🤐 SPOILER ALERT 🤐

Yaya DaCosta almost became a lawyer. 

After graduating from Brown University with a degree in Africana studies and international relations, the now-actor considered joining her college best friend in law school. Instead of facing a judge in the courtroom, however, DaCosta found herself in front of three judges on national television — Tyra Banks being one of them. After finishing runner-up in America’s Next Top Model Cycle 3, DaCosta quickly realized that she didn’t have to be boxed into one career. 

“As a young person with so many different interests and desires, it was just difficult to choose what I was going to do,” DaCosta told Tudum back in June. “But the magic of [acting] is that there’s so many times where we actually attract roles that speak to these parts of ourselves that we may not be living out loud in this life.”  

In The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2, DaCosta gets to play out her almost-career in law. She takes on the role of Andrea Freeman, the ruthless prosecutor who gives hotshot defense attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) a run for his money. When LA restaurateur and activist Lisa Trammell (Lana Parrilla) is accused of murdering a notorious city developer, Andrea is tasked with putting her behind bars.

Mickey might be the hottest lawyer in LA, but Andrea isn’t phased by his ego. She’s also friends with his ex-wife Maggie (Neve Campbell) and even encourages her to start her own law firm. DaCosta sat down with Tudum in June to discuss The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2 and how playing Andrea was a healing journey and celebration of her femininity. 

What made you want to play Andrea Freemann in The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2?When I read the scripts and I got a feel for Andrea’s personality, I was like, “Oh my goodness, this woman is fierce.” This woman is allowing me to tap into a place that I really haven’t given myself permission to go to, because we live in a world where women are oftentimes condemned for being too confident, too smart and too strong. Meanwhile, men are applauded for these things, and Andrea Freemann does not care. 

We see how unbothered she is by Mickey, who’s so headstrong and stubborn in the courtroom. Why do you think Andrea is the perfect match for him?
Because she’s also headstrong and stubborn, but more often than not, she’s also right. It’s silly when someone is headstrong and stubborn and wrong all the time. And as far as Andrea’s concerned, that’s Mickey. They have gone head-to-head multiple times, and Andrea has been undefeated. She’s always confident, but she also knows that she’s got a strong case and that she’s a stronger lawyer. 

Mickey and Andrea are obviously opponents, but how would you describe their playful dynamic outside of the courtroom?
There’s definitely a level of play underneath the cattiness — because otherwise, why would someone be giving that much energy? It’s like kids in school who are picking on each other and bickering [who] secretly like each other. Now, I don’t think that that’s necessarily true for these adults, but there is a level of playfulness. It’s like a boxing match. Which one of these personalities is going to win? Why is she shooting him another evil look? 

Andrea’s glares could kill. No matter what tactics Mickey pulls, Andrea never backs down. What do you think drives her at the end of the day?
Andrea is a believer in justice and she really thrives off of the truth prevailing. Sometimes she feels like she’s on the right side and not everybody can see what she can see. But at the end of the day, Andrea got into this in order to serve. She didn’t get into it to become a famous hotshot lawyer. She’s not interested in the glitz and glamour [like] Mickey seems to be. She’s used to being on top, but her drive isn’t entirely selfish. So often, people are put behind bars who don’t deserve it, and sometimes people are let go who should not be free. She wants to be on the right side of these stories. 

Do you see parts of yourself in Andrea?
The parts of myself that I brought to Andrea were super layered. As women, we’re in charge of our own lives, but we’re not always well received when we show up in our power in the way that men are. Having had experiences where my confidence was weaponized against me, where my intelligence was made out to be a flaw and used to make me feel small to put me down, I learned to sit comfortably in the parts of me that society more easily accepted. I am super soft and feminine, but I’m also fierce. And the experience of playing Andrea Freeman was actually quite healing for me.

Did playing Andrea teach you anything new about yourself?
After playing her, I feel more balanced in my masculine and feminine. We paint this picture of softness that doesn’t allow for the multifaceted-ness of womanhood, and it’s really dishonest and unfair. There are goddesses that might sit at the edge of a waterfall, hair flowing, looking like fairies. And there are also some that are intensely fierce that cause the winds and the storms, that cut men’s heads off in mythology. We have to honor all aspects of ourselves in order to be balanced and free.

You and Becki Newton were both in Ugly Betty. What was your reunion like?
We saw each other in the trailer and squealed. It was so good. In Ugly Betty, most of my scenes were with Vanessa Williams. We didn’t have a ton of work together, but she was always so lovely on set and to see around at the studio. I got to know her more here on this show and it was super fun watching her work. Our characters are so different, and I just think she is so talented, sweet, cute, and fierce. I loved being reunited.

In the finale, Lisa is found not guilty of murder. What’s going through Andrea’s head when the verdict is read?
She put her all into what she believed to be true and into her closing statements, and then there was nothing left to do. So with nothing left to say, she was able to listen. And in listening to [Mickey’s] closing statements and reviewing the facts of the case, watching the eyes of the jury, putting herself in their seat for a second, and trying to see the other side, I think that the possibility of being wrong was a reality for her and it was humbling.

After the trial is over, Andrea pays Mickey a visit at his office and drops off a peace offering. Why was this scene important to show?
It’s important to show boxers with their gloves off as human beings, and as people who can give someone else their props when props are due. Andrea spent the entire case in such an extremely confident space that it made her blind almost to any other possibility. So from that place of humility, respect, and kindness, she just wanted to let him know that, “Hey, we’re cool. You did a good job. You won fair and square and no harm, no foul.”

Lastly, The Lincoln Lawyer highlights so much of LA’s food scene. Do you have a favorite dining spot in the city?
My favorite is Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine on Fairfax in Little Ethiopia. Don’t go after you’ve just gotten your nails done — some of the stuff has turmeric in it, and this really spicy berbere sauce that can stain. Anyway, it’s worth it.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Stream The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2, Part 2 now.

The Lincoln Lawyer Season 2, Part 1 TrailerLA's hottest defense attorney returns!