RORSCHACH TEST
“I’m Aging Backwards”: Niecy Nash on Studs, Fillers, and Serial Killers
Photo courtesy of Niecy Nash.
Niecy Nash has led a life of crime–on screen that is. And the 55-year-old Emmy winner will be the first to admit that she’s naturally drawn to the grizzlier projects. As one of Ryan Murphy’s most called-upon muses, her roles have ranged from a detective (in Grotesquerie) to a potential murder victim (in Dahmer) to Kappa Kappa Tau security guard (in the cult-favorite Scream Queens). This time around, Nash has lawyered up, joining Kim Kardashian, Glenn Close, and Teyana Taylor as a ball-busting divorce attorney in Murphy’s newest drama, All’s Fair, now streaming on Hulu. Before its premiere, we asked Nash to take the Rorschach test, where she gave us the skinny on prenups, pilates, and why–despite this latest role–she’s a wifey for lifey.
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TRUE CRIME
“In my life, I’ve had so many tragedies, and because of those things, I became obsessed with true crime. They say that if you watch true crime to relax, you’re a little crazy. I’m the people.”
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SERIAL KILLERS
“First thing that comes to mind is playing Glenda Cleveland in Dahmer, and understanding the amount of fear, the amount of pain, that she experienced, along with everyone else who unfortunately were his victims.”
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SEXTING
“Hell yeah. That’s the pregame.”
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KIM KARDASHIAN
“That’s my homegirl. She is one of the hardest-working women I know. I have literally seen her on FaceTime on one phone with a baby, a computer on her lap, running her business, with a law book on the side, trying to study for the bar, along with a script and an acting coach. She is a professional multitasker. Who else is going to do it?”
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LOVE IS BLIND
“It can be. Full disclosure, I have never wanted to host anything more than I have wanted to host a Love is Blind for queer folk with my partner. That is the ultimate dream.”
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FILLERS
“I’m not above it if it works for you. But I’m in a situation where I really have to be able to move my face. You can’t be in a remake of Roots with your cheekbones up to your eyebrows.”
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YOUR FIFTIES
“Oh, I’ve been having more fun now. Don’t I look like I got Benjamin Button’s disease? I’m aging backwards. I live a very happy and satiated lifestyle. I could work a 16-hour day and still come home and make time to get in a hot tub and drink champagne.”
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SURROGACY
“I love that anyone would make themselves available to make another person’s dream come true.”
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STUDS
“Mine.”
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MARRIAGE
“You’ve got to know yourself, and I know that I’m a wife. I’ve always known that. I think other people pick up on it too, because I can’t stay single in the streets. Someone always wants to marry me and I always say, “Yes.” But this third time, this one is the magic.”
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ACRYLICS
“Yes, please and thank you. No gel X for me. I’m old school. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
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AWARD SHOWS
“They can be stressful if you’re nominated, but by the time you make it to the after-party, whether you win or lose, it’s a good time.”
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SUING PEOPLE
“I haven’t ever really had to do it, but I’ll never say never. I’m not petty, though.”
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GETTING SUED
“Oh, I don’t want that. Sit down, have a snack, and let’s work it out.”
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THERAPY
“We all have some sort of trauma that we’ve dealt with. And if you don’t get your healing, then you bleed on people who didn’t cut you.”
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PILATES
“I tried it, but I don’t know if it’s for me.”
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PRENUPS
“Well now, let’s talk about it. I’ve been around the block a few times. And I can say, if you have a lot to lose, it’s a good idea. It’s just like insurance. You hope you don’t need it, but if you do, it’s there. It’s very awkward and that’s why you should talk about it early, just to see where everybody lands.”
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AGEISM
“Me no likey. But I love that in the series that I’m doing now, we’re all women of a certain age. Some of us are seasoned and have been around the block two or three times.”
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TOKENISM
“I would rather be received on my own merit, for my own worth, than to feel like I’m a quota that needs to be filled.”
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