A CONVERSATION WITH RISING STAR MARQUITA GOINGS 

From Beyond Gates to Building Her Own Legacy 

The actress behind Hayley Hamilton opens up about playing a character so different from herself, the importance of Black representation, her journey from modeling to acting and stunts, and what’s next for her career. 

BEYOND THE GATES: A ROLE UNLIKE HERSELF 

For those who have seen the series Beyond the Gates, Hayley Lawson Hamilton, played by Marquita Goings, has likely captured their attention. She is stunning, confident, engaging, and clever—but her personality is a far cry from the drama-filled character she portrays onscreen. 

In reality, Goings is quite different from Hayley. That contrast, however, is exactly what makes the role so much fun for the rising actress. 

“In the natural, Hayley and I are the complete opposites.” 
— Marquita Goings 

“There are a lot of circumstances that she finds herself in. I want to humanize her, in a sense, because, we’re looking at it like, oh, she’s doing this, and she took that, and she’s a homewrecker. But I know this is somebody’s story, and I’m like, okay, why is Hayley doing this? Where is this coming from? Was she abandoned as a child? Did someone always take from her?” 

Goings says the scripts often leave her just as surprised as the audience. 

“But me, when I get the scripts and I read them, I’m so shocked, and I’m just like, ‘What? Okay, this is what we’re doing.’ It’s fun to be able to tap into that because it is so far from me.” 

A NEW ERA OF REPRESENTATION 

For those unfamiliar with Beyond the Gates, the series represents a significant moment in television history. The hour-long soap opera features a predominantly Black cast, providing audiences with an opportunity to see Black families, success, relationships, and community represented in daytime television. 

For Goings, being part of that representation is deeply meaningful. 

“It’s a blessing. It’s needed; the representation is necessary.” 

“Because soaps have existed for a very long time. I remember watching them with my grandmother and great-aunt when I was growing up. I didn’t see myself in a lot of the characters. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed watching, but I didn’t fully see myself until, now, with us having a show.” 

Goings appreciates that viewers can connect with the characters while also seeing something they may not have encountered often on television. 

“I love the fact that people who are tuned in, they can either relate to it or they could see themselves in it. There’s this family unit who are well off. They stick with each other, whether the good, bad, ugly, and yes, there’s some people like Hayley in the mix.” 

She believes that visibility is important not only for viewers but for aspiring performers who are looking for themselves onscreen. 

“I think it is great for anyone—viewers watching or aspiring artists who see the show. They will be able to see themselves in it or playing in it.” 

STEPPING INTO HAYLEY’S WORLD 

It takes remarkable acting skill to convincingly portray a character who is so different from oneself. For Goings, understanding Hayley has become easier as the series has progressed. 

“Especially at this point, because now we’ve been on for 2 seasons, and I have a better understanding of her. It is a lot easier to jump in.” 

Goings draw inspiration from different places when preparing for a scene. 

“I’ll use different motivations, whether it’s something  I take from somebody I know that’s been in a situation or something that I’ve watched before, or simply having fun with it.” 

The process, she says, isn’t necessarily a long one. 

“So, it’s not a long process.” 

Before taking on the role, Goings also received coaching to help her develop a deeper understanding of Hayley and the character’s motivations. 

“I WANT TO HUMANIZE HER.” 

Goings’ approach to Hayley goes beyond simply playing the villain. She wants audiences to understand the person behind the choices. 

SEEING HERSELF BEHIND THE GATES 

Goings understands the importance of viewers seeing themselves reflected in stories like Beyond the Gates. For her, the show offers more than entertainment—it presents a meaningful image of Black excellence, family, success, and possibility. 

Living in Atlanta, Goings says she regularly encounters examples of Black leadership and achievement. 

“I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and we are the hub. I feel like this city has a lot of people of color in power, from our mayor and a lot of political leaders. There are a lot of musicians, actors, and entrepreneurs in Atlanta.” 

Then she summed it up simply: 

“I see myself being behind the gate.” 

FROM MODELING TO ACTING—AND STUNTS 

Goings is a rising star in the entertainment industry, but acting wasn’t necessarily the career she envisioned as a child. 

She enjoyed school plays in grade school and participated in sports after school. Then an unexpected opportunity opened the door to something more. 

