GHOSTS: Nichole Sakura on the Fun (and Physical Challenge) of Playing Jessica
February 2, 2023 by Marisa Roffman

“The Family Business” – Sam gives relationship advice to her and Jay’s assistant, Freddie (Mike Lane), ignoring Hetty’s warning not to get too close to “the help.” Also, Sasappis strikes up a romance with Jessica (Nichole Sakura), the ghost who lives in Freddie’s car, on the CBS Original series GHOSTS, Thursday, Jan. 12 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Nichole Sakura as Jessica and Roman Zaragoza as Sasappis. Photo: CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Highest quality screengrab available.
GHOSTS returns on Thursday, February 2, as Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) try to stop their new assistant, Freddie (Mike Lane), from discovering the manor is, well, haunted.
But that’s not the only problem the ghosts have to figure out: Freddie sells his car—which means the ghost who is tied to it, Jessica (Nichole Sakura), could be banished to wherever the new owner decides to take it.
For Sakura, who returns to the comedy for her third episode with “Ghost Hunter,” appearing on the CBS series felt like “worlds colliding”—GHOSTS creators Joe Port and Joe Wiseman are friends with her former SUPERSTORE and MAGGIE bosses; SUPERSTORE’s Kaliko Kauahi also guest starred on GHOSTS earlier this season.
“It felt like I was still within the same family, even though I [was new to the world],” she tells Give Me My Remote.
The role has been a fun challenge, she notes, given Jessica is fairly limited to where she can move.
“I’m a pretty physical actor, so it definitely took away that one element of expression,” she explains. “But me and Román [Zaragoza], who plays Sasappis, we had a very natural kind of friendship and it was really easy to work with him. So there was no discomfort [about the confined scenes in the car]…and honestly, sitting in a car all day—I mean, I can’t complain about that. I really had no complaints.”

“The Perfect Assistant” – Sam and Jay are thrilled when they find a highly qualified assistant for the B&B – however, their new employee comes with some surprising baggage. Also, Thorfinn tries to help his son, Bjorn, deal with a bully, on the CBS Original series GHOSTS, Thursday, Jan. 5 (8:31-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Pictured (L-R): Nichole Sakura as Jessica, Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty, Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac, Danielle Pinnock as Alberta and Rose McIver as Samantha. Photo: Bertrand Calmeau/CBS ©2022 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
A little more complex to navigate? Jessica’s head wound.
“I approached it kind of how the character approached it, which is that she would forget it was even there,” Sakura says with a laugh. “I didn’t put an emphasis on it…I gestured to it. I think it’s that first introductory scene where I touch it and I’m like, ‘Ouch. This hurts.’ So it was very clear to me that she wasn’t that aware of it. So I also chose to not be so aware of it.”
“Of course, the hair and makeup people were constantly fussing over it,” she continues. “It was always like falling down and it was a real fight to keep it perfectly balanced and always within continuity. But thankfully, that wasn’t my responsibility.”
And though Jessica and Sass’ newfound relationship is being threatened, Sakura has nothing but praise for her time working with Zaragoza.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve discovered I’m more method than I realized,” she says. “I just find that it’s essential if I’m going to play a love interest to someone, it’s important to find a point of connection. So we actually met for dinner one night beforehand with Mike, and we all had that bonding experience. And that was a really nice opportunity, because just getting to know people, getting a little bit familiar with them, having that initial meet and greet before you’re just thrown on the set is always really helpful.”
“And he’s so sweet,” she continues. “You don’t always know what you’re gonna get with your other actors, but he was very sweet. And, honestly, that whole cast is so welcoming that they made it a really comfortable environment.”
