Erica Hubbard Talks Chicago, Gives Tips on How To Avoid Being Typecast, and How College Helped Her Find Her Purpose
Actress and activist Erica Hubbard is a Chicago native that has been dominating the big screen since she was child. We all know and love her on shows like BET’s Let’s Stay Together, ABC’s Lincoln Heights and in movies like Akeelah and The Bee, or Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. She speaks so highly about her hometown, all the lessons she learned and why she gives back to her community. “My hometown of Chicago taught me how to be strong and endure. Growing up on the South side of Chicago taught me resilience! Chicago creates a lot of hard-working & strong people who are transparent and creative! People think it’s crime infested with thugs but the beauty of Chicago is in the phenomenal people who come from the urban communities! The world embraces and loves Chicago entertainers because there’s a lot of room for these creatives to express their life through art. People have gifts and they just need opportunities to leave lasting impressions. That’s why I created The Erica Hubbard Foundation. I want to help children in the inner-city because I know how hard it can be growing up in a toxic environment.” Finding your purpose is one thing but investing that purpose into your culture and ultimately the future is power beyond words. That’s what elevates the frequencies and enlightens peoples perspectives to new ideas.
Higher education may not be for everyone but the ones who attend gain structure and work ethic like none other. Thanks to college professors, Hubbard found her purpose in life while attending classes at Columbia College. “I found my purpose on stage and if it hadn’t worked with college professors from Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre, Lookinglass, Goodman Theatre, Piven Workshops or Imporv Olympic I wouldn’t know the process it takes to develop a character. I worked under Sheldon Patinkin (Rest In Peace) at Columbia who trained and mentored me. I will never forget the day he yelled at me on stage because I wasn’t using this technique correclty. He changed my life forever. Those experiences allowed me to be able to portray an array of characters. The Lincoln Heights role of Cassie Sutton on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) isn’t anything like Kita Whitmore from BET’s Let’s Stay Together.” I love this point of view because at times “black films” can carry a bad stigma. Hubbard provides an analysis that shows that her training has given her the privilege to not be typecast. “I am really fortunate in the industry to get cast as a nerdy girl or a sassy girl. This year in 2018 I have booked roles as a doctor, welfare mom, lesbian, faithful wife for comedies and dramas. Seriously, if you are properly trained in the arts then you should be able to portray different lifestyles”.
“My biggest advice for up and coming actors is to train on stage while pursuing your career. You will truly become a thespian that falls in love with the craft on and off screen.” When asked about her dream role, Hubbard’s perspective awakened my senses. “My dream role has nothing to do with portraying a particular character. However, it has everything to do with elevating the quality of my craft. My dream is that I play a character that touches someone’s heart and allows them to gain hope to smile, laugh and enjoy the journey of life again.” This is the type of mindset we all should adapt to having. What if life wasn’t about living in the moments but rather the quality of those moments?