Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Assisted Living’s Courtney Nichole

Courtney Nichole is getting straight A’s for her performances on the stage and screen. Best known for projects like Fighting Angels: The Series and Money Power & Respect: The Series, Courtney is a dynamic talent who’s brought the most complicated characters to life with ease.

Currently, she’s one of the stars of Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living. Now in its second season (and already renewed for a third), Assisted Living follows a young family with teenage children who decided to move to the backwoods of Georgia to help their grandfather, who has foolishly purchased a run-down home for the elderly, but he’s in way over his head, and comedy ensues.

Courtney shines as the matriarch in the family who’s keeping them all together.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Courtney about her career, Assisted Living Season 2, and so much more.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for the arts?
Courtney: Oh my goodness. When you’re young, your parents throw you in a bunch of things, and they want to see what sticks. I remember being in a church fashion show. I told my mom from that day on, “I want to be a star.” That was my exact wording. [laughs] “I want to be a star.”

Over the years, she’s tried to help me with that. She put me in theater classes when I was growing up. I did my first play when I was eleven. I don’t know anyone who’s stepped onto a stage and not fallen in love with it. That’s when my love affair with the arts started.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Courtney: I always go back to my eighth grade teacher. It was something about her and her teaching—I felt like she was letting us know that we could be anything that we wanted to be. She took me under her wing. I actually skipped seventh grade because of her. I was allowed to skip a grade, and she took me out to speech competitions on the weekend. Even though that’s not acting, she very much helped me find my voice. Personally, my parents and my family, but outside of that group, it would be her.

When you start back up as an adult, a lot of us have to go a different route. We don’t automatically get a big gig. We’ve worked in the industry for years by the time the world meets us. I would also say the first production company that I worked with when I was coming back into this as an adult inspired me. They cast me in the first thing that I had a speaking role in. They’re very similar to Mr. [Tyler] Perry. They’re trailblazers and that has always spoke to me.

PC: You have a background in education. How has your experience in the classroom helped your acting career? What has that transition been like?
Courtney: Oh my goodness. You can ask any of my former students, I would tell them, “This is my stage.” I hadn’t even decided that I was going to go back into acting yet, but even still, I was like, “This is my stage.” But I definitely think that all of our life experiences, bottled up, is something we carry around with us. We put them in a little toolbox, and as an artist, use them when we need to. All of my life experiences, good and bad, have helped shape me into the actor that I am today, because those are things that I can pull from.

Those hundreds, if not thousands, of students that I taught helped me adjust. There are so many different personalities. They helped me gauge people, which I think is so important. I was able to see how to deal with different personalities. All of those things helped me move forward with creating characters, or when I’m on set, trying to manage the energy from the makeup room to the floor. I’m one of those actors that likes to say hi to everybody because everyone plays a part in the beautiful story that I get to tell. Mr. Perry gets all the accolades, but there are so many people who help make that dream come true. I like for them to know that they’re important to me. Speaking and extending that energy helps with that.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out to you?
Courtney: Oh my goodness. I’m an open vessel. I got all emotional when you asked that question because I feel so fortunate to have worked with so many beautiful people. One of the things that I say is I like working with good people on good projects. The more that I say that, the more that it happens for me.

Two of my favorite productions have been plays. They’ve been my favorite because you get to work with those people for a longer period of time. Also, the stage was my first love. We did August Wilson’s Fences. I was able to do that in Atlanta, playing Rose. I’m sure people have seen it now—Denzel [Washington] and Viola [Davis] did a beautiful rendition of it.

But playing that character, I fell in love with her. Then, another play that I did that I loved was No Place to be Somebody by Charles Gordone. That was in 2020, and it was the fiftieth anniversary of him being the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize in drama. That was an honor. I loved that.

As for television, I would say my favorite thing is what I’m doing now, which is Assisted Living. It’s been a beautiful journey getting to laugh on set and trying to find those places to play that emotional range that I have.

Assisted Living

PC: The new season of Assisted Living is airing now. What can fans expect?
Courtney: I’m excited about this new phase and this show in general. This new season is amazing. We get to tackle some real-life topics, which is amazing. Any time you talk about a sit-com, whether it be Family Matters to Roseanne, you always get a chance to talk about those real things. That’s been amazing. Mr. Perry has a lot on his plate, so we have some new writers this season. It’ll be exciting to see how we take these parts and play it out.

