'P-Valley' Season 2's Gay Sex Scene Is Worth All the Conversatn

Contents:

• IS NIC ANNAN GAY? MEET THE REAL MAN BEHD UNCLE CLIFFORD OM ‘P-VALLEY’
• IS P-VALLEY’S UNCLE CLIFFORD ACTOR NIC ANNAN GAY REAL LIFE?
• IS UNCLE CLIFFORD GAY? [TTH BEHD HIS SEXUALY]
• IS LIL' MURDA GAY? P-VALLEY'S J. ALPHONSE NICHOLSON UNPACKS HIS CHARACTER'S HAZY SEXUALY
• THE MOST FABULO TV CHARACTER EVER? MEET NIC ANNAN, P-VALLEY’S GROUNDBREAKG UNCLE CLIFFORDWERKSTARZ ENTERTAMENTON STARZ’S REVOLUTNARY DRAMA “P-VALLEY,” NIC ANNAN PLAYS GENR-FLUID, FASHN-FORWARD, “BEAT FOR THE GAWDS” STRIP-CLUB OWNER UNCLE CLIFFORD. HERE’S HIS—AND HER—MOVG STORY.KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED JUL. 22, 2020 10:15AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 22, 2020 4:45AM EDT IT WAS OVER 10 YEARS AGO THAT NATHANIEL NIC ANNAN, WHO GO BY NIC, FIRST READ EARLY PAG FOR THE PLAY PSY VALLEY BY KATORI HALL, THE 2015 BUT OF WHICH HE WOULD GO ON TO STAR AT THE MIXED BLOOD THEATER MNEAPOLIS. BUT WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO THAT ANNAN’S CHARACTER, UNCLE CLIFFORD, MA HER FABULO SCREEN BUT THE GROUNDBREAKG DRAMA SERI P-VALLEY, THE ADAPTATN OF HALL’S PLAY CURRENTLY AIRG ON STARZ. SHE’S THROWG A HANDSY PATRON OUT OF HER DIRTY DELTA STRIP CLUB—A “SHAKE JUNT,” AS SHE LLS . A P R’S RED AND BLUE LIGHTS DANCE UNEASILY ON HER RED LEATHER JACKET AND GOLD LAMé PANTS. UNCLE CLIFFORD SLAPS OPEN A HAND FAN AND STARTS REHG HERSELF, THE SLIGHT BREEZE JOSTLG HER DANGLE EARRGS. SHE SHIFTS HER HEELS AND STAR DOWN THE P, TAKG MAND OF THE SUATN. AS SHE STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS, YOU SEE MORE OF HER LONG BROWN HAIR, SDG PERFECT WAV DOWN PAST HER SHOULRS. CHIC LAYERS AME HER DARK, BLACK BEARD, SCULPTED MORE SO THAN GROOMED TO SHARP, ELEGANT ANGL THAT CLIMB UP HER CHEEKBON. AN AGGRSIVE AMOUNT OF HIGHLIGHTER PET THERE FOR ATTENTN WH CH OF FAKE EYELASH, WHICH FLUTTER AS PUNCTUATN TO EVERY SI-EYE, SASS, AND BON MOT.   NEWSLETTERSTHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSEDEVERYTHG WE N’T STOP LOVG, HATG, AND THKG ABOUT THIS WEEK POP CULTURE.SUBSCRIBEBY CLICKG "SUBSCRIBE" YOU AGREE TO HAVE READ THE TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY UNCLE CLIFFORD, WHO SHE/HER PRONOUNS, IS THE NON-BARY, GENR-FLUID OWNER OF THE PYNK AND THE NO-NONSENSE MATRON TO THE GIRLS WHO DANCE THERE. SHE PRENTS BOTH MASCULE AND FEME EQUAL, UNAPOLOGETIC MEASURE, SWANNG THROUGH HER CLUB LUXUR UTURE AND A FACE “BEAT FOR THE GAWDS” WHILE ROOTG HERSELF WH A FEARSOME, RPECTED PRENCE THE LOL BS MUNY. BY LAST WEEK’S EPISO TWO, UNCLE CLIFFORD FDS HERSELF THE MOST UNEXPECTED OF SUATNS: THE NASCENT STAG OF A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH A HYPERMASCULE RAPPER. ONE OF THE BT-REVIEWED NEW SERI OF THE SUMMER, P-VALLEY IS ALREADY REMARKABLE BASED ON THE TALENT VOLVED. NOT ONLY IS HALL THE RARE BLACK FEMALE SHOWNNER OF AN HOUR-LONG DRAMA, BUT EVERY EPISO IS HELMED BY A FEMALE DIRECTOR, PLACG AN UNMISTAKABLE AND UNWAVERG FEMALE GAZE ON THE STORI OF SEX WORKERS. IT IS A NOIR MELODRAMA THAT CENTERS SOUTHERN BLACK WOMEN, BOTH THEIR REALI AND THEIR VERNACULAR, AND DON’T ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF WHE DIENC. IT BRGS STORI TYPILLY RELEGATED TO SHADOW MARGS TO THE CENTER STAGE SPOTLIGHT. SCE P-VALLEY’S PREMIERE, VIEWERS HAVE IGNED SOCIAL MEDIA WH PRAISE FOR ANNAN’S WORK AS UNCLE CLIFFORD, A CHARACTER UNLIKE ANY MOST HAVE SEEN ON TV BEFORE. THE MOST VALIDATG THG ABOUT THAT, HOWEVER, MAY BE HOW MANY OF THOSE VIEWERS SAY THEY REGNIZE THE UNCLE