Donielle Nash Talks Advice From Mom Niecy Nash and TSLOCG

Image Source: Kayvon Esmaili

Donielle Nash is making a reputation for herself. Some know her because the daughter of Emmy-nominated actor Niecy Nash, however the 27-year-old rising star has appeared in two Mindy Kaling-produced collection — “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and “Never Have I Ever” — and just lately popped up in an episode of her mother’s newest crime drama present, “The Rookie: Feds.” And she’s seeking to sustain the momentum.

Of course, Nash’s mom partially impressed her personal pursuit of performing, however one other on-screen icon additionally influenced her: Raven-Symoné. “I wished to vary my identify to Raven,” she tells POPSUGAR. “She was so humorous, and she or he dressed cute, and she or he was Black, and she or he was a bit of thick, and I used to be like, ‘I’ve bought to be that.'” Since then, Nash has had minor cameos in “The Soul Man,” “Modern Family,” “Superstore,” and “Grown-ish,” plus extra outstanding roles in Kaling’s aforementioned Netflix and HBO Max productions.

In seasons one and two of “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” Nash portrays Jayla, a pal of Whitney (Alyah Chanelle Scott) who sometimes delivers quippy one-liners. Her favourite season two scene was a barely extra critical second when Whitney, Jayla, and Willow (Renika Williams) focus on Whitney’s encounter along with her biochemistry TA, who confused her with the opposite Black lady in school and cried upon confrontation in regards to the mixup.

“He pulled the white tears card?” Willows responds, to which Jayla matter-of-factly chimes in, “If I had a greenback for each time that occurred, I’d solely have 63 cents as a result of Black ladies make considerably much less on the greenback.” Nash hopes Jayla can proceed unpacking comparable microagressions with levity within the present’s third season, ought to she be introduced again on. “I do not know what the plan is, however I’m out there if I’m wanted for a couple of chuckles,” she hints.

In season three, Nash additionally needs Whitney to will get the justice she deserves after that wild finale twist — you realize, the one the place she catches Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet) kissing her ex-boyfriend, Canaan (Christopher Meyer). “Obviously I’m not within the author’s room so I do not understand how it should go, however I would not be mad if Whitney slapped [Kimberly] and bought her man again,” Nash jokes.

Image Source: Getty / Eric McCandless / ABC Donielle Nash in “The Rookie: Feds” with Niecy Nash.

Although Nash’s dream is to star in her personal sitcom, she’s not afraid to dabble in dramatic roles. Take her cameo in season one in all “The Rookie: Feds,” for instance. As Pamela, the roommate of a homicide sufferer, she tearfully discusses the suspected assassin with FBI brokers, together with one performed by mother Niecy. She likened performing alongside her mother to being a contestant on a cooking competitors present judged by Gordon Ramsay. “It was very nerve wracking. It was rather a lot, however she was very heat and really useful,” she says, including that Niecy helped her slim down which audition tape to ship in and coached her by way of crying for the digital camera.

Niecy has additionally doled out sage recommendation that Donielle has leaned on in occasions of self-doubt. “She at all times says to belief your present,” Nash shares. “I’m an over thinker, so I might do one thing and everyone within the room is like, ‘That was nice, that was so good,’ however I’m like, ‘I do not suppose so. I do not suppose I ought to do it once more.’ So she’s at all times like, ‘Trust your present and your coaching and what you have realized.'”