caption years_active birth_place birth_date spouse image article_title occupation
hamilton with her peabody award 1985 -- present los angeles , california , u.s. 25 march 1964 robin d. g. kelley -lrb- 2009 -- present -rrb- lisa gay hamilton 2010.jpg lisa gay hamilton
 actress , director
lisa gay hamilton

lisa gay hamilton -lrb- born march 25 , 1964 -rrb- is an american film , television , and theater actress known for her role as attorney rebecca washington on the abc legal drama `` the practice '' , and for her critically acclaimed performance as young sethe in jonathan demme 's film adaptation of toni morrison 's `` beloved '' .
her theater credits include `` measure for measure '' -lrb- isabella -rrb- , `` henry iv parts i & ii '' -lrb- lady hotspur -rrb- , athol fugard 's , `` valley song '' and `` the ohio state murders '' .
hamilton was also an original cast member in the broadway productions of august wilson 's `` the piano lesson '' and `` gem of the ocean '' .
