ARI ZUCKER of DAYS OF OUR LIVES!

Arianne Zucker, who was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2010, portrays unlucky-in-love Nicole Dimera, a former model, on NBC’s "Days of our Lives." Zucker, the quintessential Southern California native, was discovered at age 16 by a modeling scout from It Models. She began modeling in Los Angeles where she shot several clothing catalogues and campaigns. Her career later took her to such places as Paris, Japan, Australia, and New York. As Zucker’s modeling career prospered, so did her interest in television. She appeared in several national commercials for Mazda, Miata, McDonald’s and Burger King. Zucker decided to settle back down in Los Angeles and began her studies as an actress at Pierce College. It was there that she first acquired her love for theater. She was involved in several workshops that included performances in Beth Henley’s "Crimes of the Heart" and Neil Simon’s "Last of the Red Hot Lovers." She continued her studies at the highly reputable Howard Fine Studios and recently finished a two-year program of scene study improv with Stephen Book. Zucker got her first role in a student film at AFI (American Film Institute), and two months after shooting, auditioned for the role of Nicole Walker on the long running soap “Days of our Lives.” Four months later, Zucker became the newest member of the cast and won the Soap Opera Digest Award in 2004 for Outstanding Villainess. In recent months, Zucker has become ambassador for Habitat for Humanity in the San Fernando Valley. She will soon be traveling to Philadelphia and Detroit, among other cities, where she will be leading their charity builds. She has also participated in numerous USO Tours, including visiting bases in Southern California and Guantanamo Bay. The non-profit organization Success for Kids (www.sfk.org) is also close to her heart and she has spent time mentoring children in a structural development program.