‘P-Valley’: The Origin of Uncle Clifford’s Name Is Very Unique
P-Valley is one of the biggest hits on TV. Much of the show centers around the women who work at The Pynk, a strip club in Chucalissa, Mississippi, which also happens to sit at the center of the Bible Belt. The show also focuses on Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan), the club’s gender-non-conforming owner.
In Season 1 of P-Valley, we learn that Uncle Clifford‘s family has owned The Pynk for generations. However, it was her idea to turn it into a strip club. Despite The Pynk’s popularity, that hasn’t stopped Uncle Clifford from getting into some financial issues.
Though we’ve learned some details about Uncle Clifford’s past in Season 1, P-Valley creator/showrunner Katori Hall explains much more about the beloved character, including the origins of her name.
Nicco Annan fought for his role as Uncle Clifford on ‘P-Valley’
Annan has been playing Uncle Clifford for over a decade. The actor was the first to read for the role at the table reading for Hall’s play Pu**y Valley back in 2009. Annan also created a lot of Uncle Clifford’s backstory. However, when Starz greenlit the show to series, the actor didn’t automatically snag the part.
“Katori was very honest,” Annan told Vanity Fair. “She said ‘We’re looking for everyone.’ They cast a wide net.”
To make sure that he got the part, Annan dug deep and made sure to show up to his audition as Uncle Clifford. “I could not become Uncle Clifford in the room,” he explained. “I had to show up as her.” Thankfully, Annan’s strategy worked out, and he earned the role.
Nicco Annan spilled details about ‘P-Valley’ Season 2
A great deal of Season 1 focused on Uncle Clifford’s financial issues with The Pynk along with her burgeoning relationship with closeted rapper, Lil Murda (Alphonse Nicholson). In the end, Autumn (Elarica Johnson) saves The Pynk from being brought by a casino developer. However, Uncle Clifford’s relationship with Lil Murda crumbles.
Annan is spilling the deets about season 2, which will begin filming in Atlanta in June 2021. “Everybody needs love. And I think that that’s a part of what gave Clifford the energy or the strength to endure another day,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
However, we don’t know if things will change between Clifford and Lil Murda. “That part I’m waiting to find out myself,” he said. “I anticipate being back to work when it’s good and hot.”
Katori Hall revealed the origins of Uncle Clifford’s name
Uncle Clifford is one of the most unique characters on TV, and now Hall is revealing the inspiration behind the character, including Uncle Clifford’s name. “She is based off of three living ancestors of mine, which is my mama, who don’t take no sh*t, my daddy, who don’t take no sh*t, and then my Uncle Clifford, who really don’t take no sh*t,” Hall told Thrillist.
However, it’s Uncle Clifford’s name that really moved Hall. “She definitely is a unique being in that Uncle Clifford is considered non-binary; she prefers the pronouns she and her,” Hall explained. “What I love about this name Uncle Clifford is the fact that she’s like, “Call me she and her, but I’m still keeping ‘uncle’ in front of my name.” She is so emblematic of the fluidity of her identity.”
