A 90-minute career retrospective with Niecy Nash-Betts. Moderated by Angelique Jackson, Variety.
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Niecy Nash-Betts is a multi-talented Emmy Award®-winning producer and three time-nominated actress who continues to captivate audiences with her shining talent and infectious energy both in front of and behind the camera.
Nash-Betts leads the ABC series, THE ROOKIE: FEDS, where she plays Special Agent Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy assigned to support the Los Angeles field office. A hit spinoff of the Nathan Fillion-led show, THE ROOKIE, THE ROOKIE: FEDS has recently wrapped its’ first season.
Coming up, she will star in Ava DuVernay’s feature film, CASTE. The adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s book, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent, will be released by Netflix and feature Nash-Betts alongside Aunjanue Ellis, Jon Bernthal and Vera Farmiga.
Premiering May 23, Nash-Betts will return as host of FOX’s game show DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS. She will also lend her voice to the second season of HUMAN RESOURCES on Netflix this June.
Nash-Betts has recently received critical acclaim for her role as “Glenda Cleveland” in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix limited series, DAHMER-MONSTER: THE JEFFREY DAHMER STORY, based on the life of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Her unforgettable role has garnered her a 2023 Critics Choice Award for “Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television,” a 2023 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special” as well as numerous nominations including for a Golden Globe Award and SAG Award, among others.
In 2022, Nash-Betts and her wife, singer/songwriter Jessica Betts, made history as the first same sex couple to appear on the cover of Essence magazine. The cover story received a nomination for a 2023 GLAAD Media Award in the category of “Outstanding Print Article.”
Nash-Betts’ diverse career includes roles in HBO's GETTING ON, which earned her two Emmy nominations, and Netflix’s limited Ava DuVernay series, WHEN THEY SEE US (based on the exonerated Central Park Five), which earned Nash-Betts a third Emmy nomination and an NAACP Image Award. She has also held leading roles in FOX's SCREAM QUEENS, Showtime's MASTERS OF SEX and TV Land's THE SOUL MAN. Last February, Nash-Betts finished headlining TNT’s drama, CLAWS.
From 2004-2011, Nash-Betts was the host and producer of the Style Network's home makeover show, CLEAN HOUSE, which became the network's #1 program. Her work earned her two Daytime Emmy® nominations, and the American Women in Radio & Television honored Nash-Betts with the 2007 Gracie Allen Award for Outstanding Program Host.
Nash-Betts is well-known for her role as “Officer Raineesha Williams” on the Comedy Central hit, RENO 911!, a half-hour unscripted spoof of COPS that aired for six seasons. The show was so popular that it was also spun-off into a feature film, RENO 911: Miami, in 2007, and recently had a new incarnation as a series. Following her tenure on the show, Nash-Betts went on to star in her own FOX comedy series, DO NOT DISTURB, opposite Jerry O'Connell.
Nash-Betts has had featured roles in films such as SELMA; GUESS WHO, opposite Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher; CODE NAME: THE CLEANER, opposite Cedric the Entertainer and Lucy Liu; NOT EASILY BROKEN, based on the best-selling book by Bishop T.D. Jakes; and the Walt Disney Pictures summer blockbuster release G-FORCE, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. She also starred opposite Courtney Vance in Netflix’s telefilm, UNCORKED.
Nash-Betts' television credits also include NETFLIX’s AGENT ELVIS; NBC's THE TONIGHT SHOW with Jay Leno; THE BERNIE MAC SHOW; TV's PRESIDIO MED; THAT’S LIFE; POPULAR; CITY OF ANGELS; and THE INSIDER. Nash-Betts also guest-starred on top-rated series including MY NAME IS EARL; MONK; CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION; GIRLFRIENDS; NYPD BLUE; THAT’S SO RAVEN; ONE ON ONE; and JUDGING AMY AND REBA.
Nash-Betts released her first book It’s Hard to Fight Naked in 2014, in which she offers a new perspective on dating and relationships.
She is also developing various television and film projects through her production company, Chocolate Chick, Inc.
Nash-Betts resides in LA with her wife, where she is devoted to church and participating at charitable functions in support of causes that are close to her heart, including the prevention and awareness of HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, school violence and domestic abuse, among others. In July 2018, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Nash-Betts with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to celebrate her career.
Masks are recommended, but not required.
SAG-AFTRA members and guests invited to events will behave in a professional and courteous manner. Any violation of the rules or transgression of decorum will be subject to review by the programming team, which has authority to remove the member from present and future SAG-AFTRA Foundation programs.
Photo credit: Rob Ector.