Niecy Nash-Betts on FX's Grotesquerie

Early on grotesqueIn the Season 1 finale, released Oct. 30, Niecy Nash-Betts' character asks out loud, “What the hell kind of freak show is this?” The sentiment embodies FX's horror series, which follows the twisted and prolific mind of Ryan Murphy springs, good. Packed with bloody violence and emotional drama, the surreal grotesque is based on Nash-Betts' outstanding (and, frankly, award-worthy) performance.

In the series, she plays Lois Tryon, a small-town detective who is convinced she is the target of a serial killer. Seven episodes later, it is revealed that the deaths are only in her head because Lois is in a coma. However, as soon as she awakens, there is actually a real murderer on the hunt. Her personal life is also in shambles: Lois, a recovering alcoholic, has slept with her son-in-law (Travis Kelce) and is separating from her predatory husband (Courtney B. Vance). So yes, grotesque is a lot to handle, but Nash-Betts seems more than up to speed.

The AV Club spoke with the actress about why she was drawn to this complex role, working with Murphy and the type of work she wants to do next.

The AV Club: Lois is put to the test grotesque. What was it like stepping into this role?

Niecy Nash Betts: Oh, it was scary, and it made me want to lean forward even more. Anything that scares me a little or that I've never done before, I run towards it. I was happy to unpack what Ryan had on the page. I had many conversations about this with him. Even though Lois was in the midst of her addiction during her coma life, she was portrayed as very strong. In her waking life – that is, in her real life – she was much more vulnerable and much more fragile. So it was fun to play both of those roles of hers.

AVC: The finale ends with Lois, ready to give up everything and work on herself in an asylum, returning to her position as a detective. Why did she need to come full circle in this way?

NN: In the end, someone had to do (the job), even if Lois just wanted to go to the mental institution and get herself together. Remember, she says “I think I’m dead” when Police Chief Megan (Micaela Diamond) tells her to come back. As they say, you can rest when you're dead, but that's not a luxury Lois obviously can afford. So she says, “Let me put my white coat back on and let me get out of here, because someone has to do it.” That's what she says at the end when she asks who else is going to solve this thing. It won't be Megan. It was the fact that she didn't want anything else that had happened in her dream to play out in real life with this copycat murderer. She knows she is the only one who can fight this evil.

AVC: Do you think she even wants that responsibility? She was so close to leaving everything behind.

NN: Every black woman I know is tired and still needs to take the lead, still needs to make it happen, still needs to figure it all out, still needs to assert herself. Having the luxury of just having your own life and lying on a beach somewhere, eating shrimp and drinking a cocktail, that's not the life for most women I know. I understood the part about Lois. So when she thinks, “Okay, I’m going to relax and work on myself,” they pull her back. And that's because she really cares. She can't turn her back on Megan. She cannot allow these crimes to continue to happen because no one but her will be able to get to the bottom of it. She is the chosen one.

AVC: Was it liberating to play someone with mental health issues? Or was it discouraging?

NN: I always try to find a place where my character and I intersect. I want to find the portal of what we have in common. You learn things from the people you play. But I also try not to use my characters as therapy. If I can at least learn something from them, that's fine.

AVC: Your character has exciting one-on-one interactions with everyone on the show. I found Lois' scenes with her daughter Merritt to be the most difficult and touching to watch. Do you have any favorites?

NN: Everyone in this cast is so talented, but yeah, I also love the mother-daughter dynamic between me and Raven Goodwin, who plays Merritt. I love that this relationship is so complicated. However, you could still see that there are remnants of love from a short period of time they had until Lois' addiction and work took over and it became very difficult to deal with. I also enjoyed revealing the relationship with Megan Duvall in both versions – in the coma and in real life – because they were so different. Lois needed Sister Megan when she was in a coma because she knew all about the religious undertones of the crimes. In real life, Megan needed Lois because she knew she couldn't do it alone and that she didn't have the bandwidth to do it. Even if Lois wants to rest, sit down and gather her nerves, she can't.

AVC: What was it like performing all of Lois' intense monologues?

NN: Oh my God. I would just always call Ryan and say, “I used to think you were a nice guy. Why did you give me these monologues? You're killing me.” He said it was because they would be so great. I was nervous, as I would remember everyone, but I think I managed to stick the landing.

AVC: You have worked with Ryan on several projects that showcase your range Scream Queens To Dahmer to this one. What was the experience like and what did you learn?

NN: I love it so much. This level and scope of work can only be trusted because someone else trusts you to show up and do what needs to be done. I learned with you grotesque that I can do it and can trust my gift. A lot of people told me things like, “Your lane is comedy,” because that’s where they met me. And often people want to leave you where they meet you. But I knew my instrument and knew that I could do it. I just had to trust him enough to say, “I really want to play this role.”

And that Ryan then says yes? Then I got scared. I'm like, 'Oh God, I know I said I could do it, but now I really have to make Lois as down to earth as possible.' So many people have texted me and called me to let me know what they think grotesque would be next American horror story Season. Well, it's not that. If it were like that, I would have been there AHSRight? That's not it. It's a completely different matter. That's why I think it's great that despite everything he's done, Ryan is still innovative and creative and always has his finger on the pulse.

AVC: Have you spoken to him about a possible second season? grotesque could look like?

NN: You know what? I would like to. We didn't talk about what it would look like because once I'm done grotesqueI started working on Ryan's new show, Everything OKwith Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Teyana Taylor, Naomi Watts… all these amazing girls. I haven't even had a chance to sit down and think about what season two might look like. I couldn't ask Ryan, “What do you think about this?” He just said, “Ma'am, here's another script – stand over there.” (Laughs) But I would like to return it.

AVC: You've already had an eventful career, but are there any roles on your bucket list? Or are there any TV shows you've seen that you'd like to be a part of?

NN: I've never played a villain before. I think it would be fun to find that in my instrument. I am always kind, loving and funny. I can be tough or strong sometimes, but a bad guy? That would be cool. I also just finished watching it Reasonable Doubt, and I get in shrinkage Season two. I love this show. Oh, and I know which TV show I would like to be on. It is Hacks with Jean Smart.

AVC: What role do you consider crucial in shaping your career?

NN: The role that changed my life the most was playing nurse Didi Ortley on HBO Move forward for three seasons. It was an industry darling. That was my first Emmy nomination and the first time people saw me in a more grounded role. And about this role, Ava DuVernay called me and said, “Can you come over? Selma?’ That led to me doing Netflix When they see us. That's what led me to do it Origin. So many things came into being. I have Claws because of Move forward. All these beautiful things started to happen because of this role.