NILES — When Mariette Strauss, a 2007 Niles High School graduate, moved to New York City to pursue her career in acting, she found she needed a job in between gigs to get by.

Strauss started moonlighting as a nanny and not only found a way to supplement her income — the experience also inspired the material for the web series she would help to write and act in.

“Some of the stuff, I was like ‘Oh my god, these stories just write themselves,’” Strauss said from her home in New York City.

Strauss collaborated to write and act in the series called “Nannies” with a few of her friends that she worked with at the Flea Theater in TriBeca, New York City. Like Strauss, these friends, Marie Claire Roussel, Alex Gould, and Eric Folks, were also moonlighting as nannies and they would often trade stories. With some help from director Dolan Bloom and writer Sean Murphy, the series began to take shape.

“We all had these ridiculous stories and we were like, ‘we could really create something with this,’” Strauss said. “Not only am I an actor on it but I helped to create the stories as well.”

The friends filmed the first 5- to 8-minute episode in their six-part series in fall 2016 and posted it to Kick Starter, raising enough funds to film six other episodes. Two of the episodes from the web series have been released and can be viewed on Vimeo at nanniesseries.com.

“Overall, it was much more than being in front of cameras,” Strauss said. “There was a lot of work that we all did.”

In the show “Nannies,” Strauss stars as the character Rachel, a nanny who tries to navigate everything from being caught off guard by various questions, such as the “Where do babies come from?” to working with dysfunctional parents.

The series is not far off from Strauss’ real experience as a nanny.

“Kids see the world in such black and white versions,” Strauss said. “For them there is no stupid question because they are just discovering the world.”

Strauss said she believes viewers will identify with the storyline and find it to be unique.

“For me as a nanny, I learned so much,” Strauss said. “I think [the show has] an opportunity … to have a lot of heart and humor in it.”

Strauss first found her love for theater as a child growing up in Niles. She was regularly cast in Niles High School musicals. She also took part in a number South Bend Civic Theater productions. When she was not acting or in school, Strauss worked as a waiter at Prime Table restaurant.

Since graduating from Michigan State in 2011 and moving to New York City several months after, Strauss has had several major acting opportunities. In 2013, she was selected for the role of Mercy Lewis in the production of “Sarah Flood in Salem Mass.” The radical re-telling of the Salem witch trials took place at the acclaimed Flea Theater.

Strauss also got a one-line part in the movie “Breakable You.” Strauss was able to score the role while serving as an actor’s personal assistant and noticing that several of the parts had not yet been filled.

As the show gains traction, Strauss said it would be ideal to see it get picked up by a TV station. With many popular shows having the same start, she thinks it could be a possibility.

While Strauss said she loves New York City, she still keeps her hometown in mind.

“I feel like I talk about Niles all the time,” Strauss said.