I just looked at my most played songs on Spotify and it’s I See You Shining
Nina on her looping habits
by Nines, and then all Yugoslavian rock.
I like I See You Shining because it’s very feel-good.
I’d like to start with Absolution which is a Balkan region production sci-fi dystopia. How do you feel about starring in a Serbia/Bosnia & Herzegovina/Montenegro movie considering your background?
Working in Serbia has been one of my biggest career goals, so I’m really excited. This fall, I will also be shooting a Serbian TV mini-series based on the life of Mihajlo Pupin, famous Serbian-American physicist. I’ll be playing his daughter Varvara.
You’ve already been in a few sci-fi/horror/dystopia productions. Are you a big fan of these themes yourself, or do they happen to find you?
At first, it seemed they were finding me. As time went on though, and the more I worked on them, the more I started to appreciate genre storytelling, for many reasons. One being that horror and sci-fi are great vehicles to tell stories with larger social commentary. Another one being the way they can become underground cultural obsessions in niche circles, which is really fascinating to witness.
The last TV production you were in was The Handmaid’s Tale. What does that show mean to you?
For my career, it has meant a lot and opened up a lot of opportunities. In terms of story and cultural impact, I think the show has made certain cultural critiques very mainstream. Everyone behind it that I have met, both cast and crew, are all really intelligent people who are not only socially aware, but are able to transfer their awareness on the project.
Our mini-interview series are based on obsessions. What’s a movie you never get tired of watching?
I’m sad to say this because I don’t support Woody Allen as a person, but Vicky Christina Barcelona truly never gets old to me. The story, the relationships, the iconic performances by everyone involved. It’s such a high quality movie, while also being easy and relaxing to watch. Movies and tv shows that take place in other countries are a nice escape for me.
Are there any of your performances you have enjoyed watching over and over?
It’s hard for me to watch things I’m in more than once because it’s always horrifying to watch yourself on screen. It’s like hearing your own voice recording on a voicemail; just, no. Seeking Comfort In an Uncomfortable Chair is a short piece I was in recently, and after posting it on social media I had to see it over and over. Because it’s just raw emotional expression though, I really didn’t mind watching it many times.
What was the cringiest movie or show you’ve watched several times?
My family owned Blue Crush and my sister and I watched it… I don’t know how many times. You know how it is when you own a movie as a kid, there is no limit to how many times you’ll watch. I haven’t seen it in a very long time but my sister and I regularly quote it to each other.
What’s a song you have played on repeat the most?
I just looked at my most played songs on spotify and it’s I See You Shining by Nines, and then all Yugoslavian rock. I like I See You Shining because it’s very feel-good. And Yugo Rock, I’m very nostalgic about Yugoslavia so hearing my mother tongue and thinking about all of the incredible bands that came out of that time– Hauster, Ekaterina Velika, Azra, or Leb i Sol for example—is nice.
Nina Kiridžija (Serbian Cyrillic: Нина Кириџиjа; born September 3, 1992), known as Nina Kiri, is a Serbian Canadian actress, best known for her role as the handmaid Alma in the first five seasons of the Hulu series The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–2022).
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