‘P-Valley’: How Long It Takes for Nicco Annan to do Uncle Clifford’s Hair and Makeup
P-Valley, one of the top breakout television series of the year, is still winning fans over. One of the show’s most popular characters is Uncle Clifford. In an interview, Annan talked about the process of becoming the character.
What is ‘P-Valley’ about
P-Valley is based on creator Katori Hall’s play, P*ssy Valley. The series centers on the residents of a Mississippi town and the works, patrons, and everyone else associated with the local strip club. Annan, Brandee Evans, Shannon Thornton, Elarica Johnson, Skyler Joy, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Parker Sawyers, Harriet D. Foy, Tyler Lepley and Dan J. Johnson star in the series.
Hall has also inked a deal to develop more projects for Lionsgate Television, the studio home of P-Valley. The deal includes a fund for Black playwrights.
“Adapting my play from the stage to the screen was a decade-long odyssey, and I’m so grateful that the journey led me to a studio that understands the value of complex storytelling centered on marginalized people of color,” said Hall in a statement via press release at the time. “I’m thrilled about this partnership with Lionsgate and I look forward to continuing to tell bold, impactful stories with the ability to reach a rich, diverse, global audience.”
Nicco Annan on getting ready as Uncle Clifford
Annan plays Uncle Clifford, one of the show’s breakout characters. The owner of P-Valley, Clifford is a confident and has a take-no-prisoners attitude. The character, who uses she/her pronouns, is a hit with fans.
In an interview with Digital Spy, Annan was asked about how long it takes him to get ready for each scene as Uncle Clifford, including hair and makeup. Overall, Annan says that it takes about 45 minutes, explaining, “One of the things that I think is so remarkable about Uncle Clifford is… Like I said, she’s not a drag queen, so I didn’t have to do any drag makeup, you know? There’s a reason. There’s a story behind why she still has her beard.”
“When it comes to changing Uncle Clifford’s hair, that’s a part of the culture,” Annan continued. “That’s a part of the culture when it comes to African and African-American women. It’s a privilege to be able to say, ‘This is how I feel today. I feel like straightening my hair. I feel like braiding my hair. I’m feeling fun and I want to add some sparkles, or some type of adornments, or braids, or yarn – whatever the case may be.'”
All in all, Annan believes that it is super important to have this representation on-screen, especially for the male characters on the show.
“I definitely wanted to embrace that, and I think all the characters, especially the women in the show, they really embrace that aspect,’ the actor continued. “But even the men, if you pay close attention to the haircut, and the styles, it’s just another level of expression And in a world where you can be so oppressed, you can find a way to make your voice heard in many different ways.”
P-Valley has been renewed for a second season, but it is unclear when it will premiere due to production restrictions amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
