Lauded for her role as Shenzi the hyena in the Tony award-winning Broadway musical, The Lion King, Bonita J. Hamilton is a highly decorated actress, singer, voice over artist and speaker.
In addition to her role as Shenzi, Hamilton’s 18 year tenure on Broadway includes pre-Broadway workshops for The Color Purple, The Legend of Stagecoach Mary and Mandela the Musical. Recognized as a leader among her peers, she has also been commissioned to speak at the annual Women’s Day on Broadway, has served as a mentor for Vanguard Theaters Broadway Buddies and has taught Masterclasses at Duke University, The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and Alabama State University.
A master storyteller, Hamilton brings words to life in her voice over performances. Recent roles include ESPN’s NBA Countdown & Heisman Trophy ceremony; Marvel’s Wolverine Podcast; commercials for Walmart, Marzetti, and Novartis; the Academy Award nominated film, Can You Ever Forgive Me, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Judas and the Black Messiah, Respect The Aretha Franklin Movie, Till, Beauty, Rustin, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, FX’s Archer and; the animated series, Through the Woods.
No stranger to success, Hamilton has performed solo as a vocalist on Good Morning America and at NBA games. Her body of work also includes a recurring role in HBO’s The Knick, NBC’s Manifest, Diarra from Detroit, the award-winning short film The Announcement, a commercial for Trelegy and high profile speaking roles for Disney Musicals in Schools and Alabama State University's Founders Day Convocation.
Hamilton obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alabama State University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater from Brandeis University, where she is a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was selected as one of Alabama State Universities 50 Under 50 distinguished Alumni. She is a certified teacher and practitioner of the Being Acting Technique, and mentors theater students from her undergraduate alma mater and high school students in her community.