CLIFFORDS OF THEIR OWN LIV THE CHARACTER, THE GENRFLUID UNOFFICIAL MAYORS OF THEIR MUNI WHOSE FLAMBOYANCE AND ECCENTRICI, IF NOT ALWAYS UNRSTOOD, WERE ACCEPTED. SPEAKG TO THE DAILY BEAST OM HIS HOME LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE RECENTLY RETURNED OM NEW YORK CY—HE WAS PERFORMG HALL’S NEW PLAY HOT WG KG OFF-BROADWAY WHEN THE PANMIC SHUT DOWN THEATERS—ANNAN IS ECSTATIC. “THE BABY IS BORN!” HE SGS TO THE PHONE, LGHG. “AND SHE’S A GIRL!”BACK 2009, HALL VED ANNAN, THROUGH A MUTUAL IEND, TO AN ARTIST LLECTIVE LLED BLACK MONDAYS, A SALON OF SORTS TO DISCS WORKS PROGRS. THE PLAYWRIGHT HAD EARLY PAG FOR WHAT WOULD BEE PSY VALLEY, AND THEN P-VALLEY, CLUDG THE TRODUCTN OF A CHARACTER WHO IS TOUCH WH BOTH THE MASCULE AND FEME PARTS OF THEMSELV WAYS THAT WEREN’T WARRG, BUT HARMON. ANNAN WOULD SOON UNRSTAND HOW SENTIAL HALL’S STAGE DIRECTNS WOULD BE TO THE FULL PORTRA SHE WAS CREATG. IN THE P-VALLEY PREMIERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE’S A SCENE THAT ANYONE WHO WATCHED IMMEDIATELY RAVED ABOUT.  ADVERTISEMENT ACTRS BRANE EVANS, WHO PLAYS A DANCER NAMED MERCES, IS PERFORMG A POLE ROUTE AMID A R PHONY: BLASTG MIC, A ROARG CROWD, THE STLG OF DOLLAR BILLS RAG ALL OVER HER. BUT THEN THE SOUND CUTS OUT PLETELY. SUDNLY ALL YOU HEAR ARE MERCES’ HUFFG BREATHS, HER GNTS AS SHE HOISTS HERSELF TO ACROBATIC NEW POSNS, AND THE SCREECH OF ICTN AS SHE THE SK OF HER THIGHS TO BRAKE AS SHE PLUMMETS DOWN THE POLE. READG THE SCRIPT, ANNAN REMEMBERS HALL G THE PHRASE “LIKE CRICKET LEGS DANCG ON CLOUDS” TO SCRIBE THE SCENE.  “UNCLE CLIFFORD HAS FULL ACCS TO ALL OF HER MASCULY AND ALL OF HER FEMY. THERE IS NO QUTN ABOUT, ‘AM I ENOUGH OF EHER?’” THE KEY TO UNLOCKG UNCLE CLIFFORD WAS ALSO THOSE STAGE DIRECTNS, A SMALL PIECE OF WRG SO EVOTIVE THAT ANNAN IS STILL ABLE TO QUOTE BACK OVER 10 YEARS LATER: “EMERGG OM THE SHADOWS, EYELASH LIKE BUTTERFLI AND ACRYLIC NAILS LIKE EAGLE TALONS.” ANNAN UNRSTOOD IMMEDIATELY WHO UNCLE CLIFFORD WOULD BE. “BOTH OF THOSE ANIMALS, BUTTERFLI AND EAGL, THEY FLY,” HE SAYS. “THOSE THGS DITED TO ME THAT THERE WAS POWER CLIFFORD BEE HE ULD FLY ABOVE A SUATN.”TAKE BUTTERFLI: “BUTTERFLI ARE VERY GENTLE BUT THEY ALSO ARE SO STRONG BEE LOOK WHAT THEY E OM AND WHAT THEY BEE.” AND EAGLE TALONS: “I'M THKG ABOUT HOW PRETTY THEY ARE. I'M THKG HOW STRONG THEY LOOK. IT IS NOT AN APOLOGY, SO THAT AFFECTED MY GTUR, THE WAY THAT I WOULD MOVE AND SPEAK.” ADVERTISEMENT ASKED WHAT WAS LIKE TO BE ON SET FULL STUME AS UNCLE CLIFFORD THE EARLY DAYS OF SHOOTG, ANNAN ADMS TO HAVG SOME RETICENCE AND NERV. ON A BROAD LEVEL, THAT ECHOED HOP THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY THE CHARACTER A WAY SO THAT DIENC SAW HER HUMANY, RATHER THAN JT BE DAZZLED OR DISTRACTED BY HER, AS HE PUTS , “REGALIA.” HE ALSO HAD ANXIETY THAT CRICS MIGHT RI HER AND THE SHOW AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOLLYWOOD EMASCULATG A BLACK MAN. BUT FOR HIM, WAS AN OPPORTUNY TO DIVERSIFY THE LGBT+ SPECTM, PECIALLY THE BLACK MUNY, THAT’S SHOWN ON TV. “UNCLE CLIFFORD HAS FULL ACCS TO ALL OF HER MASCULY AND ALL OF HER FEMY. THERE IS NO QUTN ABOUT, ‘AM I ENOUGH OF EHER?’”THERE WAS A MOMENT SHOOTG LAST SUNDAY’S EPISO THAT ANNAN SPECIFILLY REMEMBERS. HE WAS WARDROBE FISHG UNCLE CLIFFORD’S LOOK, AN HOMAGE TO FRIDA KAHLO: A “PRCS LEIA” IFF, A FLOWER CROWN, A BANRA JACKET OVER A SHEER BLOE, LEGGGS, THIGH-HIGH BOOTS, AND THOSE TALONS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE’D BE SHOOTG A MASSIVE CROWD SCENE AT THE CLUB, WH DANCERS, EXTRAS, AND SR OF PEOPLE WHO