Rachel Nichols sizzles on the sand and on the big screen in Conan The Barbarian. Calling all fanboys!
Birthday: January 8, 1980.
Hometown: Augusta, Maine.
Food she loves: Sweetbreads. “Glands are fantastic. Who wouldn’t like some glands for dinner?”
Wheel deal: “I blogged about pimping my ride. I don’t have spinners, but my wheels are pretty dope.”
Fan of The Game: “I’d love to meet [author] Neil Strauss. I want to write the female version of his pick-up artist book.”
Not-so-favourite Bulgarian beverage: “If you ask for a martini, they pour something in a glass from a bottle called ‘Martini’.”
Tweet dreams: Follow Rach on @RachelNichols1.
It’s rare for an actress to embrace both ends of the nerd spectrum. First Rachel Nichols played the Green Girl in JJ Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot. Now she’s donning robes and sandals as the love interest in Conan The Barbarian. Sci-fi plus swords and sorcery? Settle down, dweebs!
You’re a hot warrior monk in Conan and you’ve played various other arse-kicking roles. What’s up with all the violence?
I wasn’t always as arse-kicking and gym-going. Because I was in Alias and G.I. Joe, I started training. Alias was very action-packed. G.I. Joe and Conan were very action-packed. It’s been established that I can do action, which is great, but now I may just want to make out with a hot guy.
So, a rom-com with Matthew McConaughey?
Sign me up! I’d love to do a movie where I actually get to be kind of quirky and odd and dorky and all that stuff. My parents would like to see some movies where I’m not in peril. They’d appreciate it.
You’ve described yourself in the past as just a shy girl from the northeast of America. Is that still the case?
No. Shy is not me anymore. I mean, it used to be, definitely. I wasn’t lying. I’m still polite and a good friend, but once you really stop caring about wanting everyone to like you all the time, you can’t be shy anymore.
You took some time off from college to model. Any good stories?
I speak French. I don’t get to do it very often, so it sort of atrophies. My first modelling job in Paris, the photographer said, “Tu es belle,” which means, “You are pretty,” and I thought he said, “Tu es poubelle,” which means, “You are the trash can.” I burst into tears. He was not happy about that.
Ah, but what a beautiful trash can you’d be. Do you play any sports?
I recently began taking golf lessons. I’m so excited! The first few times I ever played was at the driving range with a bottle of, like, Crown Royal [whiskey] in a brown paper bag. But now a friend set me up with a teacher and I’m taking lessons. On the first day he said, “You’re a flexible little f–ker!” Then he said, “Look, you’re the only girl at the range right now. People are going to come up to you and want to teach you stuff because you’re pretty. You need to tell them to f–k off.” And he’s at least 70!
Besides being a potty-mouthed old guy, what qualities are you drawn to? And please don’t say “confidence” or “sense of humour” or we’ll call you a trash can.
Confidence and sense of humour? Excuse me, but f–k that! My type is really young, short, athletic and smart. I know, you want to be with someone who’s going to be your friend – yeah, yeah, yeah. I want the Adonis line, the two down the hips to the waist. And a guy has to be able to accept criticism about his clothing. I can be very particular about what I like and don’t like.
Clearly!
I’m a pragmatist like that, and I’m a little anal-retentive. I was the maid of honour at a friend’s wedding, and there were only 40 people there, and there weren’t any crises, but I liked getting everything just perfect and organised. I was hoping I could be like, “Somebody give me a headset! We have a problem with table two! There are some children who are being too loud! Put them in the closet so they don’t ruin the ceremony!” I think I would quite like that.
Jesse Brukman
For the full feature and images grab the September 2011 issue of MAXIM Australia.
To grab a digital copy CLICK HERE. All past issues available for download.
To subscribe CLICK HERE. Australian residents only.
iPad Application also available. CLICK HERE. All past issues available for download.
