King, and stepping into the role of John Lennon in Midas Man. He stars in Matteo Garrone’s Tale of Tales, which premiered in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, where he appeared alongside Salma Hayek and Vincent Cassel and also starred opposite Mark Rylance and Sally Hawkins in Phantom of the Open, further showcasing his range across prestige film and television.