Janet Hubert on Life, Loss, and Living in the Now
Janet Hubert has always been more than the fiery Aunt Viv who lit up “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” A Juilliard-trained actress with a career spanning Broadway, television, and film, Hubert has weathered the highs and lows of Hollywood with undeniable resilience. Her work has consistently carried depth, wit, and a powerful authenticity that made her unforgettable long before streaming nostalgia made “Fresh Prince” a cultural touchstone again. Beyond sitcom fame, she’s poured herself into roles that demanded range from Shakespeare to soap operas, reminding audiences that she’s an artist first, not just a character frozen in reruns.
Now, she steps into new territory with “Damascus,” currently streaming on Tubi, where she plays Dr. Bonnetville, a therapist guiding the series’ title character through transformative emotional terrain. It’s a role that not only showcases her skills but also intersects with urgent conversations about mental health, particularly within Black communities. For Hubert, the character arrives at a moment of renewal in her career, a chance to stretch beyond typecasting and embody a figure of healing and complexity.
When asked whether portraying a therapist changed how she listens or reflects off-screen, she doesn’t hesitate.
“Well, not getting into my personal life, I have had moments where I've wanted to have therapy and because of who I am, I've chosen not to do so,” Hubert admits.
“I've dealt with a lot of situations like this. I've always been able to listen to people and reflect and see on the inside of who they really are. I think being an artist allows me that.”
The conversation turns toward the series’ timing, as mental health awareness, particularly in Black communities, becomes more openly discussed.
“I think there's not a better time than right now for this series to be put out because if you have ever tried to find a Black therapist who can deal with Black issues – I have a Black son who feels very much in the same way that Damascus does,” she explains.
“This could not be a better time to talk about mental health in the Black community because it was always, let's get over it, whatever it is. In my generation, when I was growing up, my mother was like, you feeling sad, I’ll give you something to feel sad about. It is not something that we do, and it is something that we desperately need. So, ‘Damascus’ has an incredible reach way beyond the Black community.”
At this stage in her career, Hubert seems to radiate both gratitude and clarity. When asked if she feels like she’s in a renaissance, she smiles knowingly.
“I have suffered the slings and arrows of many, many, many darts and slings and arrows. So for me, this is one of the best times in my life at this age, this is the best time in my life. To have this role offered to me was such a gift,” she says.
Then, with a laugh, she shares the moment she received the role of Dr. Bonnetville.
“Funny story, I was presented this opportunity on April Fools Day. I was driving through the Bronx with my husband trying to find this old sofa place and I thought this wasn’t real. I thought somebody was pulling something on me. My agent reassured me and it was so profoundly wonderful to not have to play somebody’s mama. While I love playing some people’s mother, you do want to stretch because I do character. They still think I’m Aunt Viv for the rest of my life. I've done theater, I've done Broadway, I've done it all. Can't call it a comeback because I've been here for years.”
If there’s one thing Hubert has earned, it’s the right to be selective.
“I don't do nothing I don't want to do anymore,” she says firmly.
“This is why this is the best time in my life. I only do what I want to do now because I'm at that age where you just don't give a damn. I'm five months to 70 years old. Black don’t crack, it bends,” she adds with a laugh.
When the conversation shifts to the emotional labor Black women often shoulder, Hubert’s answer cuts deep.
“Whew, this character and being the therapist that she is, there were moments where I was so affected by [Okieriete Onaodowan] and his journey and the material and the writing that it was profound. It hit me on a very personal level because I have dealt with family members who have suffered from depression and an ex who had suffered from depression and a brother who had suffered from depression and a father probably, but we didn't talk about it,” she shares.
“It hit me on a personal level. As a Black woman, we’re supposed to be the hold up and hold up everybody but we’re never held up by anyone. There was a fine line between wanting to do more with the character but also realizing that she is a therapist and she has to hold back emotion and be neutral, but also she cares about Damascus. There was a fine line where I wanted to get up and hug him sometimes.”
Her reflections aren’t just professional, they’re deeply personal.
Asked about her own “Damascus moment,” Hubert reveals a recent life-altering experience.
“I had a car accident a couple of weeks ago, say about three weeks ago. I was on my way to go do something in Los Angeles to work and at that moment of impact I saw myself above myself. I still see myself above myself. People call it an out of body experience. I've had moments of unbelievable despair and sadness in my life. Unbelievable loss of all my brothers basically, except for one. Also my mother, father, and best friend. I see people dying every day. We have to remember that life is only here for now. We only have now, right now. So you got to live for right now. Today is all you got.”
For Hubert, growth has meant adapting her artistry without losing her essence.
“Oh, it has changed tremendously because I tell people when they say how do you switch out of a character so fast? I'm not a method actor. I don't have to go and find the pain because I have a mountain of pain. I have a river of tears and have an ocean of sadness, but I also have a valley of joy to draw from,” she says. “This role has allowed me to role play in a way that no one has ever allowed me to do unless I do it myself. I tell people don't mess with me because I can do you better than you.”
You can watch all six episodes of “Demascus” now on Tubi.
