“We Go Way Back”: Courtney B. Vance Reflects On Reuniting With Niecy Nash-Betts In “Grotesquerie”
Courtney B. Vance and Niecy Nash-Betts are back on screen together, and this time, they’re making waves in Grotesquerie, the latest Ryan Murphy series. While this isn’t their first project together, it holds a special place for both stars. Courtney, 64, plays Marshall Tryon, the husband of Niecy’s character, Lois Tryon, and although his role mainly appears in flashbacks, his connection with Nash-Betts helped bring him on board.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, Courtney explained how Niecy’s played a major role in his decision to join the show. “Ryan told me she was aboard, and he wanted me to play her hubby, and we go way back,” Vance said. Their history includes working together on Cookie’s Fortune, directed by Robert Altman, and the Netflix film Uncorked. The pair’s professional chemistry stretches over years, and it was a chance encounter that sparked their latest collaboration.
“Ryan told me she was aboard, and he wanted me to play her hubby, and we go way back,” Courtney said, adding, “We did Cookie’s Fortune, [which was directed by] Robert Altman, back in the day. And about four or five years ago, we did Uncorked. So we go back.”
As the actor recalled: “A month prior to me getting the call from Ryan, I saw her at an awards event. And I walked up to her and said, ‘We need to do something. It’s been long enough. Come on, let’s do something.'”
Courtney couldn’t be happier with how things unfolded. He even credits Niecy with creating a relaxed and positive environment on set. According to him, she “made the set.”
In his words: “[She] makes the set nice and relaxed. That’s what she does. That’s what needs to happen. It’s what needs to happen. You got to have a relaxed set.”
Niecy wasn’t the only person Courtney praised, as he also spoke highly of fellow Grotesquerie cast member, NFL star Travis Kelce. The 34-year-old tight end, making his acting debut, impressed Courtney, who said. “It just lets you know the power of Ryan Murphy. [He] just made a phone call and said, ‘Come on down,’” Vance said.
Deeming the choice to feature Travis in the series, Courtney added, “He was very wonderful. [It was] not a surprise, he was just prepared. He was just good. And if he needed some help, he was open.”
With such a talented cast and dynamic chemistry, Grotesquerie is poised to be another hit for Ryan. New episodes air Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