GHOSTS, Thursdays, 8:30/7:30c, CBS
RELATED:
- GHOSTS: ‘Ghost Hunter’ Photos
- GHOSTS: ‘The Family Business’ Photos
- GHOSTS: ‘The Perfect Assistant’ Photos
- The GHOSTS Cast Previews a Very Merry (And Mayhem-Filled) Ghostmas
- GHOSTS: ‘The Christmas Spirit’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Richie Moriarty on Pete’s Big Gesture to Alberta
- GHOSTS: ‘The Liquor License’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Richie Moriarty on the ‘Dumb Deaths’ Reveal
- GHOSTS: Richie Moriarty Shares His Experience Working with Mathew Baynton and Teases a New Chapter in Pete’s Backstory
- GHOSTS: ‘Dumb Deaths’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Devan Chandler Long on Thorfinn’s Family Reunion
- GHOSTS’ Devan Chandler Long Teases Thor Will Experience a ‘Series of Emotions’ in ‘The Baby Bjorn’
- GHOSTS: ‘The Baby Bjorn’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Rebecca Wisocky Dissects Hetty’s Awkward Reunion with Molly
- GHOSTS: Rebecca Wisocky and Román Zaragoza Preview the Arrival of a New Spirit in ‘Halloween 2: The Ghost of Hetty’s Past’
- GHOSTS: ‘Halloween 2: The Ghost of Hetty’s Past’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Román Zaragoza on Sass’ Secret
- GHOSTS: ‘The Tree’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Sheila Carrasco on Flower’s Closure: ‘This is Something That Will Stick with Her for a Long Time’
- GHOSTS: Sheila Carrasco Previews a Cult Invading Woodstone B&B—and New Flower Backstory
- GHOSTS: ‘Jay’s Friends’ Photos
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Danielle Pinnock on Alberta’s Big Secret—and the First Suspect in Her Murder
- GHOSTS: Danielle Pinnock Previews the ‘Glitz and Glam’ of Alberta’s 1920s-Era Flashback—and the Secret the Songstress is Desperate to Keep
- GHOSTS: ‘Alberta’s Podcast’ Photos
- GHOSTS: What You Need to Know About the Season Premiere
- CBS Releases New Teasers for GHOSTS, FIRE COUNTRY, EAST NEW YORK, CSI: VEGAS, and More
- GHOSTS Season 2 Premiere: ‘Spies’ Photos
- GHOSTS Season 2 Teaser Video: Can Jay See the Spirits?!
- GHOSTS Showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman Pick Their Favorite Season 1 Moments
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Asher Grodman Breaks Down the Unexpectedly Emotional ‘Trevor’s Pants’
- GHOSTS’ Asher Grodman Teases the ‘Trevor’s Pants’ Reveal: ‘I Did Not See That Coming’
- GHOSTS: Rebecca Wisocky Reflects on Hetty and Thor’s Bond, Previews ‘Shenanigans’ Ahead for Other Ghostly Residents
- CBS Renews GHOSTS, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, and BOB HEARTS ABISHOLA
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Rebecca Wisocky on ‘The Vault’ Twist That ‘Will Change Our Universe’
- GHOSTS: Rebecca Wisocky Previews Hetty’s Reunion With Her Long MIA Husband
- GHOSTS: Utkarsh Ambudkar Previews Sam’s Reunion with Her Mom
- GHOSTS EPs Joe Wiseman and Joe Port on Their Strategy for Revealing the Ghost Rules
- GHOSTS: Utkarsh Ambudkar Previews Hetty Possessing Jay
- GHOSTS: Danielle Pinnock on Alberta’s Death and That Bonkers Tattoo
- GHOSTS: Danielle Pinnock Previews Alberta’s Encounter with a Superfan
- GHOSTS Post-Mortem: Richie Moriarty Breaks Down the ‘Pete’s Wife’ Reveals
- GHOSTS’ Richie Moriarty on Meeting a Mini-Pete on Halloween, Plus Pete’s Upcoming Family ‘Reunion’
Follow @GiveMeMyRemote and @marisaroffman on Twitter for the latest TV news. Connect with other TV fans on GIVE ME MY REMOTE’s official Facebook page.
And be the first to see our exclusive videos by subscribing to our YouTube channel.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links/ads placed on the site.
Related Posts
Filed under Ghosts
Comments Off on GHOSTS: Nichole Sakura on the Fun (and Physical Challenge) of Playing Jessica
Comments