If you thought it was hard to put Rico Nasty into a box, she is making it impossible.
The multi-talented artist built her name on a chaotic, high-voltage musical style paired with an ever-shifting aesthetic, from neon wigs to shredded outfits and crowd-shaking energy.
Now, she is stepping into a new arena with her on-screen debut in the A24-produced Apple TV+ comedy-drama Margo’s Got Money Troubles, starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman.
In the series, Rico plays KC, an OnlyFans creator who goes by the handle WangMangler99, a sharp-tongued mentor who helps the struggling protagonist navigate life and financial hardship through the platform.
“I had to read for it — and I read for it like six different times,” she revealed to the Black Wall Street Times in a recent interview.
Bringing KC To Life
Based on Rufi Thorpe’s 2024 novel, the eight-episode series centers on Fanning’s character, whose unexpected pregnancy derails her life plans and forces her to support her child while navigating complicated family dynamics.
Rico said listening to the audiobook helped her connect deeply with the story.
“I was really able to see them in my head, and that helped to really bring them to life.”
Stepping into her first acting role offered a change of pace. Known for her intense, high-energy stage presence, Rico describes KC as far more “nonchalant.”
“Trying to contain myself in a room full of stars, and not have that excitement on my face when literally I’m looking at Elle Fanning right across from me — like, it was insane,” she said.
From The Stage To The Set
After the initial nerves, Rico found a rhythm on set that felt familiar.
“It’s the same type of butterflies,” she insisted.
Still, acting required a different kind of discipline. Unlike live performances, where each show is a single moment, television allows for repetition and refinement.
“With TV, you could do it a million times and the times you do it with everyone, the better it feels, the more organic — and you start adding little things and playing around and being more comfortable.”
Unleashing A New Character Within Herself
Rico’s connection to KC extended beyond performance into style.
“I honestly feel like she bled back into my real life,” she says.
Known for her colorful, maximalist looks, Rico had recently leaned into darker, more subdued aesthetics. KC, she explains, “represents the perfect blend of colorful and dark,” reigniting a creative spark.
That influence is already shaping her music. The “Poppin” rapper plans to tap into KC’s sensual energy in upcoming projects.
Back To The Music
In September, Rico will hit the road with Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams on select dates of “The Hayley Williams Show.”
“Haley has always been on my Mount Rushmore of rock stars,” Rico said.
She added. “That’s my girl. She’s so fire, she’s heavily, heavily influenced me… she’s just always stuck in my head.”
Even as her acting career expands, music remains central. She has reunited with longtime collaborator Kenny Beats for a new project rooted in her rap origins.
“It’s all rap music, it’s not any pop bubble gum. It’s really all rap, and it would remind you of like the early mixtape days of me — it’s more, there’s no screaming, there’s no rock, there’s no guitars.”
Her latest single, “Rituals,” reflects that return to form.
After years of experimenting with rock and punk influences and developing larger-than-life personas like her alter ego, ‘Taco Bella’, Rico is reconnecting with what first drew fans to her.
“The one thing that made everyone stop and pay attention to me was my ability to rap,” she says. “The fun lyrics, the way I was able to make people laugh with it.”
Now, with her first on-screen character added to her growing list of alter egos, Rico is embracing clarity.
“I feel very at peace.”
