Nichols obtained her first starring film role in the thriller "P2" (2007), and found mainstream success with the science-fiction action films "Star Trek" (2009) and "" (2009). Her other notable films include "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (2008), "Conan the Barbarian" (2011), "Alex Cross" (2012), "Raze" (2013), and "Inside" (2016). Nichols starred in the television series "Continuum" (2012–2015), and played notable roles in the sixth season of "Criminal Minds" (2010–2011), the fourth seasons of both "Chicago Fire" (2015–2016) and "The Librarians" (2017–2018), and five episodes as a Gestapo officer named Martha on "The Man in the High Castle".