Pop-Culturalist.com

Lacretta is lighting up the screen in Night Court as the fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining bailiff Donna “Gurgs” Gurganous. With her sharp comedic timing and undeniable warmth, she’s brought a refreshing energy to the revival, making Gurgs a fan-favorite from the start. As Season 3 unfolds, Lacretta continues to embrace the character’s quirks, heart, and hilarious unpredictability, all while finding new layers to explore.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Lacretta to discuss the lessons Gurgs has taught her, the importance of listening in acting, and why she hopes to dive deeper into Gurgs’ personal life in the seasons ahead. She also shares which former co-star she’d love to see guest star, what makes the Night Court set such a special place to work, and why some of her best moments on screen happen when she least expects them.

PC: Season 3 of Night Court is underway, and I love your character—she’s such a great reminder to live in the moment. Having embodied her for so long, what has she taught you?
Lacretta: Exactly that! To be present and to listen. She’s taught me the importance of giving others the space to speak freely and feel comfortable. She’s both a protector and a nurturer, which resonates with me because that’s who I am as well. It’s been nice not having to work too hard at that aspect of her character.

PC: As you said, Gurgs is fiercely protective of her chosen family. Who are the people in your own life who have held that space for you? Did you channel them into your portrayal of her?
Lacretta: I definitely have, though in a very unconscious way. I have a dear friend who’s visiting soon, and she’s always been a great sounding board for me. Even when I’ve been hurt in the past, I never want to hurt anyone else—but I’ve also learned the importance of setting boundaries. Yolanda has been a great person to talk to about how to communicate in a way that is both kind and firm. Boundaries can sometimes be painful for the person on the receiving end, but they’re necessary. Sometimes you just have to say “no”—and “no” is a complete sentence. That’s been one of my biggest lessons this year.

PC: “No” is also a valid answer. This is the longest you’ve lived with a character on screen. Has anything surprised you about this experience or your character’s journey?
Lacretta: Every day and every episode surprises me. There are so many moments where I step outside of myself and let Gurgs take full reign. Sometimes I’ll watch an episode back and think, “Oh, I did that? That was pretty dope!” [laughs]

There have been times when I’ve had to go back and do looping—re-recording a line that didn’t quite get picked up by the microphone—and I’ll discover these completely honest moments that just happened in the moment. I didn’t even realize I had said certain things out loud because they were just thoughts that naturally came through. [laughs] I love those moments.

I also love when the camera catches a look or reaction I give, even when I’m not in the scene. That’s why listening is so important in acting. When actors don’t truly listen and are just waiting for their turn to speak, you can tell—the performance feels sterile and uninteresting. But when you’re fully engaged in the conversation, like you would be in real life, there’s a kind of magic that happens without you even realizing it. And I love that.

PC: That really feels like your theater background coming through—reacting in the moment to what your scene partner is giving you each night. There have been so many fantastic guest stars who have come and gone. Who’s someone you’ve worked with in the past that you’d love to see make an appearance on Night Court and why?
Lacretta: I would love for Roger Bart to guest star. We did Disaster! together, and it was such an amazing experience. One of my favorite things is the time in between scenes when we get to sit and talk—that connection informs what we bring when we’re working. We don’t always get a lot of downtime, but when we do, I love catching up. It makes the scenes even better because we’re already engaged and listening to each other. That’s the easy part.

We also genuinely care about one another, and it shows. There are so many instances where two leads on a show can’t stand each other, yet they work together for decades. The moment the director yells “cut,” they’re either storming off set or cussing each other out. Why would you want to work in that kind of environment? You want to be in a space where you feel safe—because creating art is a vulnerable process. I love that our set is free of toxicity. We’re all communicative, supportive, and just having a great time together.

PC: We know you can’t say too much, but what can audiences expect from Gurgs in the back half of Season 3? And if we’re lucky enough to get a Season 4, is there an aspect of her that you’re most excited to explore?
Lacretta: We know that Gurgs has a big family, but I’d love to see her nuclear family. She’s single right now, but what are her aspirations? Does she want children? We know she has nieces and nephews, but what does her own family journey look like? I’d love to explore that.

As for the back half of the season, we’ll see some familiar faces return. The Wheelers are back, and Rox will be spending some time with us. But I’ll stop there—you’ll have to tune in to see the rest!

To keep up with Lacretta, follow her on X and Instagram. Catch new episodes of Night Court every Tuesday at 8:30/7:30c on NBC and on Peacock the next day!

Photo Credit: NBC