HADN’T READ THE SCRIPT AND DIDN’T UNRSTAND UNCLE CLIFFORD AS WELL AS HE KNEW HER. HE TOOK AN ANX BREATH. HOW WOULD THEY REACT? IT TOOK ALL OF THREE STTS TO THE ROOM BEFORE HE STARTED TO HEAR MURMURS OF, “DAMN… OH WOW… YOU LOOK BETIFUL… HEYYYY…”  “IT WAS THE MOST BETIFUL MOMENT AND I FEEL LIKE ACTUALLY KD OF TAPULTED ME FOR THE RT OF THE SERI,” HE SAYS. “I WAS REMD THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMOPHOBIA REAL LIFE, EVEN THOUGH CLIFFORD HAS EXPERIENCED HOMOPHOBIA AND ALL OF THE MISOGYNY AND THGS LIKE THAT THAT EXIST PECIALLY THE SOUTH, AT THE ROOT OF , BLACK PEOPLE REALLY LOVE.”  ADVERTISEMENT ANNAN GREW UP DETRO. HIS MOTHER IS A PROUD BLACK SOUTHERN WOMAN WHO WAS BORN ON A US ARMY BASE GERMANY, AND HIS FATHER IS OM GHANA. HIS EXPERIENCE AS A GAY BLACK MAN IS ONE OF SURVIVAL, BEE ALWAYS IS FOR HIS MUNY. “BUT MY FAY HAS ALWAYS LOVED ME FOR THE GAY MAN THAT I AM AND THE GAY BOY THAT I WAS.”HIS GRANDMOTHER LIK TO TELL A STORY ABOUT WHEN ANNAN WAS YOUNG AND PLAYG THE GARN WH HIS GRANDFATHER. SHE TURNED TO HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS ALSO THERE WATCHG THEM, AND SAID, “YOU KNOW, I THK HE MAY BE A LTLE ‘SWEET.’” HIS MOTHER SAID, “I KNOW.” SO HIS GRANDMOTHER REPLIED, “WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOG TO DO?” HIS MOTHER’S RPONSE: “LOVE HIM.” GIVEN HIS LOVE FOR ACTG AND DANCE GROWG UP, WASN’T A SURPRISE WHEN ANNAN MOVED TO NEW YORK TO STUDY AT SUNY PURCHASE COLLEGE CONSERVATORY. AFTER EARNG HIS B.F.A., HE MOVED TO CONNECTICUT TO BE CHOREOGRAPHER RINCE AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA. HE MOVED TO LOS ANGEL SIX YEARS AGO. “I FELY GREW UP UNR THAT PEDAGOGY OF, YOU KNOW, ORR TO BE A VALID ACTOR, YOU HAVE TO PLAY STRAIGHT,” HE SAYS. “AND THAT WAS MY TRAG.”HE REMEMBERS BEG CHASTISED BY AN OLR PROFSOR AT SUNY PURCHASE FOR BEG “TOO GAY” HIS PERFORMANC, WARNED THAT HE’D NEVER GET HIRED IF HE DIDN’T TRA THAT OUT OF HIMSELF. HIS ACTG TEACHER, JONATHAN ROSENBERG, TERVENED, EXPLAG THAT HE PURPOSEFULLY DIRECTED ANNAN TO EMBRACE THOSE PARTS OF HIMSELF WHEN PERFORMG: “I WANT HIM TO TAP TO HIS MUNY AND WHO HE IS BEE ONE DAY WILL BE ED.” IT WASN’T AN EASY ROAD. THEN, HE JOK, ALL THERE WAS FOR HIM TO PLAY WAS MISS RAJ GEE C. WOLFE’S COLORED MM. IF YOU WANTED TO PLAY GAY MEN, YOU HAD TO HOPE TO BE ST A PLAY BY TERRENCE MCNALLY, “AND YOU WERE A MAN LIVG THE HAMPTONS,” ANNAN LGHS. “I HAVE BEEN TO THE HAMPTONS AND I LOVE THE HAMPTONS, BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT 'S LIKE TO BE A GAY MAN DETRO, YOU KNOW, JT REGULAR THGS…”  ADVERTISEMENT IT’S THE LAST YEAR THAT THGS HAVE CHANGED FOR ANNAN, AND AT A RATE THAT HAS STUNNED THE ACTOR. FROM 2017 TO 2018, EVERY ROLE HE BOOKED ON MERA WAS A LGBT+ CHARACTER, AND EACH INTIFIED DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE SPECTM. ON SHOWTIME’S SHAMELS, HE PLAYED A GAY PREACHER. ON FX’S SNOWFALL, HE WAS ST AS A FORMER DRAG QUEEN. HIS CHARACTER ON THIS IS US, A DANCE TEACHER, DIDN’T HAVE HIS SEXUALY SPECIFIED THE SCRIPT, BUT ANNAN APPROACHED HIS PERFORMANCE AS IF THE CHARACTER WAS A GAY MAN.THE DAY HE SHOT HIS FIRST SCENE FOR SHAMELS WAS SEPTEMBER 11, 2017. ON SEPTEMBER 12 A YEAR LATER, HE FILMED THE PILOT FOR P-VALLEY. HE KNOWS BEE HIS IPHONE JT DID ONE OF THOSE RANDOM “MEMORY” TO ALERTS WH A SELFIE HE TOOK THE TRAILER. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE EERIE, FULL-CIRCLE MOMENTS TO DIGT. “IF YOU DO WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WELL, JT WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.” KEV FALLON

