While attending the
University of Hawaiʻi, Nickson was a model in
Honolulu. There she appeared in her first play, ''
The Winter's Tale. After acting classes, community theater, and roles on Magnum, P.I., she appeared as the female lead in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). She appeared with Chuck Norris in Sidekicks'' (1992). Her other film appearances have included roles in
Glitch! (1988),
China Cry (1991),
K2 (1992),
Double Dragon (1994),
White Tiger (1996),
Devil in the Flesh (1998),
Ethan Mao (2004),
Half-Life (2008),
Dim Sum Funeral (2008), and
One Kine Day (2011). Nickson guest starred in the final episode of
seaQuest 2032 as
Lieutenant Commander Heiko Kimura, a role that would have been a main character had the series continued, and in two
Star Trek series: The
Next Generation episode "
The Arsenal of Freedom" as
Enterprise-D crewmember Ensign Lian T'su, and the
Deep Space Nine episode "
Paradise" as Cassandra, a villager who attempts to seduce Commander
Benjamin Sisko. She played Catherine Sakai, Commander
Jeffrey Sinclair's love-interest, in the first season of
Babylon 5. She had a recurring role as Dr. Susan Lee on the television series
Walker, Texas Ranger (reuniting her with Chuck Norris), and as Princess Aouda in the 1989 miniseries version of
Around the World in 80 Days opposite
Pierce Brosnan and
Eric Idle. She had a supporting role in the
television version of the novel
Noble House, again opposite Brosnan. Julia retired from acting for personal reasons on March 29, 2025 ==Personal life==