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 sequence — “The Sex Lives of College Girls” and “Never Have I Ever” — and not too long ago 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 appearing, however one other on-screen icon additionally influenced her: Raven-Symoné. “I needed to vary my title 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 obtained to be that.'” Since then, Nash has had minor cameos in “The Soul Man,” “Modern Family,” “Superstore,” and “Grown-ish,” plus extra distinguished 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 often delivers quippy one-liners. Her favourite season two scene was a barely extra critical second when Whitney, Jayla, and Willow (Renika Williams) talk about Whitney’s encounter together with her biochemistry TA, who confused her with the opposite Black woman at 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 girls 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 accessible if I’m wanted for just a few chuckles,” she hints.
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In season three, Nash additionally desires 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 know the way it may go, however I would not be mad if Whitney slapped [Kimberly] and obtained 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 among “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 appearing alongside her mother to being a contestant on a cooking competitors present judged by Gordon Ramsay. “It was very nerve wracking. It was quite a bit, however she was very heat and really useful,” she says, including that Niecy helped her slender down which audition tape to ship in and coached her by crying for the digicam.
“Trust your present.”
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 may 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’ve got realized.'”