IS NIC ANNAN GAY? MEET THE REAL MAN BEHD UNCLE CLIFFORD OM ‘P-VALLEY’

For P-Valley regulars or those who have even remotely e ntact wh the show, is natural to qutn: Is Nic Annan gay?

Annan has gone on rerd on multiple unts to make a statement about him beg gay an terview wh Awards Watch, he explaed what drove him to take up the flamboyant character of Uncle Clifford. He explaed, Okay, so, I am gay.

IS P-VALLEY’S UNCLE CLIFFORD ACTOR NIC ANNAN GAY REAL LIFE?

I’ve been gay all my life and I’ve been actg and performg all of my life. 'Gay Nic Annan Playg Non-Bary Uncle CliffordAnnan was taken aback right om the get-go—om the first four pag the script. "While Annan teracted wh the non-bary and gay muni routely his everyday life, he had not realized how unrreprented the people were on artistic platforms, at least until he played the famed character.

I red so much about how she was a Black gay man, Annan admted that was a rare opportuny.

IS UNCLE CLIFFORD GAY? [TTH BEHD HIS SEXUALY]

Nic Annan absolutely smash the role but dienc have a qutn about the talent behd the character… is Uncle Clifford gay real life?

©Starz YouTubeIs P-Valley’s Uncle Clifford actor gay real life? Y, Nic Annan is gay and the 33-year-old Amerin actor is open about his relatnship stat isn’t certa at the moment but, the show, Uncle Clifford is a relatnship wh Lil Murda (played by J. Alphonse Nicholson is actually married to Nafeha Nicholson; they have a child an openly gay actor, Nic has prevly opened up to media outlets about the importance of his work on P-Valley.

IS LIL' MURDA GAY? P-VALLEY'S J. ALPHONSE NICHOLSON UNPACKS HIS CHARACTER'S HAZY SEXUALY

“As a Black man and as a Black gay man, ’s very seldom that I get the opportuny to tell such a rich, lh story that really means somethg and that I really feel speaks to my muny and n uplift , ” he explaed durg a nversatn wh Essence. Siarly, he told Vany Fair: “Beg a dark-skned man, and a man that is gay, I wanted to embrace all of the thgs that people say are gog to hold you back. Assumptns and nventnal wisdom about homophobia the Black muny say Uncle Clifford would be at the bottom of the standard social hierarchy but here she is -- a 6'2, dark-skned hunk of human a wig and bloe, puttg everybody check.

For Annan, an out gay man who played Uncle Clifford the play that birthed this show, the character reprents a quiet revolutn. He sisted on keepg facial hair to nvey the ia that patrons aren't "g to a drag club or a gay club -- you're g to an oasis where whatever you sire n e 's also somethg that says to hypermascule men 'Don't try me.

