Photography and art direction by Pete Henze
Actress and Manhattan Beach resident Danielle Nicolet moved from small-town Ohio to Los Angeles to live with her mother in the Valley at the age of 15. A year later, she struck out on her own.
“I moved into an apartment in Hollywood with a fake ID and a bad attitude,” Nicolet said.
She also had ambition and quickly found herself playing Vonda Mahoney, a recurrent role on the popular sitcom “Family Matters.”
“I wasn’t going to let anything stand in my way so I kept out of all the trouble I probably should have gotten into,” Nicolet said. “I was just so fortunate and kind of rescued by the industry. I started working so young that I was able to avoid a lot of the pitfalls that most  other ridiculous, young, 16-year-old wannabe actress girls in Hollywood fall into.”
Nicolet has worked steadily in film and television ever since. On May 1 her new series, Family Tools will premiere on ABC. Nicolet stars alongside Kyle Bornheimer and JK Simmons. The story revolves around a well-intentioned ne’er-do-well who returns to his hometown to take over his father’s handyman business after the father suffers a heart attack. Nicolet plays the love interest.
Nicolet met her real-life love Mike Kussman 10 years ago in Hollywood. They moved to Hermosa Beach on the recommendation of former NFL star Michael Strahan. The couple was instantly struck by the sense of community in the South Bay.
“Before we knew it, two years had gone by. We can’t imagine moving back into the city,” Nicolet said. “Every time I drive down VistaDel Mar, I realize if you want to be happy, you can’t worry about the commute. You have to live where you want. Where you live is where you live, and where you work is where you work.
“There are so many more Hollywood people living in the South Bay than most people realize. We all kind of keep it secret. When people ask how I deal with living in Manhattan Beach and commuting to Hollywood, I just kind of smile and say, ‘Yeah, I know. It’s really hard.'”
Location: Palmilla Cucina and Tequilla, manager JD Ciasulli. 39 Pier Ave.,Hermosa Beach. (310) 374-4440 PalmillaRestaurant.com
 Clothes: BLVD, 320 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach. (310) 372-0777.BlvdMB.com
 Hair and make-up: Mint Salon, 69 14th Street, Hermosa Beach. (310) (310) 341-8792 (TheMintSalon.com)
 Make-up: Vanessa Broin (BeePretty.net)
Hair: Vanessa Amaton
