Her résumé reads like a map of modern entertainment: starring turns in Save the Last Dance, Akeelah and the Bee with Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, and A Cinderella Story alongside Hilary Duff; beloved roles in Lincoln Heights and Let’s Stay Together; and appearances on CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Everybody Hates Chris, and Chicago Med. She has produced features such as The Last Fall (directed by Academy Award-winner Matthew Cherry) and Policies and Procedures, and she is a proud member of the Producers Guild of America.
But Hubbard is more than her credits. She’s a woman of faith, resilience, and generosity, who oversees The Erica Hubbard Foundation, a nonprofit mentoring at-risk youth and awarding scholarships. She is also a Chicagoan through and through — a Columbia College graduate who was recently awarded an honorary doctorate for her three decades in the industry. Chicago gave her grit, but she gave the world her glow.
Now, with a hit role in BET Plus Network’s The Family Business: New Orleans, fresh projects in production, and a spirit that refuses to slow down, Erica Hubbard is proving that after three decades, she’s not winding down — she’s just getting started.
Stony Island Beginnings
On the South Side of Chicago, the soundtrack of Erica Hubbard’s youth wasn’t fame or red carpets — it was the rhythm of everyday city life. Skates clacking against the wooden floors at The Rink off 87th and Stony. Juke music pulsing from passing cars. The taste of Harold’s Chicken Shack, fried hard with lemon pepper, tucked into a greasy paper bag.
“As a teenager, I went to The Rink every weekend around all different types of company,” Hubbard recalls. “Practices in my life look extremely different now, but back then it was a big part of growing up.”
When she wasn’t skating, she often spent time at the Englewood Library, where her grandmother worked behind the desk. That space became a symbol of strength. “My grandmother retired from the Englewood Library and I learned a lot being raised by her as she was a strong-willed individual who taught me to lead gracefully — and that’s the spirit I embody.”
Her hometown shaped her character. The resilience she speaks of was born from stark realities. “When you [are] growing up on the South Side of Chicago, you’re seeing gang violence and prostitution and drug addicts and stuff.”
Schooling gave her new pathways. She attended St. A's, Elizabeth Seton Academy, and later Downers Grove North High School — a shift that opened her to new creative outlets. She eventually enrolled at Columbia College Chicago.
There, she hustled relentlessly. “I actually graduated with a journalism degree in three years… I took night courses… day courses… and I went to summer school.”
The discipline she built in Chicago — family, faith, work ethic — would carry her into the entertainment industry and help her survive it.
Breaking Into Hollywood
Hubbard’s first major opportunity came with Save the Last Dance, filmed in Chicago. The film’s success gave her early recognition. “That film… was like… a cult classic… I could walk into any room I wanted to.”
Other projects followed, including Light It Up and A Cinderella Story. But the moment that crystallized her ability came when she auditioned for Akeelah and the Bee (2006), opposite Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.
In that audition, she gave everything she had. “I started talking and I didn’t stop talking for like 15 minutes straight.” The directors had asked her to improvise. “They told me to ad-lib about what it’s like being a young mother… that was perfect for me because at the time they didn’t know I was a young mother.”
Her honesty became her strength, and it landed her the role — placing her alongside two of Hollywood’s most respected actors in a story that inspired audiences everywhere.
A Career in Motion
Television turned Hubbard from a familiar face into a household name. From 2007 to 2009, she starred in Lincoln Heights, a family drama on ABC Family. The series, centering on a Black family in Los Angeles, connected with audiences for its balance of social commentary and entertainment.
She continued her rise with BET’s Let’s Stay Together (2011–2014), proving her comedic timing as Kita Whitmore.
Versatility became her hallmark. “I love the trajectory of my career. I’m doing Christmas films, thrillers, horror, drama, comedy — I’ve been on every major network. Who can do that?”
Her consistency is rare in an industry that often pushes actors into long hiatuses or reinvention. “What excites me today is the trusting relationships I have in the entertainment industry in which producers respect my work and give me more opportunities. I am honored to work with so many creatives on each production across the globe.”
Her most recent triumph is playing Ernestine in The Family Business: New Orleans. For the role, she immersed herself in language and culture. “I study, I study. A lot… I’m up day and night… even when I’m on set… it’s about… three dialects in one.”
Fans responded enthusiastically. “I am grateful that everyone who is watching The Family Business: New Orleans loves my role as Ernestine.”
With every role, Hubbard has demonstrated range, discipline, and staying power.
Behind the Camera
Acting isn’t her only creative outlet. Hubbard has also become a producer and director.
“It is truly such a joy to give others the opportunity at their craft in their industry and let others receive recognition for their creativity, and this is why I love producing projects as well. Producing and directing Policies and Procedures was a dream come true!”
She merges her creative drive with mentorship. On set, Hubbard is known for pulling younger actors aside between takes, encouraging them to sharpen their craft and trust their voices. “I see my place in the industry working steadily because creators hire me as well as I hire talent when I create projects and it’s all blissful when we all create.”
Her mission extends beyond Hollywood. Through The Erica Hubbard Foundation, she mentors at-risk youth and funds scholarships, providing others the same chance she once fought to earn.
Faith and Focus
Faith remains central to her story. “Faith, prayer and meditation have tremendously helped me through my trials and tribulations growing up on the South Side of Chicago.”
Her outlook changed after Columbia. “I have matured so much after graduating from Columbia College Chicago I now carefully watch the team of people I keep around me, and everyone has to have a high level of emotional intelligence.”
Those early lessons still guide her. “The one lesson I hope individuals learn from me is to have a super strong work ethic and be a work horse because hard work pays off and your accomplishments empower other achievers. I feel we are here on this planet to enlighten each other and inspire the greatness out one another!”
Her Next Act
After more than 30 years in the industry, Hubbard shows no signs of slowing down.
She is preparing to release her documentary: Surviving Minimum Wage.
She will star in the upcoming thriller The Deadly Type.
She has also written an eBook, Answering The Call, which offers motivation and inspiration for readers pursuing their dreams.
For Hubbard, the future is about both creative expansion and personal purpose. “When I look back in five years I hope to be proud of every moment where someone says your roles entertain and bring me joy. I love bringing joy through the TV and film screens for everyone to enjoy through my roles.”
Hollywood has provided Hubbard with many opportunities — Christmas movies, thrillers, dramas, comedies, roles across every major network and streaming platform. But Chicago gave her the fire to survive it all.
And as she steps into her next chapter, she leaves no doubt that her story is far from over:
“Life is amazing, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunities and all the support from everyone who watches my work.”
