NIECY NASH
Lead Actress in a Limited
Series or MovieJHARREL JEROME
Lead Actor in a Limited
Series or Movie
When They See Us (Netflix)You play Korey Wise,
who was wrongfully
imprisoned for 12 years,
and his mom, Delores.
What was your
bond like on-set?
Nash: I have a son who’s
twentysomething,
and looking into Jharrel’s
face was just like
looking at my own baby—
all the emotions of
wanting to protect him.
Jerome: Niecy, if it weren’t
for my mother, would be
the greatest mother alive.
How did the real
Central Park Five—
convicted of rape as
teens and exonerated
in 2002—react to the
acclaim for the series?
Nash: They are getting
so much love from so
many people. They really
do feel seen for the truth
of who they are.
Jerome: Korey was like,
“Baby boy, we got an Emmy
nomination! I’m going to
need security now. I can’t
walk around no more.” The
nomination isn’t mine, it’s
mine and Korey’s. And that
is such an incredible feeling.58 September 2, 2019 PEOPLE