NETWORKWOMEN.COM: COVER STORY, FEBRUARY, 2000

FEBRUARY, 2000 COVER STORY
LISA GAY HAMILTON of ABC's "The Practice"

BY REGINA MARCAZZO

Having worked under directors like Jonathan Demme, Clint Eastwood and Quentin Tarantino and alongside a laundry list of famous actors makes Lisa Gay Hamilton's resume look pretty impressive. So does the fact that she's an original cast member of the hit show "The Practice."

But just because she's worked with the best of the best doesn't mean that the actress is gong to sit back and say "I made it." The talented Long Island native doesn't take anything for granted.

"I tend to never be satisfied. To me it's just a part of the journey and part of the process. There is no sitting still," said Hamilton.

"I would love to be an employed actor throughout my career. I have such a long way to go. The odds are incredible and the competition is incredible. If I had my wish it would be to continue to grow and actually be a major contributor to good solid work that entertains, educates and challenges society," Hamilton said.

She may strive for the highest of expectations but her extensive list of credits and upstanding character were by far enough to gain her recognition recently by 100 Black Women. She was the Trailblazer Honoree at the organization's Black and White Candlelight Ball at the Garden City Hotel.

"I got a standing ovation. I was really, really touched by it. I think I took pictures with each and every person who attended. It was a pleasure," said Hamilton, who enjoyed basking in compliments from many who knew every tidbit about her acting career.

Patricia Hill Williams, the president of the 100 Black Women of Long Island Foundation, said Hamilton was substantially younger than most Trailblazer honorees. "Everyone was very impressed with her," Williams said, explaining how she fit well with the requirements since she's someone who has contributed significantly to society by opening doors for others and by being a good role model and mentor. Clips from Hamilton's major undertakings were shown at the organization's fund-raising dinner.

Hamilton's mother, Tina Hamilton, is a member of 100 Black Women whose purpose is to provide a network for African American women on Long Island through scholarships, youth forums and other means.

The blooming actress grew up with her mother in Stony Brook where she recalls a relatively pleasant childhood and school life as an African American girl in an all white neighborhood. She still feels an attachment to her childhood home and has the opportunity to visit about three times a year.

Today, Hamilton lives with her miniature schnauzer, Max, in a southern California home that she purchased thanks to her acting career. She may be modest about her accomplishments but she does appreciate where they have gotten her. "I never in a million years thought I could buy a house as an actress."

Hamilton leads what she considers to be a "very quiet life" that includes activities like running and working around the house.

Her social activities involve assisting in what she considers to be good causes. "I'm a left winger kind of kid. I tend to be for the underdog," said Hamilton who has been adopted by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to host functions. "I am always in awe of all of the attorneys there who take on cases that no one else would take," she said.

Living on her own on the West Coast, she has other actor friends in the area but her deepest bonds are still those she forged years ago on the East Coast.

The diverse and talented actress attributes her ability to move from intense roles like sharing the character of Sethe in "Beloved" with Oprah Winfrey to playing an attorney on "The Practice" to good training.

After graduating high school on Long Island, Hamilton attended Carnegie-Mellon University for a year before enrolling at New York University where she earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts. The degree was followed by more training at the highly competitive drama division of the Julliard School.

Her first choice of study at Yale University with Pulitzer prize winning playwright August Wilson did not become a reality but Hamilton did get to work with the man she highly respects when she played Grace in "The Piano Lesson."

Although she had a stint where she considered a career as a veterinarian, Hamilton has always known her calling. "It was the one that that always attracted me and excited me," confides Hamilton recalling fond memories of an elementary school teacher and her roles in school plays. "I always go the lead," she said.

Her very first paid role was with Joseph Papp's Public Theater as a spear carrier in the Delacorte Theater production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." "It was a star studded cast. We were sitting there drooling. It was a wonderful introduction to the business. The Public Theater became a real home for me," she said.

Hamilton is also quite pleased with her current role on "The Practice." "It's the best gig in town. It genuinely has the most loving group of people from cast, crew to administration. It's a real family. We fit like a glove," said Hamilton, who is an original cast member of the 4-year old television hit.

While her greatest love is the theater, Hamilton realizes that she has to support herself and theater is not the most lucrative in the acting field. She did get a boost from her superb performance in Athol Fugard's play, "Valley Song," at the Mark Taper Theater in Los Angeles. For her performance as Veronica, she earned an Obie Award, the Clarence Derwent Award and she got a Drama Desk nomination.

As she continues to enjoy her job on "The Practice," Hamilton auditions for additional roles. A movie she made for Showtime, "A House Divided," will air in late spring.

Hamilton hopes she will see the day when she can have any female part regardless of color. Being an African American and a woman makes it particularly challenging for the actress. "I'm not one for the Hollywood glitz," she said, clarifying that she does not want to be famous. She just wants access to all kinds of roles. "I look forward to being able to really strut my stuff," she said.

In addition to furthering her already productive career, the 36 year old actress is feeling those maternal instincts. She especially enjoys when she is on the East Coast and gets to spend time with her sister's two children. "I've begun the panic attack. I sometimes teeter with the idea of becoming a single parent. Becoming a parent is something I'd like to do before my forties," she said.

Of her work thus far, Hamilton greatly appreciates her experience with Johnathan Demme who directed "Beloved." "I would say that working with him was a tremendous gift. He attended to me with the utmost care and respect," she said, recalling returning to a hotel room flooded with flowers after a day of acting out some very heavy scenes.

Working with Athol Fugard was also a high point. "It was a very intimate time between two very different people," she said, explaining how the actor, director and writer of "Valley Song," was not only from a completely different generation but also another country. "He also treated me with a great deal of respect," she recalls.

Hamilton has worked with many big name actors but there are two who particularly attract her attention, Jessica Lange and Meryl Streep. She hopes to one day work with them as well. "They are craftsmen and have matured in such a graceful way. They are of integrity, they just get better. They are just like fine wine," she said.

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