THE MOST FABULO TV CHARACTER EVER? MEET NIC ANNAN, P-VALLEY’S GROUNDBREAKG UNCLE CLIFFORDWERKSTARZ ENTERTAMENTON STARZ’S REVOLUTNARY DRAMA “P-VALLEY,” NIC ANNAN PLAYS GENR-FLUID, FASHN-FORWARD, “BEAT FOR THE GAWDS” STRIP-CLUB OWNER UNCLE CLIFFORD. HERE’S HIS—AND HER—MOVG STORY.KEV FALLONSENR EDOR, OBSSEDUPDATED JUL. 22, 2020 10:15AM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 22, 2020 4:45AM EDT IT WAS OVER 10 YEARS AGO THAT NATHANIEL NIC ANNAN, WHO GO BY NIC, FIRST READ EARLY PAG FOR THE PLAY PSY VALLEY BY KATORI HALL, THE 2015 BUT OF WHICH HE WOULD GO ON TO STAR AT THE MIXED BLOOD THEATER MNEAPOLIS. BUT WAS ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO THAT ANNAN’S CHARACTER, UNCLE CLIFFORD, MA HER FABULO SCREEN BUT THE GROUNDBREAKG DRAMA SERI P-VALLEY, THE ADAPTATN OF HALL’S PLAY CURRENTLY AIRG ON STARZ. SHE’S THROWG A HANDSY PATRON OUT OF HER DIRTY DELTA STRIP CLUB—A “SHAKE JUNT,” AS SHE LLS . A P R’S RED AND BLUE LIGHTS DANCE UNEASILY ON HER RED LEATHER JACKET AND GOLD LAMé PANTS. UNCLE CLIFFORD SLAPS OPEN A HAND FAN AND STARTS REHG HERSELF, THE SLIGHT BREEZE JOSTLG HER DANGLE EARRGS. SHE SHIFTS HER HEELS AND STAR DOWN THE P, TAKG MAND OF THE SUATN. AS SHE STEPS OUT OF THE SHADOWS, YOU SEE MORE OF HER LONG BROWN HAIR, SDG PERFECT WAV DOWN PAST HER SHOULRS. CHIC LAYERS AME HER DARK, BLACK BEARD, SCULPTED MORE SO THAN GROOMED TO SHARP, ELEGANT ANGL THAT CLIMB UP HER CHEEKBON. AN AGGRSIVE AMOUNT OF HIGHLIGHTER PET THERE FOR ATTENTN WH CH OF FAKE EYELASH, WHICH FLUTTER AS PUNCTUATN TO EVERY SI-EYE, SASS, AND BON MOT.   NEWSLETTERSTHE DAILY BEAST’S OBSSEDEVERYTHG WE N’T STOP LOVG, HATG, AND THKG ABOUT THIS WEEK POP CULTURE.SUBSCRIBEBY CLICKG "SUBSCRIBE" YOU AGREE TO HAVE READ THE TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY UNCLE CLIFFORD, WHO SHE/HER PRONOUNS, IS THE NON-BARY, GENR-FLUID OWNER OF THE PYNK AND THE NO-NONSENSE MATRON TO THE GIRLS WHO DANCE THERE. SHE PRENTS BOTH MASCULE AND FEME EQUAL, UNAPOLOGETIC MEASURE, SWANNG THROUGH HER CLUB LUXUR UTURE AND A FACE “BEAT FOR THE GAWDS” WHILE ROOTG HERSELF WH A FEARSOME, RPECTED PRENCE THE LOL BS MUNY. BY LAST WEEK’S EPISO TWO, UNCLE CLIFFORD FDS HERSELF THE MOST UNEXPECTED OF SUATNS: THE NASCENT STAG OF A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP WH A HYPERMASCULE RAPPER. ONE OF THE BT-REVIEWED NEW SERI OF THE SUMMER, P-VALLEY IS ALREADY REMARKABLE BASED ON THE TALENT VOLVED. NOT ONLY IS HALL THE RARE BLACK FEMALE SHOWNNER OF AN HOUR-LONG DRAMA, BUT EVERY EPISO IS HELMED BY A FEMALE DIRECTOR, PLACG AN UNMISTAKABLE AND UNWAVERG FEMALE GAZE ON THE STORI OF SEX WORKERS. IT