Big was born as Nicole Avery Cox on June 2, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, making her 27 today. Her interest in showbiz stemmed from a passion for dance.
Ever since she was a young girl, Nikki wanted to pursue a career in dance, and was discovered by an agent while taking dance classes. The agent approached the young inginue and asked her if she wanted to dance professionally, despite the initial skepticism of her parents.

Nikki strutted her stuff in The Joffrey Ballet and a Los Angeles Music Center Ballet Tour, and danced her way into Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Paula Abdul's "Forever Your Girl", the MTV Awards, and The Arsenio Hall Show.

In 1988 she stepped in front of the camera again, only this time for her big screen debut in the extra-terrestrial comedy, "MAC and Me". The young actress then ventured onto the small screen, landing guest roles in "Mama's Family", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Night Court", "Murphy Brown", "Baywatch", "Eerie, Indiana", "California Dreams", and "Blossom".

While beautiful Nikki could be viewed in households nationwide, she could also be seen on the silver screen, with her appearance in 1992's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day".

After landing roles in Made-for-TV movies such as "The Ryan White Story", "Danger Island", "Bloodlines: Murder in the Family", and "Someone Like Me", primetime television would see the appearance of its newest sexy, self-centered teen -- portrayed by Nikki.

 Her big break came about in 1995, when she was cast as TiffanyMalloy in the "Married... With Children"-esque sitcom, "Unhappily Ever After". While getting noticed in the sitcom, soap opera viewers got a taste of Nikki as the long lost sister of Jagger Cates on "General Hospital".

After roles in the films "The Glimmer Man" and "Sub Down", Nikki appeared on "The Drew Carey Show", "Pearl" and "Norm" (as a rehabilitated hooker). She landed a role in the summer 2000 comedy, "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps", as Ms. Stamos.

As for her personal life, Nikki is engaged to comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, who provided the voice of Mr. Floppy on "Unhappily Ever After" (not necessarily a premonition of their future married life).

Recently joining the slew of WB babes, such as Katherine Heigl Katie Holmes, Keri Russell and Sarah Michelle Gellar Nikki was cast in her own television show on the coveted network. On Nikki, the actress stars as a Vegas showgirl, which gives her the opportunity to indulge in both of her passions, singing and dancing.