Last week, Niecy Nash’s advice on blow jobs being a crucial component to keeping a married man happy was thrust back into the spotlight following her controversial chat with Playboy. As you may recall, Niecy expressed that a woman’s willingness to go down on her hubby and keep him well fed was an important part of the recipe for a happy marriage. Since then, the actress has received praise and criticism (mostly criticism) for her pointers. We were recently able to catch up with her for a Q&A where she discusses season two of her HBO series, “Getting On,” her upcoming movie Selma and of course, all of the fellatio controversy.
Many Black actresses have complained about how difficult it is to find work in the entertainment industry, but you always seem to be working. What’s your secret to maintaining longevity in this business?
Well, there would be two things I would say. One is my faith. God has really been kind in terms of me always keeping a job. And the other part is to diversify. Sometimes we start in one thing and we stay in that one thing. But I always like to try things I’ve never done. Okay, I’m doing an unscripted comedy like “Reno 911!” How about I go over here and try hosting a home makeover show? Maybe I can be a correspondent. Let me go over here to “Entertainment Tonight.” I think I can dance a little bit, let me try to be a dancing star. Let me write a book. I’m an author. It’s just constantly finding ways to continue to put your art into the world.
And your family, you seem extremely busy. How do you balance it all?
There are so many things. It’s very easy for something to fall through the cracks. I have accepted the fact that something is going to fall through the cracks. I just don’t let the same thing continue to fall through the cracks. You’ve got to rotate. And also, I have help. My mother and my husband are very, very helpful at helping me maintain it all.
What can fans expect from the new season of “Getting On”?
I think that you get to find a little bit more out about our characters. I would say that you get to see relationships, some personal relationships develop. My character has a family member that comes to work on the ward…there’s some intensity and drama that this brings. I won’t tell you who but someone from our ward is going to undergo a very major makeover that’s going to be a little shocking to everyone on the ward. We have really great guest stars again this season and one of our favorites from last season is going to show up again. I won’t tell you who that is either.
Your role on “Getting On” is very different from other characters that you have played in the past. How did you mentally prepare for such a dark comedy?
It’s interesting, when I decided that I wanted to be an actress at 5 years old, I never thought comedy. I always thought of a more grounded and dramatic performance. But when I found my way in comedy, it was a means to an end. I needed to feed my children. I was like, “Okay, this is what they’re hiring me to do.” I’m very, very passionate about being able to play Nurse Didi because she’s so different from everything. You know, Raineesha Williams from “Reno 911!” with the baby hair and the big booty and the sassy personality. Nurse Didi is a longggg way from Raineesha Williams and being able to play her has not only been a gift to me personally as an actor, it’s afforded me some other opportunities. I ended up in this other movie coming out on Christmas Day called Selma. The director Ava Duverney saw me in “Getting On.” I don’t think she would’ve called me if she saw me in “Reno 911!: Miami,” you know, walking down the beach talking crazy. But seeing me in a different light has caused a little bit of a stir in casting. I’ve been able to go in for projects that I probably would not have been seen for before.
Speaking of Selma, what was it like working with Oprah?
Oh my goodness, Oprah is amazing. We didn’t actually have scenes together in the movie, but we were able to fellowship together. She’s everything you think she is and more. You know, that deep Oprah side that’s insightful and so full of love and Maya Angelou wisdom. That is Oprah. But there’s such a fun side to her too.