IS A NOIR MELODRAMA THAT CENTERS SOUTHERN BLACK WOMEN, BOTH THEIR REALI AND THEIR VERNACULAR, AND DON’T ASK FOR THE APPROVAL OF WHE DIENC. IT BRGS STORI TYPILLY RELEGATED TO SHADOW MARGS TO THE CENTER STAGE SPOTLIGHT. SCE P-VALLEY’S PREMIERE, VIEWERS HAVE IGNED SOCIAL MEDIA WH PRAISE FOR ANNAN’S WORK AS UNCLE CLIFFORD, A CHARACTER UNLIKE ANY MOST HAVE SEEN ON TV BEFORE. THE MOST VALIDATG THG ABOUT THAT, HOWEVER, MAY BE HOW MANY OF THOSE VIEWERS SAY THEY REGNIZE THE UNCLE CLIFFORDS OF THEIR OWN LIV THE CHARACTER, THE GENRFLUID UNOFFICIAL MAYORS OF THEIR MUNI WHOSE FLAMBOYANCE AND ECCENTRICI, IF NOT ALWAYS UNRSTOOD, WERE ACCEPTED. SPEAKG TO THE DAILY BEAST OM HIS HOME LOS ANGEL, WHERE HE RECENTLY RETURNED OM NEW YORK CY—HE WAS PERFORMG HALL’S NEW PLAY HOT WG KG OFF-BROADWAY WHEN THE PANMIC SHUT DOWN THEATERS—ANNAN IS ECSTATIC. “THE BABY IS BORN!” HE SGS TO THE PHONE, LGHG. “AND SHE’S A GIRL!”BACK 2009, HALL VED ANNAN, THROUGH A MUTUAL IEND, TO AN ARTIST LLECTIVE LLED BLACK MONDAYS, A SALON OF SORTS TO DISCS WORKS PROGRS. THE PLAYWRIGHT HAD EARLY PAG FOR WHAT WOULD BEE PSY VALLEY, AND THEN P-VALLEY, CLUDG THE TRODUCTN OF A CHARACTER WHO IS TOUCH WH BOTH THE MASCULE AND FEME PARTS OF THEMSELV WAYS THAT WEREN’T WARRG, BUT HARMON. ANNAN WOULD SOON UNRSTAND HOW SENTIAL HALL’S STAGE DIRECTNS WOULD BE TO THE FULL PORTRA SHE WAS CREATG. IN THE P-VALLEY PREMIERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE’S A SCENE THAT ANYONE WHO WATCHED IMMEDIATELY RAVED ABOUT.  ADVERTISEMENT ACTRS BRANE EVANS, WHO PLAYS A DANCER NAMED MERCES, IS PERFORMG A POLE ROUTE AMID A R PHONY: BLASTG MIC, A ROARG CROWD, THE STLG OF DOLLAR BILLS RAG ALL OVER HER. BUT THEN THE SOUND CUTS OUT PLETELY. SUDNLY ALL YOU HEAR ARE MERCES’ HUFFG BREATHS, HER GNTS AS SHE HOISTS HERSELF TO ACROBATIC NEW POSNS, AND THE SCREECH OF ICTN AS SHE THE SK OF HER THIGHS TO BRAKE AS SHE PLUMMETS DOWN THE POLE. READG THE SCRIPT, ANNAN REMEMBERS HALL G THE PHRASE “LIKE CRICKET LEGS DANCG ON CLOUDS” TO SCRIBE THE SCENE.  “UNCLE CLIFFORD HAS FULL ACCS TO ALL OF HER MASCULY AND ALL OF HER FEMY. THERE IS NO QUTN ABOUT, ‘AM I ENOUGH OF EHER?’” THE KEY TO UNLOCKG UNCLE CLIFFORD WAS ALSO THOSE STAGE DIRECTNS, A SMALL PIECE OF WRG SO EVOTIVE THAT ANNAN IS STILL ABLE TO QUOTE BACK OVER 10 YEARS LATER: “EMERGG OM THE SHADOWS, EYELASH LIKE BUTTERFLI AND ACRYLIC NAILS LIKE EAGLE TALONS.” ANNAN UNRSTOOD IMMEDIATELY WHO UNCLE CLIFFORD WOULD BE. “BOTH OF THOSE ANIMALS, BUTTERFLI AND EAGL, THEY FLY,” HE SAYS. “THOSE THGS DITED TO ME THAT THERE WAS POWER CLIFFORD BEE HE ULD FLY ABOVE A SUATN.”TAKE BUTTERFLI: “BUTTERFLI ARE VERY