The audience is going to be excited about the new writing. If you’ve ever watched a pilot, you know there’s a glow-up phase. I’m really enjoying the Season 2 glow up that we’ve had in everything from wardrobe to our timing. In Season 1, none of us had worked together before in this capacity. We had to get to know each other’s timing and things like that. We know that now. I think fans will fall even more in love with the show and get more excited about the things that we’re sharing with them.

PC: The show has been incredibly well received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences?
Courtney: Family. That’s what’s resonating most with audiences. I don’t know about you, but culturally, a lot of us grew up with our grandparents, no matter the race or nationality. We all grew up going over to our grandparents’ house, our auntie’s house, or have lived with them at some point. I know that I have. This multi-generational cast is what’s resonating with people. It’s funny, I say it all the time: it’s funny when your parents tell you one thing, and you still bump your head and act like you don’t understand, but by the time you have a conversation with auntie or grandma and they’ve said it differently, it’s amazing how your actions change. They’re like, “I told you that and you weren’t listening, but when your granddaddy says it to you, you understand.” [laughs] I love that about the show. I love watching the kids talk to the older people, watching that love that Jeremy and Leah have for each other and being an example of a fun, loving family. It speaks volumes to people.

PC: Speaking of family, there are so many great relationships on this show. Which of Leah’s has been your favorite to explore and why? Has that changed from Season 1 going into Season 2?
Courtney: I don’t think it’s changed; it’s grown. Because of my love affair with education, I love our babies and the youth. It’s amazing to me to have two teenagers in this show and trying to talk to them and relate to them at their level and understanding. The two actors that play these parts play them so well. I really do love that. I love being back with kids again and being able to work with the youth because they’re so amazing. They’re going to take over the world.

I also really enjoy working with J. Anthony Brown. I lost my grandfather a few years ago. He was very much a funny, whatever-he-wants-to-say type of person, similar to J. Anthony. To have his humor and care on set has been a blessing for me.

I can’t leave out the relationship with Na’im [Lynn], who plays Jeremy. My husband and I have a very loving relationship. I try to make sure when I’m bringing things for Leah that I try to bring things that could actually play out in my real life and how I love on my husband. I try to bring that to Leah so that they can have a little fun. Na’im has been an awesome partner. I know some people talk about how they get on these shows and don’t get along with people, but that’s not the case for us. We really have a friendship. We spend time together outside of the show. My husband and I hang out with him, his wife, and his daughter. We’ve gained a friendship and we bring that to Jeremy and Leah.

PC: The show’s already been picked up for a third season. If you could write a storyline for Leah, what would it be and why?
Courtney: I did a silent scream when you asked that. It’s amazing that we’ve picked up for another season. If I could write a storyline for Leah…I’ve actually pondered on this before, and I may even take a stab at it…Mr. Perry, I’m coming. [laughs]

I always go back to the relationship with Jeremy and Leah. I know one thing that I wanted to see was a date night for them. Our characters are dealing with new residents, trying to remodel this old house, dealing with teenagers who are trying to adapt, but have we taken the time for us? Because when we’re okay, everybody else can be okay. I would love to see them take it up a notch. Do they have to go to counseling or something that a lot of couples deal with? I don’t want to give too many secrets, so I’m going to stop there.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Courtney: It’s probably reality TV like Housewives of Atlanta or Love & Hip Hop.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Courtney: This is a movie that people always hate on in Black culture, but I will say Soul Plane. Have you seen it?

PC: I haven’t, but this is the second time someone has mentioned that film this week!

Courtney: Put it on your list! It’s one of those stupid, funny movies. It’s hilarious to me. They have everybody in it: Kevin Hart, Mo’Nique (the comedian), John Witherspoon…there are so many greats. I’m always like, “Why are y’all hating on this? It’s hilarious.” Also, Catwoman. It doesn’t get its due praise. Halle Berry did her thing.

PC: Favorite Book?
Courtney: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. It’s a classic. It’s a book that people should read. I’m also going to throw the Bible in there. Also, Michelle Obama’s autobiography was wonderful.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Courtney: Hairspray is one of my favorite musicals. I remember when Ricki Lake did it. Also, Chicago. I’m from Chicago, and I liked Big Mama Morton’s role in it. That’s on my hit list.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Courtney: BTS. I have nieces, nephews, and a child. I’m like, “What is this craze about?” So, I had to get used to them. Also Red Hot Chili Peppers and Creed. They’re some of my favorite bands.

PC: Who would play you in the story of your life?
Courtney: The first person that I thought of was China McClain.

To keep up with Courtney, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch new episode of Assisted Living every Tuesday at 9:30/8:30c.

Photo Credit: Russell Baer