This year, Nora Harriet had a guest role in Episode 1 of the new Season 8 of 9-1-1 playing Reyla Watson, working with regular characters Eddie Diaz (Ryan Guzman), Evan ‘Buck’ Buckley (Oliver Stark) and Howie ‘Chimney’ Han (Kenneth Choi). In the English version of the Norwegian Netflix film Christmas as Usual, which released last year, Nora dubbed the character Ronja, and also last year, Nora starred in Anthony Deptula’s short film The Right One playing Taylor. Previous projects for Nora include playing Peyton alongside Jack McBrayer in both series of Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show on Apple TV+, appearing in short film The Astronaut, TV series PBC, Panic! At the Disco’s music video Don’t Let the Light Go Out, and YouTube series Tab Time with Tabitha Brown. Upcoming for Nora will see her play Young Lorelai in feature film Gold Mine, Young Maddie in short film Ghost Hot Tub and she will be playing Zaynab Amiri in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf (The Terminal List sequel), which stars Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch. We spoke to Nora about having a guest role in 9-1-1 last month, playing Peyton across both series of Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show with Jack McBrayer and her upcoming work including The Terminal List: Dark Wolf.

In the new series of 9-1-1, you were seen in the first episode as Reyla Watson, how was it playing a guest character in a hugely-popular and long-running TV series?

Knowing I was going to have the opportunity to work with ABC and on a Ryan Murphy production was right away a huge excitement for me! I love drama type shows and being a part of the first episode in Season 8 with so much hype around the Buzzkill episode was awesome to be a part of. Just the fact that I was going to be surrounded by a bunch of bees and get to be a hero saving my set mother’s life seemed like such a rush, honestly!

Can you tell us about Reyla and what was it like meeting and working with the regular cast?

I loved playing Reyla for many reasons. When I received the scene for the audition I immediately felt a personal connection to her. My older sister has to carry an EpiPen for allergies so when I saw I was going to be using one in my scene, I was nervous but excited as well.

The cast and crew were top notch, honestly. Ryan Guzman, Oliver Stark and Kenneth Choi were the nicest guys and made me feel very comfortable. I remember it being very hot while filming and everyone was always asking if I needed more water or ice packs, etc. One of my favourite parts was probably working with the hair and makeup department. In one of my scenes, I got “stung” by a bee so getting the bee sting applied was a pretty cool experience. The talent they’re able to do and make everything look so realistic is incredible really!

It’s been announced that you will be playing Zaynab Amiri in the upcoming The Terminal List sequel – The Terminal List: Dark Wolf alongside stars Chris Pratt and Taylor Kitsch, how did you feel finding out you’d be part of the show?

Getting the call from my team was probably the most rewarding feeling I’ve felt thus far in my career when finding out I landed a role! I think simply because of all the hard work I poured into the audition. I actually had to learn all the scenes in Arabic. I tend to learn languages quickly, but this was my first opportunity to showcase a second language for an actual role.

Filming with Chris and Taylor honestly was a dream come true. I told my mom how nervous I was showing up to set my first day. I had butterflies, I remember. But then meeting them both and realising how down to earth and just normal they are put me right at ease. Chris even did his Mario voice for us on the first day, which I think set the mood and comfort from day one!

I filmed with Taylor a lot and in-between takes he’d ask me questions to get to know me and always asked if I was OK or needed a break in various scenes. It’s not every day you get the chance to work with people of their talent level and then realise they’re the nicest, most caring too! I feel very grateful for my time with them.

Is there anything you can say about filming for The Terminal List: Dark Wolf and what are you looking forward to for the release?

Working with director Frederick E.O. Toye and writer Jack Carr was incredible. They’re brilliant. Honestly, the entire cast and crew felt like family at the end of filming. There was just this aura and connection everyone seemed to have had from the actors to the camera crew to the language interrupter. The set was incredible and being in the environment I was in was such a rush. Like I mentioned above, I love thrillers and dramas and this was right up my ally. The scenes were intense, but I actually really enjoyed that.

The release of this prequel can’t come soon enough! The whole Terminal List family is going to be in for a real treat!

You are also in the cast of the upcoming short film Ghost Hot Tub as Young Maddie, what was this like to work on?

Working with director Will Kindrick and fellow actress Melissa Villaseñor was one of the most fun experiences I’ve had! Playing a younger Melissa was such an honour. She’s hilarious and being able to play alongside her was such a joy. I remember walking into the in-person callback and having her be in the room and feeling nervous. I had watched episodes of Saturday Night Live (SNL) with her in them and was like “wow, ok Nora, you’ve got this!”. Then hearing comedian Matty Cardarople was also attached to the film, I knew I had to land this role. I’m just very grateful Will saw something special in me to offer me the role! He’s incredible and took me under his wing and I can’t wait for everyone to see this special film. Stay tuned!

How was it playing Young Lorelai in the yet-to-be-released feature film Gold Mine?

Playing Young Lorelai was a special role because I was able to play 10-year-old Lorelai and then teenage Lorelai. It was a fun transition to showcase just the physical differences with wardrobe but then the verbal differences of how a 10 year old talks versus a teenager. I love a challenge and this was one I could relate to. Plus, the location and scenery while filming was right up my ally. It was cold, in the middle of nowhere, and I even got to see snow!

Last year, you dubbed the role of Ronja for the English version of Norwegian Netflix film Christmas as Usual, how different did you find this to your previous projects?

