Actress Baranski wraps up speaker series at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center

Keerthi Eraniyan l Contra Costa Youth Journalism

In an era characterized by constant distraction and digital advancements, Emmy Award-winning actress Christine Baranski believes the greatest performance anyone can give is simply being present.

Appearing recently before a packed audience at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, Baranski — known for her roles as Diane Lockhart in “The Good Wife,” Tanya Chesham-Leigh in “Mamma Mia!” and Agnes van Rhijn in “The Gilded Age” — was the eighth and final presenter wrapping up the 20th annual Lesher Foundation’s Newsmakers: Lesher Speaker Series with reflections on her decades-long career in theater and television.

Event moderator and KTVU Fox 2 anchor Heather Holmes kicked off the evening by introducing Baranski and her wide range of accola