GENTLE BUT THEY ALSO ARE SO STRONG BEE LOOK WHAT THEY E OM AND WHAT THEY BEE.” AND EAGLE TALONS: “I'M THKG ABOUT HOW PRETTY THEY ARE. I'M THKG HOW STRONG THEY LOOK. IT IS NOT AN APOLOGY, SO THAT AFFECTED MY GTUR, THE WAY THAT I WOULD MOVE AND SPEAK.” ADVERTISEMENT ASKED WHAT WAS LIKE TO BE ON SET FULL STUME AS UNCLE CLIFFORD THE EARLY DAYS OF SHOOTG, ANNAN ADMS TO HAVG SOME RETICENCE AND NERV. ON A BROAD LEVEL, THAT ECHOED HOP THAT HE WOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY THE CHARACTER A WAY SO THAT DIENC SAW HER HUMANY, RATHER THAN JT BE DAZZLED OR DISTRACTED BY HER, AS HE PUTS , “REGALIA.” HE ALSO HAD ANXIETY THAT CRICS MIGHT RI HER AND THE SHOW AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOLLYWOOD EMASCULATG A BLACK MAN. BUT FOR HIM, WAS AN OPPORTUNY TO DIVERSIFY THE LGBT+ SPECTM, PECIALLY THE BLACK MUNY, THAT’S SHOWN ON TV. “UNCLE CLIFFORD HAS FULL ACCS TO ALL OF HER MASCULY AND ALL OF HER FEMY. THERE IS NO QUTN ABOUT, ‘AM I ENOUGH OF EHER?’”THERE WAS A MOMENT SHOOTG LAST SUNDAY’S EPISO THAT ANNAN SPECIFILLY REMEMBERS. HE WAS WARDROBE FISHG UNCLE CLIFFORD’S LOOK, AN HOMAGE TO FRIDA KAHLO: A “PRCS LEIA” IFF, A FLOWER CROWN, A BANRA JACKET OVER A SHEER BLOE, LEGGGS, THIGH-HIGH BOOTS, AND THOSE TALONS. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME HE’D BE SHOOTG A MASSIVE CROWD SCENE AT THE CLUB, WH DANCERS, EXTRAS, AND SR OF PEOPLE WHO HADN’T READ THE SCRIPT AND DIDN’T UNRSTAND UNCLE CLIFFORD AS WELL AS HE KNEW HER. HE TOOK AN ANX BREATH. HOW WOULD THEY REACT? IT TOOK ALL OF THREE STTS TO THE ROOM BEFORE HE STARTED TO HEAR MURMURS OF, “DAMN… OH WOW… YOU LOOK BETIFUL… HEYYYY…”  “IT WAS THE MOST BETIFUL MOMENT AND I FEEL LIKE ACTUALLY KD OF TAPULTED ME FOR THE RT OF THE SERI,” HE SAYS. “I WAS REMD THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMOPHOBIA REAL LIFE, EVEN THOUGH CLIFFORD HAS EXPERIENCED HOMOPHOBIA AND ALL OF THE MISOGYNY AND THGS LIKE THAT THAT EXIST PECIALLY THE SOUTH, AT THE ROOT OF , BLACK PEOPLE REALLY LOVE.”  ADVERTISEMENT ANNAN GREW UP DETRO. HIS MOTHER IS A PROUD BLACK SOUTHERN WOMAN WHO WAS BORN ON A US ARMY BASE GERMANY, AND HIS FATHER IS OM GHANA. HIS EXPERIENCE AS A GAY BLACK MAN IS ONE OF SURVIVAL, BEE ALWAYS IS FOR HIS MUNY. “BUT MY FAY HAS ALWAYS LOVED ME FOR THE GAY MAN THAT I AM AND THE GAY BOY THAT I WAS.”HIS GRANDMOTHER LIK TO TELL A STORY ABOUT WHEN ANNAN WAS YOUNG AND PLAYG THE GARN WH HIS GRANDFATHER. SHE TURNED TO HIS MOTHER, WHO WAS ALSO THERE WATCHG THEM, AND SAID, “YOU KNOW, I THK HE MAY BE A LTLE ‘SWEET.’” HIS MOTHER SAID, “I KNOW.” SO HIS GRANDMOTHER