“I was approached a lot to model, but I was like, okay, modeling’s cool, but it just wasn’t something I was passionate about.” 

That realization encouraged her to explore acting. 

“So, I’m like, okay, let me look into other things, and I looked into acting, and I started taking acting classes.” 

Then came another unexpected discovery. 

“At an acting class, a stunt performer and a stunt coordinator came and spoke to us. And that was something that I was more interested in. I liked acting as well, but it piqued my interest.” 

Her curiosity led her into the world of stunt work. 

“And I was like, oh, let me learn about stunts. And for a while, I did stunts full time.” 

MORE THAN AN ACTRESS 

Goings’ talents extend beyond performing in front of the camera. She has also explored opportunities behind the scenes, including production. 

“I also contribute off camera. A few years back, we filmed a movie, and I was a co-producer on that project.” 

The film premiered at the American Black Film Festival, and Goings is looking forward to audiences eventually seeing the project. 

“We premiered it at the American Black Film Festival this summer, and I’m just looking forward to that coming out soon.” 

She says there are additional projects in the works and that she remains open to exploring different opportunities. 

“We’re about to go on a hiatus right now, so if something comes across my desk, I will tap into that. But outside of that, I also enjoy working behind the scenes.” 

DREAM ROLES & DREAM CO-STARS 

When asked about her dream role, Goings didn’t hesitate when discussing the type of project she’d love to tackle. 

“I love action and I love comedy.” 

She would especially like the opportunity to take on an action film that allows her to perform her own stunts. 

“I haven’t done an action movie where I get to do my own stuff.” 

As for her dream leading man, Goings admits that choosing just one actor is nearly impossible. 

One performer she would have loved to work with was the late Chadwick Boseman. 

“Somebody I would have loved to work with, who is not here with us anymore, is Chadwick Boseman.” 

Goings also shared an interesting perspective on Boseman’s career, noting that his experience behind the scenes helped shape the way he approached acting. 

“It appeared like he blew up overnight. You know, he used to work behind the scenes first. He was a director. When he did come over to acting, I would like to think he could see things from a different lens as a director.” 

Her list of dream collaborators doesn’t stop there. 

“I grew up watching Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle. I know we’re in different age groups, but I would love to have worked with them.” 

She also named Michael B. Jordan and Damson Idris among actors she’d love to work alongside. 

“It’s just so many great actors. It’s hard to say.” 

A CAST CONNECTION THAT MATTERS 

At the moment, Goings is enjoying her time Beyond the Gates and says she has developed a strong relationship with her fellow cast members. 

“I truly enjoy working with every last one of them.” 

“I’m so grateful that we have the connection we have because it makes it so much easier when we get on camera to just let loose.” 

For an actor, that kind of chemistry can make all the difference. 

“Because it could be another way. But I truly enjoy working with every last one of them.” 

HER ADVICE TO ASPIRING ACTORS 

The entertainment industry is not for the faint of heart, and Goings believes anyone entering the business should understand why they’re pursuing the dream. 

“Enter the industry for the right reasons. Know why you want to be here, and don’t do it just for fame because that will not sustain you.” 

Her advice is straightforward: study, prepare, and never stop learning. 

“Do your homework, study the craft, and take acting classes. Even if you have natural talent, there is always room to grow and improve because this industry is constantly evolving.” 

Goings also encourage aspiring actors to study the performers who came before them. 

Among the stars who inspired her are Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Don Cheadle, Jackie Chan, and Chris Tucker. 

She also credits the television and films of her youth with shaping her perspective. 

“I also watched many films from the ’90s, along with shows like A Different World and The Cosby Show, where you could see family life, HBCU culture, and experiences that may not have been visible elsewhere.” 

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MARQUITA GOINGS? 

For now, Goings is embracing her journey with Beyond the Gates while continuing to explore opportunities both in front of and behind the camera. 

Her story is one of evolution—from modeling and acting classes to full-time stunt work, acting, producing, and now becoming part of a groundbreaking television series. 

And the journey is just beginning. 

The good news for fans is that Beyond the Gates has been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4, with Season 3 expected to begin in January 2027 on CBS and Paramount. 

So, fans of Hayley Hamilton—and of Marquita Goings—have plenty more to look forward to. 

THE GATES ARE OPEN. AND MARQUITA GOINGS IS JUST GETTING STARTED. 

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