Donna Anita Nikolaisen is an Irish voice over artist who has voiced roles for animation, video games, audiobooks, radio plays and commercials. She voices the role of ‘Mum’ in Cartoon Saloon’s pre-school animation ‘Silly Sundays’, currently viewable on Cartoonito worldwide. Her other credits include the audiobook narration of award winning novel ‘Strange Flowers’, crime thriller ‘The Coincidence’ and biography ‘Reclaiming’, where she has received top reviews on Audible. Donna narrates the TV documentaries: ‘The Story of Water’ (Virgin Media) and ‘Ireland’s Refugee Hotel’ (BBC/RTE). Donna was the voice of a major high street bank for a number of years and continues to voice TV and radio commercials for top clients. As a voice over artist she is represented by Voicebank in Ireland and the UK.
Silly Sundays
Created by Oscar-nominated producer Nuria González Blanco (Late Afternoon), the new Cartoon Saloon feel-good animated series ‘Silly Sundays’ follows cousins Sonia, Hugo and Mel on fun, unexpected adventures at their family get-togethers. Donna narrates the role of ‘Mum’ in this delightful pre-school animation. Available to view on RTE Player and Cartoonito worldwide.
The Story of Water
Virgin Media
Narrated by Donna, ‘The Story Of Water’ is a documentary that focuses on the critical value of our most precious natural resource and explores the ongoing threats to its future – both globally and in Ireland.
Ireland’s Refugee Hotel
BBC/TV3 Documentary
This documentary follows the stories of Muslim Syrian refugees as they arrive in a small town in Ireland, discovering the role that faith has played in their journey.
Strange Flowers
In 1973, twenty-year-old Moll Gladney takes a morning bus from her rural home and disappears. Bewildered and distraught, Paddy and Kit must confront an unbearable prospect: that they will never see their daughter again. Five years later, Moll returns.
The Coincidence
Some of the inmates make Joy’s life a misery.
There are a lot of coincidences in this gripping psychological thriller, blackmail, more murders, drug abuse.
Reclaiming
Some of the inmates make Joy’s life a misery.
There are a lot of coincidences in this gripping psychological thriller, blackmail, more murders, drug abuse.
Collected by Linda Grant
In this special hour long episode Sinéad Gleeson speaks to British writer Linda Grant about the life and work of Jean Rhys (1890 – 1979). She is the Dominican born author of many stories and novels set in England, Paris and the Caribbean. They are stories of women who struggle with poverty, alienation, alcoholism and their reliance on (often uncaring) men. Writer Colm O’Shea looks at Rhys’ most famous novel Wide Sargasso Sea – a ‘prequel’ to Jane Eyre – and discusses the world of bedsits and hotels her characters inhabit. We also hear readings of Rhys’ work by the actress Donna Anita Nikolaisen.
WINE FROM GREENLAND
By Alejandro Niklison
Donna reads ‘Waitress’
RTE Drama on One
THE ART OF FOOT BINDING
Adapted from a book of short stories by Danielle McLaughlin
Narrated by Donna
RTE Drama on One
THE LOVE OF SMALL APPLIANCES
By Maura McHugh
Donna reads ‘Jahzara‘
VEILED
By Louise Lewis and Gorretti Slavin
Donna reads ‘Ghada‘
RTE Drama on One
Waking the Feminists #WTF International Women’s Day – Let’s include everyone in the story
Speech from mixed-race Irish actor, Donna Anita Nikolaisen, read by Leah Minto at Liberty Hall, Dublin as part of International Women’s Day and the Waking the Feminists movement. 2nd April 2016
“When I first decided to become a professional actor my sister Jacqui warned me that it would be hard to find roles in Ireland owing to my ethnicity. “It’s a visual medium” she said, “You don’t look Irish Donna!” I didn’t believe her. After all, I was born in Holles St and brought up in Cork. Sure, how much more Irish does a girl need to be? However, in time, I grew to learn that she was, for the most part, right. Most of the roles in theatre that I have been lucky enough to play have been race related. And although it gave me great pride to play these characters, who both needed and deserved a voice, it also deeply frustrated me that I was somehow excluded from many roles in classic, period and contemporary plays. Actors need roles not just to make a living but more importantly to develop their craft…
Diversity in Casting for Stage and Screen
Casting agent Maureen Hughes, actress Donna Anita Nikolaisen and director of Abbey Theatre Graham McLaren discuss the issue of diversity in casting for stage and screen.
