1 of 10

STARZ drama "P Valley"

Source: Courtesy STARZ / Starz

Anybody else obsessed with P-Valley? Katori Hall’s hit Starz series about all the colorful characters who work at and frequent a strip club called The Pynk in the Mississippi Delta has both captivated audiences and critics alike. It’s made such an impression that it was greenlit for Season 2 two weeks into Season 1.

We’re personally fond of the story (the writing is great), the women directors behind the camera, the music, and of course, those performance scenes that remind you that pole dancing is quite the serious sport. The physicality is insane. But we’re most into it because of the players. From Uncle Clifford to Diamond and the extremely irritating Patrice Woodbine, everybody brings their A-game. With the flamboyant costumes, wigs and literal dark scenes (most of the show plays out at night and in the wee hours of the morning, as strip club work does), we couldn’t help but wonder what the cast of P-Valley looks like in the light and without all the bells and whistles. Hit the flip to see your new faves outside of character.

P Valley Cast

Source: Jesse Grant / Getty

Brandee Evans

The beauty, who plays showstopping dancer Mercedes (there’s nothing like Mercedes Sundays, right?) who cleans up on the weeknights and tries to teach young girls (including her daughter) dance on weekdays, cleans up quite nicely on the red carpet. She’s had previous roles in the BET series Games People Play, in the TV movie Dear Santa, I Need a Date, and played Tina Brown in The Bobby Brown Story. 

 

P Valley Cast

Source: Jerod Harris / Getty

Nicco Annan

Do you prefer the poncho or Uncle Clifford’s wigs, heels and beat face? Nicco Annan can do both. The actor has had previous roles on Shameless, This Is Us and Claws, but he’s had quite the star-making turn playing Uncle Clifford on the Starz hit. We certainly can’t get enough.

P Valley Cast

Source: Jeff Spicer / Getty

Elarica Johnson

While she plays quite the intriguing stripper with a scamming side to her, you probably wouldn’t know that in real life, Elarica Johnson is an English actress. Before she was Autumn Night, she was actually in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and the original classic British drama Top Boy. 

P Valley Cast

Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty

Shannon Thornton

“Miss M-i, crooked letter crooked letter,” or Keyshawn as she goes by when she’s not on stage, is played by the lovely Shannon Thornton. The actress has had previous roles in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and most recently, Power, before turning heads as the abused dancer looking for a social media come-up on the hit series.

P Valley Cast

Source: Tabatha Fireman / Getty

Parker Sawyers

Look familiar? Before Parker Sawyers was playing Andre Watkins on P-Valley, he was acting as a young Barack Obama wooing Tika Sumpter’s Michelle in the indie film Southside With You. He was also recently part of the BBC drama World on Fire about the lives of people impacted by World War II. Not as exciting as his gig now, we know.

P Valley Cast

Source: Tibrina Hobson / Getty

Tyler Lepley

Tyler Lepley doesn’t have to say much playing Diamond, the brooding bouncer at The Pynk, because his eyes say enough. Oh, that and we would be remiss to not say he’s fine as HELL. But before he was being called a sexier version of Drake by the Internet, Lepley was, and still is starring on Tyler Perry’s The Haves and the Have Nots.

P Valley Cast

Source: Andrew Toth / Getty

J. Alphonse Nicholson

J. Alphonse Nicholson is nothing like his character of burgeoning rap artist and closeted romantic Lil Murda on the series. Before this opportunity to play such a complex character, he had roles in Just Mercy with Michael B. Jordan, and Self Made, the Netflix biopic on the life of Madame C.J. Walker.

P Valley Cast

Source: Roy Rochlin / Getty

Harriet D. Foy

The proud Howard alum plays the crooked Christian in Patrice Woodbine, mother of our beloved Mercedes. Foy has done an array of TV work, from Elementary to two different Law & Order franchises, but she’s also been a major presence on the stage. She has credits for her work in shows including Amelie, Mamma Mia, and Once on This Island.

P Valley Cast

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

Morocco Omari

He plays Big L, the business partner of Uncle Clifford, there to remind him of The Pynk’s money troubles so that he can make better decisions. The actor previously was featured as a main character, Tariq, on Empire, and was most recently in the film 21 Bridges alongside star Chadwick Boseman.

 

Dan J. Johnson

Johnson plays Corbin, the biracial, illegitimate son of a cotton purveyor trying to keep his father’s land while his white brothers want to sell it for the creation of a casino. He’s a newer actor, hence the lack of a red carpet photo, with his most notable appearances in the TV series Chicago Fire, Switched at Birth and American Housewife.