2020 was a life-changing year for us all. From going completely virtual to coming face to face with ourselves as well as the people in our lives in a whole new light, they were trying times indeed. But for many, especially artists in need of an opportunity to level the playing field, 2020 was a year that brought incredible creativity. With an increased need for brightness in dark spaces, everyone from singers to painters capitalized on arrested audiences who were in desperate need of the safe haven that art can provide. So, friends and fellow comedians Danielle Pinnock and LaNisa Frederick, saw a wide open lane to entertain people using their real life experiences as Black actresses in Hollywood. @HashtagBooked became one of the most revered and shared IG accounts on the social media platform and made both Pinnock and Frederick rising stars in what had become an oversaturated market; with many people clamoring to ride viral videos into solid success. What Pinnock and Frederick had was authentic talent backed by years of both training and work ethic. This was not microwave content and people were hungry for their authenticity. Whether the work came from the dynamic duo or from each woman individually, the response was always a resounding “more” and Hollywood also took notice.

Pinnock, whose work spans Scandal, This Is Us, Young Sheldon and others, joined the cast of CBS’ latest hit drama Ghosts in which she plays jazz singer Alberta Haynes. Described as a flamboyant diva-type, Haynes is one of the many haunts that show’s central plot centers around; however, Danielle’s portrayal is layered, hilarious and deeply rooted in inspiration from actual Black jazz singers who are often left out of the history of the art form. We caught up with Danielle to talk all things Ghosts, Hashtag Booked and more.

Iman N. Milner: Who, in your own words, is Danielle Pinnock?

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Danielle Pinnock: I would definitely say loyal. Very goofy. And just a lover of my family. Those are the core values of me.

INM: As a person who was able to harness social media popularity and use that to really make some noise in the industry, what’s been the most surprising part of this journey?

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DP: What’s really fascinating is that so many people know me from social media but I’ve been doing this for the past decade in theaters across Chicago and around the US. The great thing about social media is that I was able to do all the things I was doing in comedy clubs online in little 15 second clips. I started to get more and more visibility, which was really cool. I love that social media has given a lot of artists the opportunity to have a larger audience. For me, it’s been so great to reach a wider audience, particularly during the pandemic.

INM: The industry has changed so much since most people first made the decision to move to a major market or get training, what can you say to those artists who may not have found their groove using social media for the art yet?

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DP: Oh, I get that. I am classically trained, went to school in the UK, got my masters in acting and when I first moved to LA, it was a little scary. I’d be in an audition room with someone who has 3 million followers on YouTube and then cast member of a famous show. There’s no rhyme or reason to who gets in sometimes. When we started Hashtag Booked, it was such a great outlet to talk about all the things we go through as Black actresses through a comedic lens. Or actors who are trying to break into social media, I would say, love the thing that you’re doing—first and foremost. Don’t do it because someone else is doing it and getting notoriety from it. Pick a thing that you actually want to talk about in your own way. Don’t try to be anyone else. Social media can be very daunting sometimes and it can feel like ‘where do I start?’. Always start with you first.

INM: Let’s talk about your current role, Alberta on Ghosts, who is she and how much fun have you had crafting her?

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DP: Ghosts was originally a show based in the UK and I am so grateful that we get to tell the story here now with this cast. So some of the Ghosts in our version are direct replicas from the BBC version but mine is a brand new ghost on the series, which is so exciting. She’s a 1920s prohibition era jazz singer. She’s so over the top and she’s the star in any room that she enters—living or dead. She is so full of herself but so full of life as well. I always call her a hot mess with a heart of gold because even with all the celebration she has for herself there are some poignant moments she has in the show; one of which is trying to figure out how she died. The show is so smart and incredible. We’re dealing with all of these generations of deceased characters and how they all influence each other.

INM: Black women are often left out of conversations about pioneering art forms like jazz, how important has it been to infuse those legends into Alberta?

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DP: The great thing with Alberta is that I always think of her as a hidden figure. She didn’t get as famous as Ma Rainey or Bessie Smith but there were so many other artists during that time period that we just don’t know about it. I’ve been taking dance classes and doing a ton of reading to educate myself on those other women. Listening to a ton of music from that time period and taking voice lessons. I wanted to really do this role some justice because she is the only Black woman on the show and I’m like I gotta make my people proud. Even in the writing room, that’s something that they don’t let slip by. There are so many times on the show where she’s like yeah the 1920s were great with ‘all that jazz’ but it was also problematic. She has a lot of those great jabs and all the stuff between her and Al Capone—I am so excited to keep exploring that. They’ve really fleshed her out and I feel so lucky to play a character like this.

INM: As with jazz, Black women in comedy can seem like a place where only a select few are allowed to shine. Right now, there are a lot more Black women getting a chance to make their own content or really hold their own in the spotlight. How does it feel to be part of that?

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DP: A lot of these women are people who were my North Star when I came to LA. I was afraid to create content, at first. I’m like I’m classically trained, just send me in the theater with my one-minute monologue and let me call it a night. But to really create your own content, it’s so much work. The editing, the filming, the scheduling and everything else it requires—people don’t see it that way. These Black women who are so successful at it, there is so much that goes into it. There are so many people that I admire who are rewriting the narrative of what comedy can be and using the internet to do that. I am just honored to be in the number.

INM: What can people expect from the rest of this season of Ghosts?

DP: Well we will definitely find out why Trevor has no pants. (laughs)

INM: Right. That’s important!

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DP: It really is. And, you know, there are some love connections that happen for Alberta that we’re going to be diving into. It’s been hinted that Pete has a little crush on Alberta, so I can’t wait to explore more of that. But the end of this season is utterly fantastic and I encourage viewers to keep watching because you can’t predict any of the things that come next.

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