Phylicia Rashad’s Grey’s Anatomy Character, Explained
Grey’s Anatomy season 17 presents a somber and tragic story of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Phylicia Rashad appeared in one episode. The actor is recognized for portraying Clair Huxtable on the sitcom The Cosby Show and reprising her role on the spinoff A Different World before starring in drama series such as Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Empire, and David Makes Man. She has had a successful movie career as well, playing Mary Anne Creed in the Creed franchise and taking part in the heartwarming family-friendly movies Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey and Soul.
Thanks to her 1980s sitcom role, Phylicia Rashad is another one of the most famous guest stars on Grey’s Anatomy, and before her episode aired in 2021, she made brief appearances on several other TV shows. In 2019, she played Beth Pearson’s mother on This Is Us and portrayed a patient named Pilar on the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff Station 19. Shortly after, she appeared on The Good Fight as activist Renatta Clark. Since she’s the sister of Debbie Allen, who plays Catherine Fox, the mother of Jackson Avery (Jesse Williams), Phylicia Rashad’s Grey’s Anatomy appearance is particularly notable. Her guest role speaks to the important social content of season 17.
Phylicia Rashad Played Nell Timms On Grey’s Anatomy
Phylicia Rashad played Nell Timms on Grey’s Anatomy season 17, episode 12, “Sign O’ The Times.” She’s a protester who comes into the hospital after being attacked with teargas during a Black Lives Matter protest. She has a shoulder injury and needs to be operated on. The character allows the series to discuss the pandemic in several ways. While George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) returns in season 17, appearing on the beach in Meredith Grey’s (Ellen Pompeo) vision, and she continues to see her late loved ones during her bout with COVID-19, Nell is significant because she isn’t a patient admitted with the virus.
The “Sign O’ The Times” episode of Grey’s Anatomy is one of the most serious of the entire season, with Nell a contrast to another patient, Chad Anderson (Coby Ryan McLaughlin), who doesn’t believe in the virus but passes away after becoming infected. Nell has a bright attitude despite the hurt she feels and the scare she has had.
Nell’s Brief Arc Explores The Impact Of 2020 Social Justice Protests
Phylicia Rashad’s Grey’s Anatomy character addresses the real-world debate in 2020 about peaceful versus violent protests and the human rights that demand fighting for. Nell’s admission to the hospital forces Jackson and Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), who operate on her, to talk about what social justice and activism mean for their own lives. Jackson’s confusing relationship with April Kepner (Sarah Drew) may be the most memorable part of his time on the series, but this episode shows another side of him. He feels guilty about never protesting and just donating money instead. Richard, on the other hand, finds protests full of hope and inspiration
When Richard and Nell share that they know protests can make a difference, Phylicia Rashad’s Grey’s Anatomy character stands out because patients don’t usually have such serious discussions with the doctors. Instead of only talking about her treatment plan, Nell makes a real connection with Richard, and Jackson carefully considers his own relationship with activism.
