An Interview with Lacretta from ‘Night Court’

NIGHT COURT -- "Wheelers of Fortune" Episode 211 -- Pictured: Lacretta as Gurgs -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

Lacretta is an accomplished actor that has popped up often on our television screens over the past few years and currently, she stars as Donna ‘Gurgs’ Gurganous on the hit NBC series, Night Court, and we recently had the honor of sitting down with Lacretta to discuss her work and experiences on the show. 
 
John Betancourt: I would love to know what it means to you, to be a part of such an iconic franchise.
 
Lacretta: Oh, gosh, it's overwhelming. And it's thrilling. And I am honored.
 
John Betancourt: See now what’s interesting there, is that none of us would ever know that it is overwhelming for you. Because you come out there every week and you just deliver, plain and simple. So now I have to ask, how do you keep yourself even keel with pressure upon you?
 
Lacretta: Yeah, I think I don't think about it until we wrap. (Laughter) Or, you know, sometimes there was one week in December where I got into the glam room. And Keisha was taking off my makeup, and I just started weeping. So, I think, you know, I, my soul knows when I need to do a little bit of a release, I take care of myself, on the weekends, I make sure I watch my sappy movies, so I can't cry, or I watch, I Survived. Ooh, that one gets me every time. And I'm just good to myself, because I don't want you to see me under pressure. Because I think you might look at me a little sideways. But also, I will be honest and authentic.
 
So, there is that, but I do have a job to do. And my job is saying these words on the page with the joy and passion that they bring. But yes, I do have my moments of release. And when we wrap soon, I will be crying. (Laughter) Because you know it is… I'm at a time in my career where I never thought that I would be. And here we are. And this is the project. And this is a project that I held near and dear to my heart because I feel like, it's what shaped me as a funny person that and you know, so many other shows that I was watching, and I was a little too young for. But I still knew that I liked these characters and gravitated towards these characters to make an eight, nine, ten year old watch this on a weekly basis.
 
John Betancourt: Now in talking to your cohorts, and some of the guest stars this year, I keep hearing about how there’s real joy on this set and everyone just has a blast and I’m curious as to what you’ve enjoyed the most about playing Gurgs.
 
Lacretta: How much she surprises me. We shot an HR episode. And we're sitting around, and we have this moment where I'm fighting with Olivia. And out of -- out of nowhere, she like grabs her phone and starts talking to her phone and like “Whoa, who is that?” I really feel like I am providing a vessel for something to step into, and to get to live and live these words that are written for us specifically. And so, that's where the honor comes from. Because this is what I get to do, when I try not to comment, that was something that was taught to me in grad school, you know, it's not about what I would be doing right now. It's what Gurgs wants to do. And how can I help her in getting that done?
 
John Betancourt: Something else that’s come up in other conversations with your co-stars, is how the live audience plays a big part in the energy for the cast, what does that do for you as an actor?
 
Lacretta: It's the fifth, seventeenth, sixteenth character, like that is… that's the fourth wall. That's who we're doing this for. And their input is very important to us. It's fuel. They -- and it doesn't even need to be laughter. You know? You can feel it when they're like “oh,” you can feel it when they're just riveted. You can feel that. And as a person who comes from live theater, that's always been around. And that's what I live for. I do prefer to do dramas, because it's different, it's not as much as a symphony as when you're doing a comedy because you know, you've got this rhythm going on here. And you've got the feedback coming from the audience. But there's a pressure that you feel when it's a drama and that pressure pushing on you or going away from you is a beautiful thing. And there are endorphins that get released. (Laughter) Let's not mince words, there is a thrill and a high that you get when you know that you are affecting people, you're touching them on a on a deeper level, on a spiritual level. That's everything to me.
 
John Betancourt: Obviously, we are reaching the end of season two, and without any spoilers, I’m curious as to what you’re looking forward to audiences experiencing in the next couple of episodes.
 
Lacretta: Well, I'm looking at your pictures back behind you and yeah, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to know that one of them, from The Next Generation, is going to be on the show!
 
John Betancourt: Oh man! It’s gotta be Patrick Stewart! (Laughter from John and Lacretta) No I’ve heard on good authority, it’s Brent Spiner and the Wheelers.
 
Lacretta: It was a delight to meet the both of them. They were lovely. And I wanted to hide you know, because I get shy. But I did very well. And I had some lovely conversations with Brent Spiner. And I can't wait for you guys to see them again.
 
John Betancourt: Oh, I can’t wait, another big moment fulfilled right there. Last question I have for you today, if you had to describe your Night Court experience thus far in a single word, what would it be?
 
Lacretta: Inspirational.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

---