This was my first dubbing project actually! I remember feeling all the jitters knowing it was in a different language and how I was going to relate to the tone of the character not knowing exactly what she was saying. But honestly, I loved it! Delivering my lines in English for the character of Ronja was a special experience.

You starred in Anthony Deptula’s 2023 short film The Right One as Taylor, can you tell us about this?

What a fun project! I remember this was filmed during COVID and one of my first projects I filmed after moving to California. Anthony, and the rest of the crew, was amazing, honestly. He still reaches out occasionally just to check in and see how things are going. I won one of my first awards for Best Actress in The Right One at various film festivals across the country. I even still have one of my pigtail ribbons I wore in the film from almost three-and-a-half years ago!

Across both series of Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show for Apple TV+, you played Peyton, did you have any favourite scenes to film, and what are some of your stand-out memories from being on set?

I’ll never forget my Hello, Jack! family. Jack McBrayer and the entire cast and crew are very special people. Getting to go to set every day for weeks/months with him and the rest of the talent I got to work with was special. Again, filmed during COVID, so the constant COVID testing that I had to do every week was something I remember always worrying about. I was worried to miss “work” from catching the virus because I looked forward to going to set every day and getting to laugh and play.

My most memorable experience while being on set was probably the last day of filming the first season. We were all emotional. I guess you could say we built a family on set between all the kids I got to film with and the amazing crew! All the kids and parents have gotten together over the last couple of years and have stayed in touch, thankfully.

How was it filming with Jack McBrayer and what was Peyton like to play?

Jack is by far one of the most caring people I’ve ever met! He still calls and/or texts on my birthday every year. He’s one of the most sincere, hilarious people I’ve met while working in the industry. He made set every day feel like recess. He’s a big kid at heart for sure!

I remember making one another laugh every time we were in the same scenes and having to cut because we couldn’t stop laughing. We got to sing and dance together, two of my favourite things, every day! I mean, who wouldn’t have a blast!

Playing Peyton was one of my favourite characters to play actually. She was so fun, had a kind heart and was always joyful. She loved showing kindness in her everyday actions and wanted to make friends with everyone around her. I miss Peyton!

How did you find the experience attending the 2022 Children’s & Family Emmy Awards?

OK, this was epic for sure! This was my first award show to attend. I remember seeing fellow actors that I had been watching on TV for years. Jack McBrayer was actually up for an award as well as Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show and another show I had the opportunity to be a part of, Tab Time! So to be able to be there supporting two shows I had the privilege of being a part of was special. I remember eating a lot of cotton candy, taking lots of photos and seeing my mom tear up watching me take everything in.

Can you say about some of the other projects you’ve been part of over your career so far, which have included last year’s short film The Astronaut, playing Debra’s (Cheri Oteri) Daughter in PBC, Panic! At the Disco’s music video for Don’t Let the Light Go Out and the YouTube series Tab Time with Tabitha Brown?

The Astronaut is very special to me. Mainly because of director Damian Apunte and the heart he poured into this short film. Him and the rest of the small crew involved that created this short were incredible. Playing Aura and the love of space she had was pretty cool. Wearing a homemade space costume by Erika, one of the producers, was so awesome!

Playing Cheri Oteri’s daughter on PBC was super fun. I even had to showcase a British accent for the role, which was pretty cool. She’s hilarious and I had also watched her on SNL!

Tab Time with Tabitha Brown and the rest of the crew was very memorable. Being involved in a show that was teaching other kids my age and even younger was rewarding.

Being a part of any music video is the best. I love music and having the chance to see what is all involved in making a music video was pretty epic!

How did you get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do professionally?

My mom actually! She noticed at a very young age that I was very comfortable in front of the camera. She’s a photographer and would always take photos of me and my siblings. She contacted an agency in the midwest (I’m originally from Ohio) and I was signed at age three. Did my first print shoot at three years old with Nike and first national commercial at age four. With the help of my team in the midwest, they got me in touch with agents and managers in Los Angeles and we were on our way.

I remember my mom telling me shortly after I turned six that we were going to move to LA temporarily for pilot season. I didn’t know what that was at the time, all I knew is that I was going to be heading to California for a couple of months and I’d maybe get lucky to be a part of a new show. Then COVID hit, everything shut down and we moved back to Ohio, sold our house, and officially moved to Southern California in the summer of 2020.

It’s been a journey ever since and I’ve been lucky enough to have been a part of so many awesome projects and have met so many talented people along the way.

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I actually have a wide range of genres I enjoy watching. From nail-biting thrillers to your happy-go-lucky Disney and Nick shows. I love them all! In my downtime, I’m curled up on the couch watching a new series with some type of snack in hand; I love freeze-dried candy lately.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Ohh, this is a good question! I actually have a bunny named Alfred. We adopted him from the animal shelter for my 10th birthday and I’m in love with him. We like to take him on bike rides to the beach and let him run around to eat grass.

I also love singing and it’s rare to be around me with music not on.

I have a special group of friends I enjoy doing all the girly things with.

I love travelling and surprisingly enjoy most veggies; bell peppers being my favourite!

What are you hoping 2025 brings for your career, and do you have any further acting work coming up that you can share?

I think what I’m most looking forward to in 2025 in my career are the challenging roles I tend to enjoy most. Maybe some stunt work or even another role showcasing a different language.

A couple of dream projects I’d love to be a part of would be an action-packed film/series with maybe stunting, a Blumhouse or Tim Burton project would be a dream – I love thrillers. And, of course, Disney – isn’t that every kids’ dream?!

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