Brandee Evans doesnt seem to half-ass anything.
Also on her schedule:Physical therapyfor an injury incurred portraying Mercedes, The Pynks veteran dancer.
Harrington was diagnosed withmultiple sclerosisin 2004, and early-onsetAlzheimerssoon after.
David Livingston / Stringer via Getty Images / Amanda K Bailey
How has your bond evolved since then?
Brandee Evans:No we didntnot at all.
It was so surprising to friends back home, like, Wait.
Yall are together now?!
I asked, Did you think that I would leave you?!
She did, because of our relationship growing up.
I said, Were here till your last breath ormylast breath.
But Im just thankful that shes here, and that I know that she loves me.
Deep down, she knows that Im here for her too.
Ive asked her, Do you know that I love you?
She said, Yes, because of how you take care of me.
Thats all I wanted to hear my whole life.
Did your relationship shift pretty quickly because she was in this new, vulnerable situation?
It was a beautiful, necessary moment offorgivenessfor us.
I know that I couldnt have cared for her in a healthy manner,had I not released that.
These days she cant really communicate the way she wants to.
Were just living in the moment and being grateful to have each other.
Ive never been more proud to be her daughter.
We love that your Instagram captures the joyful moments you find together while youre caregiving too.
Has your moms decline in language affected the types of things you like to do as mother and daughter?
I still take her out.
We went to Mastros Steakhouse the other day for her birthday!
We still have movie nights, we go to the nail salon.
And she loved those men, honey!
I attempt to do things that I know shed be doing if she was in 100% good health.
A caregiver plays many rolesdriver, scheduler, shopper, and of course, home health aide.
How did you prepare to take on all these responsibilities?
I would go to hospitals and ask to see their equipment and which punch in of mattress they used.
Id sit on the bed and examine everything to see how it worked.
Then a friend and I would shop around L.A. to find the equivalent.
Thank GodP-Valleycame right in time after the GoFundMe had run out because I was barely eating.
Tell us about auditioning forP-Valleywhile you were still a full-time caregiver.
I knew it could change our lives!
I talked to her all the way to the audition and all the way home.
I left class, sprinted home, moved the pillow, and ran back during the break!
You seem like somebody who brings their whole selfand a camera feed, when necessary!to work.
When you first started filmingP-Valley, did you have any urge to compartmentalize your caregiving life?
Or did you feel like you could be upfront right away?
I was afraid at first, but [creator and showrunner] Katori Hall is so understanding and family-focused.
When Katori walked in, I tried to pull it together.
But she told me tobreatheand that it would be okay.
After that, it wasnt scary to say that I have this commitment.
How do you practice self-care and manage the stress of balancing it all?
Honestly, going to the gym early in the morning.
It gives me that one time of the day when Ive done something for me.
I want people to know that its okay to step away totake time for yourself.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
