Beautiful, classy, intelligent – and a great actress.
Veronica Hamel, 77, rose to fame as the icy-cool Joyce Davenport in NBC’s hit show Hill Street Blues – one of the best TV cop shows ever made in my opinion.
But what happened to Veronica Hamel after the show?
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Veronica Hamel was born on November 20, 1943. She was raised by her father, who was a carpenter, and her mother, who was a stay-at-home mom.
Veronica had a strict Catholic upbringing. Eventually, Hamel left home to complete a program at Tampa University college.
”My working-class background made me hungry for things, and more ambitious, possibly because there’s so far to go. You need a great deal of courage. It gives you a certain incentive when you’re brought up in a background where you’re not afforded many luxuries,” Veronica told The Buffalo News in 1982.
Modeling at 17
Veronica briefly worked as a secretary for a company that produced ironing board covers until discovered by modeling agent Eileen Ford.
She began to work in print and in commercials for companies like Virginia Slims and Pall Mall Gold cigarettes. At age 17, she started modeling, leading to a role in the 1971 neo-noir crime thriller Klute – even though she wasn’t named in the credits.
Her first credited roles were in the comedy film Apple Pie and on TV’s Kojak, a popular CBS crime series. Both opportunities knocked in 1975.
She played cameos and smaller roles throughout the rest of the 70s in both television and film. But it was Hill Street Blues in 1981 that helped her rise to true stardom.
The series, created by Michael Kozoll and Steven Bochco, had a combination of critical and general public acclaim. The show was nominated for 98 Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run and won 26 in total.
Veronica Hamel played the beautiful and smart public defender Joyce Davenport on the classic TV series. According to many critics, Joyce Davenport was the strongest female character on TV back then. But some male viewers didn’t like her at the beginning.
”It took them a while to realize that here is someone you haven’t had to cope with before. That’s what threw everybody off,” Hamel told The Buffalo News in 1982.
Her take on Joyce Davenport
Just like her character, Veronica Hamel enjoyed independency, and back in the 1980s, she described herself as a woman that liked to take risks. But in many ways, she wasn’t also very different from her controlled on-screen character on HSB.
”How am I different to Joyce? I’m crazier, more emotional – you don’t have to scratch deep to get a reaction from me – I laugh more, I’m sillier,” Veronica told The Courier-News in 1983.
While on the show, Hamel continued taking other jobs as well, such as Jennifer North in the CBS drama miniseries Jacqueline Susann’s Valley Of The Dolls, titled after the book of the same name, alongside Catherine Hicks and Lisa Hartman.
She also worked with Jeffrey DeMunn in the 1983 made-for-TV film Sessions and the CBS drama miniseries Kane & Abel. Towards the end of the 80’s, she portrayed Kay Hutton in the 1988 romantic comedy film A New Life and portrayed Elizabeth Barnes in the 1990 comedy film Taking Care Of Business next to Charles Grodin and James Belushi.
In the 1990s, after the show had ended, Helm acted in a plethora of made-for-TV films, often featured as the star. In the 2000s, she largely worked as a guest star on a variety of both lesser-known and widely popular television series.
Her final acting job was in SyFy’s 2007 made-for-TV film Bone Eater in addition to her recurring role as Margo Shepherd in ABC’s incredibly popular drama “Lost” from 2003-2010.
Turning down Charlie’s Angels
I always thought Victoria would be bigger considering how beautiful she is, and a good performer, too. But nowadays, you don’t hear a lot about her.
And if she had accepted the role of Kelly Garrett on Charlie’s Angels, which she reportedly declined, things would maybe turn out differently.
”My business people were in tears, had strokes, convulsion, when I told them I didn’t want to be an angel in 1976,” Veronica revealed in 1982.
Hamel was the first choice for the role that later went to Jaclyn Smith.
”They said it would make me a star, but I said, ’You’re talking about my life, my work, and I’d be miserable”
Veronica Hamel today
Since 2010, she has officially retired from acting altogether and resides in Los Angeles, California. Married once to actor Michael Irving from 1971-1981, the couple divorced and Helm has never remarried since.
Her four-decade career earned her over 50 acting credits and a reputation for her beauty and talent on television and in film. She is a face most recognize, even if they cannot immediately remember her name.
”I’ve been very fortunate, and I don’t take it for granted. I started working when I was 13. There’s a wonderful tradition in France where you pour a little wine back into the earth. You can’t just be a taker. You have to give something back, or everything just dries up,” Veronica said in 1983.
Do you know anything about Veronica Hamel? What do you think of her impressive career? Let us know in the comments!
