American actress, comedian and television host
Carol Denise Betts (born February 23, 1970), known professionally as Niecy Nash, is an American actress, comedian and television host, best known for her performances on television.
Nash hosted the Style Network show Clean House from 2003 to 2010, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2010. As an actress, she played the role of Deputy Raineesha Williams in the comedy series Reno 911! (2003–2009, 2020-present). Nash received two nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nominations for her performance as nurse Denise "DiDi" Ortley in the HBO comedy Getting On (2013–2015). She also starred as Lolli Ballantine on the TV Land sitcom The Soul Man (2012–2016), and played Denise Hemphill in the Fox horror-comedy series, Scream Queens (2015–2016). In 2017, she began starring as Desna Simms, a leading character, in the TNT crime comedy-drama Claws.
Nash has also played a number of roles in films and has made many guest appearances on television shows. In 2014, Nash played the role of civil rights activist Richie Jean Jackson in the historical drama film Selma directed by Ava DuVernay. In 2019, she starred as Delores Wise in DuVernay's miniseries When They See Us, for which she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. In 2018, Nash received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2020, she portrayed feminist leader Florynce Kennedy in Mrs. America. In 2021, she served as a guest host of the show The Masked Singer for five episodes.
Falling In LoveFalling in love was the easy part; planning a wedding - yikes!
Personal GrowthRelationshipsSelf-ImprovementMoving OnLetting GoIf there is someone in your life who is not serving you or making you better, give yourself permission to move on.
Personal GrowthLeadershipThe old adage is true, people will only be as good to you as you are to yourself. They will follow your example, and those who don't will be left by the wayside.
Personal BeliefsFaithSpiritualityI don't wear my faith on my sleeve, but I definitely do walk with it every day in my heart.
LoveStruggleCreationPurposeI feel like love is the thing we were created for, yet it's the place we struggle the most.
PassionComedyGratitudeI say God is kind. So many people want to do what I do [comedy] for a living, and so he didn't have to choose me. So I don't take all the credit, but I do know that I love what I do, and I see it as a gift.
TelevisionFameSelf-WorthI don't need to do a reality show to make my mark in this world.
LoveSelf-AcceptanceRelationshipsExpectationsDisappointmentDon't go telling yourself you're in love with the man he could be; you gotta love the man standing in front of you right now. Simply put, love the person not the potential! Otherwise, he will always be disappointing to you. And whose fault is that?
AgeLoveMarriageHopeThere's a lot of women out there, some of whom are my age who've never been married and some who have been married and would like to be married again but think their ship has sailed, and I'm like, 'Oh no, honey, let Miss Niecy show you it is never too late for love!'
EmotionsI have an extra set of eyelashes because you never know. I could cry or laugh, or it could be windy, and I'll need a standby pair.
Self-WorthSocietal PressureComparisonWe are bred to compare ourselves to the next person, to what they have and what they have accomplished.
FaithChurchI joined church by myself in a borrowed suit at 13. I had my neighbor's bible. So my walk and my faith have always been very real.
EnjoymentCollectingThere's nothing wrong with having a collection, but it becomes a problem when it overwhelms your space. When you're not displaying it properly, you're not enjoying it and it turns into clutter.
InspirationActingRepresentationAspirationsRole ModelsI decided to become an actor at five. I saw the most gorgeous woman that I had ever seen in my five years of living on television. She had on a long, red dress and her eyelashes looked like butterflies and I said, "Grandmamma, who is that?" She said, "Baby, that's Lola Falana." I said, "That's it right there. I want to be black, fabulous, and on TV."
FaithActionsRole ModelsI feel like it's better to see a sermon lived than it is to hear one preached.
Self-AcceptanceMotherhoodParentingI'm not a perfect mom, but I'm perfect for my kids.
RecognitionFameIdentityPopularityPeople recognize me from everything and as soon as I think I know where they know me from, I'm always wrong.
MarriagePrayerChurchI used to be married to a pastor, and I had a church for two years. Pastors are just men, too, with a different job description than others. We're all called to bear one another's burdens. We're all called to pray for the sick. They do it on a larger scale, but they're just a man. A lot of women don't think that. Trust me. I know.
FriendshipTrustBoundariesIf you make your best friend and your significant other the same person, you don't have to disconnect to go tell your girlfriend everything.
LoveThe most valuable insight on choosing whom to love is to be honest with yourself about the man standing before you.
PreferencesWhen you like what you like, it makes it easy for your husband to shop for you!
FamilyLossTragedyViolenceNo family should have to endure the loss of a loved one at the hands of a previously convicted violent criminal.
TalentIdentityHumorSelf-DiscoveryRealizationI was always funny, but I didn't know being funny was a gift.
MarriageRelationshipsCompromiseI didn't marry a man that wanted to be in the business. But that's why we're a perfect fit.
FashionPersonal StyleI'm a Gucci girl all the way.
MusicCollectingNo one's playing records anymore, so find your favorite and frame it, then get rid of the rest - try selling or donating them.
RelationshipsTruthHumorLaughterI don't have a desire to do reality. Because my truth is not what people are responding to. My truth is funny; I laugh with my husband every day.
ParentingEnergyI have more energy to run after our four children. Weight loss and great skin were a bonus!
TalentHumorSelf-IdentitySelf-AwarenessI've known for quite a while that I was a funny girl.
MarriageI do not have a bride gene. I haven't been planning a wedding since I was 3. I never put a sheet on my head and pretended that it was a veil.
PerceptionSelf-AwarenessRealitySelf-EmpowermentReality does get a bad rap. But I'm not concerned about it 'cause I know who I am. They can edit it, but you are in charge of what you do.
ParentingCelebrate your child's achievement, then rotate it when the next mini-masterpiece comes along. Then chuck the old picture. Don't worry that you're throwing away a memory. Your children will remember your praise more than they will remember the picture with macaroni and glitter glued on it.
In one day, I got mistaken for three different actresses: Wendy Williams, Sherri Shepherd, and Star Jones.
LoveLongevityEnergyI didn't start out about weight loss. I was very tired and my energy was low. This is my second go-around in love, so I want to make sure I'll be around to enjoy it.
MotivationFamePrivacyI didn’t get into this business for other people to know my name.
MarriageSelf-EsteemSelf-DoubtAlthough my marriage left me with three beautiful children, it also left me with a healthy dose of self-doubt, low self-esteem, and an extreme desire to be loved again. I was operating on empty, expecting to be paid in full.
WomenPerformanceMultitaskingExpectationsPressureAs women, we often think we have to be all things to all people, all at the same time. As a wife, mother, actress and businesswoman, I definitely feel the pressure to perform well in all areas.
I was in a very fancy, high-end boutique where the sales associates stand around like mannequins. I walked in and the first thing they said was, "Ooh it smells like booty in here" because they knew me from Scream Queens.
TelevisionWorldDiversityRepresentationEqualityI would like to think that television would be representative of the world we live in.
RacismDiscriminationThe truth is black celebrities are not as sought after in the press as white celebrities, and that is comforting.
LoveSelf-AcceptanceRelationshipsContentmentGratitudeI don't want to be Carrie Bradshaw. I don't want the wedding to be bigger than Big. I'm just grateful to know that the first time I fell in love wasn't the last time.