Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 22, 2025 · Entertainment

Euphoria Star Nika King Surprises Fans by Juggling Kitchen Duties!

Euphoria actress Nika King is the latest Hollywood star to garner attention for her day job, as she's part-owner of a Vegan Soul Food establishment in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Euphoria Star Nika King's Shocking Secret: She's a Vegan Soul Food Queen!

Get ready for some serious celebrity realness, folks! Actress Nika King, who stole hearts as Leslie Bennett on HBO's hit series Euphoria, has been keeping a juicy secret from her devoted fans. The 46-year-old starlet is not only a talented thespian but also a part-owner of a Vegan Soul Food establishment in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida!

King, who played Rue and Gia Bennett's mom, revealed the surprising news on Instagram last week with a post that had everyone talking. Captioned "When people ask me if I'm filming S3 of Euphoria?", the photo showed her cleaning the restaurant's kitchen, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at her entrepreneurial endeavors.

King, 46, played the role of Leslie Bennett - the mother of Rue Bennett ( Zendaya ) and Gia Bennett ( Storm Reid ) on 14 episodes of the HBO series during its first two seasons

The comments section quickly went wild as fans and fellow actors alike were left stunned by King's revelation. Many expressed surprise that a performer on a high-profile HBO series had to moonlight with a day job. "You know the job market is terrible when main actors of a huge TV show are struggling," one user wrote, while another added, "Learning that actors have real jobs out of filming roles is really humbling to me."

One devoted fan praised King for shedding light on the often-unsung struggles faced by actors. "As an actor who's been out of work for the past two years after the biggest show I've ever done, this felt really validating," they wrote. "Thanks for sharing!"

King's response was nothing short of inspiring: "All things work to those who love God and who are called by His purpose - and so I'm trusting Him to move me into the next season of my life."

The Scholary Note has learned that King, a native Miamian, had previously announced she wouldn't be returning for Euphoria's third season on February 28. In a heartfelt post, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play Leslie Bennett and praised the show's creators for allowing her to tap into her dramatic side.

King's acting credits extend beyond Euphoria, with roles in films like Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot (2024), The Rebel Girls (2024), and 65 (2023).

As fans eagerly await what's next for this talented triple threat, they're also getting a taste of her culinary skills. When asked about the inspiration behind her Vegan Soul Food venture, King smiled, "I just wanted to create something that brings people joy and nourishment - body, mind, and soul."

Stay tuned for more updates on Nika King's entrepreneurial endeavors, and don't forget to follow @thescholarlynote.com for the latest celebrity news and gossip!

Instagram users were all over the place in their reactions to King's post

(L-R) Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, Barbie Ferreira, Sydney Sweeney, Zendaya, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer and Nika King attended HBO' Euphoria premiere at the Arclight Pacific Theatres' Cinerama Dome on June 4, 2019 in LA

The comic-actress does a number of different jobs for the vegan restaurant

The Miami native revealed this past February 28 that she wasn't returning to the show for its third season