Arrived early Big questionIn the season one finale, released on October 30, Niecy Nash-Betts’ character loudly asks, “What the fuck kind of freak show is this?” The sentiment nicely embodies FX’s horror series, which comes from the twisted and prolific mind of Ryan Murphy. Packed with bloody violence and emotional drama, the surreal Big question is based on Nash-Betts’ stellar (and, frankly, award-worthy) performance.

In the series, she plays Lois Tryon, a small-town detective who is convinced she is the target of a serial killer. Seven episodes later, it is revealed that the deaths are in her head because Lois is in a coma. But once she wakes up, there is indeed a real killer on the prowl. Her personal life is also in shambles: Lois, a recovering alcoholic, slept with her son-in-law (Travis Kelce) and is divorcing her predatory husband (Courtney B. Vance). So yeah, Big question is a lot to handle, but Nash-Betts seems more than ready for it.

The AV club spoke with the actor about why she was drawn to this complex role, working with Murphy, and the kind of work she hopes to do next.

The AV Club: Lois is put through the wringer Big question. What was it like to fulfill this role?

Niecy Nash-Betts: Oh, it was scary, and it made me want to lean in even more. Anything that scares me a little or that I’ve never done before, I run to it. I was happy to unpack what Ryan had on the page. I’ve had many conversations with him about it. Although Lois was in the grip of her addiction during her coma life, she was presented as very strong. In her waking life – that is, in her real life – she was much more fragile and vulnerable. So it was fun to play both parts of her.

AVC: The finale ends with Lois, ready to leave everything behind and work on herself in an institution, returning to her position as a detective. Why was it necessary for her to come full circle in this way?

NN: In the end, someone had to do (the job), even though Lois just wanted to go to the mental institution and get together. Remember, she says, “I think I’m dead” by the time the chief of police, Megan (Micaela Diamond), tells her to come back. As they say, you can rest when you’re dead, but that’s clearly not a luxury afforded to Lois. So she says, “Let me put my white coat back on and let me get out of here, because someone has to do it.” She also says that at the end, when she asks who else will solve this problem. It won’t be Megan. It was the fact that she didn’t want anything else that happened in her dream to play out in real life with this copycat killer. She knows she is the only one who can fight this evil.

AVC: Do you think she even wants this responsibility? She was so close to leaving everything behind.

NN: Every black woman I know is tired and still has to take charge, still have to make it happen, still have to figure it all out, still have to push through. Having the luxury of just living your own life and lying on a beach somewhere, eating shrimp and drinking a cocktail, that’s not the life for most women I know. I understood that part about Lois. So when she thinks, ‘Okay, I’m going to relax and work on myself,’ they pull her back in. And it’s because she really cares that she does it. She can’t turn her back on Megan. She can’t let these crimes continue because no one but her can get to the bottom of it. She is the chosen one.

AVC: Was it cathartic to play someone with mental health issues? Or was it daunting?

NN: I always try to find a place where my character and I intersect. I want to be able to find that portal of what we have in common. You learn things from the people you play against. But I also try not to use my characters as therapy. If I can at least learn something from them, that’s fine.

AVC: Your character has heavy one-on-one interactions with everyone on the show. I found Lois’s scenes with her daughter Merritt the most difficult and poignant to watch. Do you have any favorites?

NN: Everyone in this cast is so talented, but yes, I also love the mother-and-daughter dynamic between myself and Raven Goodwin, who plays Merritt. I love that that relationship is so complicated. Yet you could still see that there are remnants of the love from a short time period they had until Lois’ addiction and work took over and it became super hard to deal with. I also enjoyed explaining the relationship with Megan Duvall in both versions – in the coma and in real life – because they were so different. Lois needed Sister Megan while she was in a coma because she knew all about the religious undertones of the crimes. When she was awake, Megan needed Lois because she knew she couldn’t do this alone and she didn’t have the bandwidth. So even when Lois wants to rest, sit down and calm her nerves, she can’t.

AVC: What was it like performing all of Lois’s intense monologues?

NN: Oh my god. I just called Ryan and said, ‘I always thought you were a nice guy. Why did you give me these monologues? You’re killing me.” He said it was because they were going to be so great. I was nervous about how I would remember them all, but I think I managed to stick the landing.

AVC: You’ve collaborated with Ryan on multiple projects that showcase your range Shout queens Unpleasant Dahmer to this one. What was the experience like and what did you learn during the process?

NN: I love it so much. Becoming trusted with that level and range of work only happens because someone else trusts you to show up and do what needs to be done. I have learned along with it Big question that I can do it and that I can trust my gift. A lot of people told me things like “your job is comedy” because that’s where they met me. And often people want to leave you where they meet you. But I knew my instrument and I knew I could do it. I just had to trust it enough to say, “I really want to play this role.”

And then Ryan has to say yes? Then I got scared. I’m like, “Oh lord, I know I said I could, but now I really need to make Lois as grounded as possible.” So many people have texted and called me to say what they thought Big question would be next American horror story season. Well, it’s not. If that were the case, I would have gone along AHSright? This isn’t that. It’s something completely different. So I love that despite everything Ryan has done, he is still innovative and creative and has his pulse on the moment.

AVC: Have you talked to him about a possible second season? Big question could look like?

NN: You know what? I’d love to do it. We haven’t talked about what it would look like yet because as soon as I wrapped it Big questionI started working on Ryan’s new show, Everything is fairwith Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Teyana Taylor, Naomi Watts…all those amazing girls. I didn’t even have a chance to sit down and wonder what season two might look like. I didn’t get to ask Ryan, “What do you think?” He just said, “Ma’am, here’s another script, stand over there.” (Laughs) But I would happily come back for it.

AVC: You’ve already had a storied career, but are there any roles on your wish list? Or are there any TV shows you’ve seen that you’d like to be a part of?

NN: I’ve never played a bad guy before. I think it would be something fun to find in my instrument. I am always kind, loving and funny. I can be tough or strong sometimes, but a bad guy? That would be cool. I just finished watching too Reasonable Doubt, and I get in Shrink season two. I love that show. Oh, and I know which TV show I’d like to be a part of. Are Hacking with Jean Slim.

AVC: What role do you see as crucial in shaping your career?

NN: The most life-changing role for me was playing nurse Didi Ortley on HBO’s Get started for three seasons. It was an industry darling. That was my first Emmy nomination and the first time people saw me in a more grounded character. And because of that role, Ava DuVernay called me and said, ‘Can you come in? Selma?” That led to me doing Netflix When they see us. That’s what made me do it Origin. So many things came up. I have Claws because of Get started. All these great things started happening as a result of that role.