It s also a very emotional story, and this was my first opportunity to carry a story emotionally. The greatest difficulty Nichols faced was portraying a character whose ethnic and cultural background was so different from her own. With little opportunity to closely observe Bahrain culture, she had to rely on books, news stories, and advisors to better understand her character. I had to understand that Meriam was not an American girl. Here we hang out more, we talk to guys all the time, it s not a big deal.
People start dating a lot younger.
It was hard to grasp this and then turn it into my own personal reality. I was fortunate enough to meet Meriam. I must have asked her a zillion questions. Tony Plana, who directed Nichols in The Princess and the Barrio Boy, believes she has what it takes to be a leading lady. I find her to be extremely supple as an actress, Plana says.