REPLIED, “WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GOG TO DO?” HIS MOTHER’S RPONSE: “LOVE HIM.” GIVEN HIS LOVE FOR ACTG AND DANCE GROWG UP, WASN’T A SURPRISE WHEN ANNAN MOVED TO NEW YORK TO STUDY AT SUNY PURCHASE COLLEGE CONSERVATORY. AFTER EARNG HIS B.F.A., HE MOVED TO CONNECTICUT TO BE CHOREOGRAPHER RINCE AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA. HE MOVED TO LOS ANGEL SIX YEARS AGO. “I FELY GREW UP UNR THAT PEDAGOGY OF, YOU KNOW, ORR TO BE A VALID ACTOR, YOU HAVE TO PLAY STRAIGHT,” HE SAYS. “AND THAT WAS MY TRAG.”HE REMEMBERS BEG CHASTISED BY AN OLR PROFSOR AT SUNY PURCHASE FOR BEG “TOO GAY” HIS PERFORMANC, WARNED THAT HE’D NEVER GET HIRED IF HE DIDN’T TRA THAT OUT OF HIMSELF. HIS ACTG TEACHER, JONATHAN ROSENBERG, TERVENED, EXPLAG THAT HE PURPOSEFULLY DIRECTED ANNAN TO EMBRACE THOSE PARTS OF HIMSELF WHEN PERFORMG: “I WANT HIM TO TAP TO HIS MUNY AND WHO HE IS BEE ONE DAY WILL BE ED.” IT WASN’T AN EASY ROAD. THEN, HE JOK, ALL THERE WAS FOR HIM TO PLAY WAS MISS RAJ GEE C. WOLFE’S COLORED MM. IF YOU WANTED TO PLAY GAY MEN, YOU HAD TO HOPE TO BE ST A PLAY BY TERRENCE MCNALLY, “AND YOU WERE A MAN LIVG THE HAMPTONS,” ANNAN LGHS. “I HAVE BEEN TO THE HAMPTONS AND I LOVE THE HAMPTONS, BUT I ALSO KNOW WHAT 'S LIKE TO BE A GAY MAN DETRO, YOU KNOW, JT REGULAR THGS…”  ADVERTISEMENT IT’S THE LAST YEAR THAT THGS HAVE CHANGED FOR ANNAN, AND AT A RATE THAT HAS STUNNED THE ACTOR. FROM 2017 TO 2018, EVERY ROLE HE BOOKED ON MERA WAS A LGBT+ CHARACTER, AND EACH INTIFIED DIFFERENTLY ACROSS THE SPECTM. ON SHOWTIME’S SHAMELS, HE PLAYED A GAY PREACHER. ON FX’S SNOWFALL, HE WAS ST AS A FORMER DRAG QUEEN. HIS CHARACTER ON THIS IS US, A DANCE TEACHER, DIDN’T HAVE HIS SEXUALY SPECIFIED THE SCRIPT, BUT ANNAN APPROACHED HIS PERFORMANCE AS IF THE CHARACTER WAS A GAY MAN.THE DAY HE SHOT HIS FIRST SCENE FOR SHAMELS WAS SEPTEMBER 11, 2017. ON SEPTEMBER 12 A YEAR LATER, HE FILMED THE PILOT FOR P-VALLEY. HE KNOWS BEE HIS IPHONE JT DID ONE OF THOSE RANDOM “MEMORY” TO ALERTS WH A SELFIE HE TOOK THE TRAILER. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE EERIE, FULL-CIRCLE MOMENTS TO DIGT. “IF YOU DO WHAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WELL, JT WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.” KEV FALLON

Annan is open about his sexualy, though, and intifi as gay. “As a Black man and as a Black gay man, ’s very seldom that I get the opportuny to tell such a rich, lh story that really means somethg and that I really feel speaks to my muny and n uplift , ” he said of P-Valley  an terview wh Essence. BackgroundClifford’s Sexualy: Why People Assume He’s GayIs The Rumor Te?