Cora Lu Tran’s Nico is more than just comic relief on ‘Will Trent’

There’s also something deeper for the actor when it comes to playing Nico. For Tran, who is non-binary themself, the character has always been personal and more than just a role on a hit network drama. Playing Nico, who is grounded and has an unapologetic sense of identity, pushed Tran to examine their own, and the process was transformative in ways they didn't expect. "It caused me to be so much more secure in who I am, and more proud to be non-binary and queer," Tran says. They can feel the impact every day when fans write in to say they came out to their parents after watching Nico on screen. That kind of reaction, Tran explains, gives them a sense of purpose.

JoySauce recently caught up with Tran to chat about finding their footing on screen and the unexpected ways Nico has shaped their own identity off screen.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Anjana Pawa: Going into the fourth season of Will Trent, was there anything specific you had to prepare for?
Cora Lu Tran: When I got the news that we got season four, I was just as excited as every single time before because every time, it means I get to spend one more year with my family. I didn't have to prepare as much as I had to brace myself for what I knew was coming. I knew it was going to be better, more exciting. I just went in saying, "I want to make this my best season yet."

AP: What side of Nico are you most excited for audiences to see this season?
CLT: I'm most excited for people to see what Nico is really capable of, the backstory, the emotional parts that haven't been revealed just yet. And also Nico being there for Will. That relationship is probably my favorite thing about the show. In the beginning I thought, "Well, Will is kind of like Nico's dad." But I love that Nico isn't afraid to sass him and tell it straight, because Will really needs that. We saw Nico introduced through a pretty intense situation, so getting to see more of this character that's tender and soft—especially with Betty (the beloved chihuahua) and with Will—has been really wonderful.

AP: Nico brings a lot of lightness to a pretty dark show. Is that something you think about intentionally?
CLT: Always. I've always said Nico is like a breath of air in between the murders, because Will Trent can get pretty dark, and Nico is just there in the middle of all of it. I love seeing Nico be young and hopeful. It's a really fun juxtaposition. When the scenarios get intense and scary, Nico gives the audience somewhere to land. That has always felt like the job to me.

AP: What does it mean for you to be an Asian non-binary actor carrying this role on a major network show?
CLT: It was nerve wracking, honestly. When I booked it, I was just excited that they believed I could tell this story the way it needed to be told. But it can be daunting—you're the only non-binary character on the show, you're recurring, and there's a lot of representation riding on that. I don't always feel worthy of that responsibility, because at the end of the day I'm just one person with my own experiences. But everyone made it so easy. And the way the writers built Nico as this whole, well-rounded person where being queer isn't the only thing that defines them, that helps a lot.

AP: What parts of yourself have you brought to Nico, and what have you learned about yourself through playing them?
CLT: My humor! That's the best thing I could have brought, because it's honestly the only thing I have. [Laughs.] My sassiness, my sarcasm. If I love you, I'm going to make jokes about you. That's just my love language. I saw Ramón (Rodriguez) between seasons and the first thing I said was, "Oh, you're here…" He just laughed and said, "You can't help yourself, can you?" I really can't. Whenever Nico sasses Will, that's Nico being comfortable. If they weren't joking, they'd be quiet and closed off. That humor is the one thing I'll always try to give Nico.

As for what I've learned, playing this role pushed me to ask myself questions I wouldn't have thought to ask otherwise. Nico had such a strong sense of self, with such clarity around their identity and their pronouns, and I realized I didn't quite have that in my own life at the time. It inspired me to sit down and ask, "Who am I? How do I want to be addressed?" It made me so much more secure and proud to be non-binary and queer. And then the messages started coming in, people DMing me saying they came out to their parents after seeing Nico on TV. And I think, “Okay, maybe I'm doing something really good here.” That gives me a sense of purpose that goes way beyond just playing a character. That's a really nice feeling.