Odley Jean Plays Dominique in Grand Army – 5 Quick Facts!

Odley Jean started acting pretty early, even though she was a shy child. She stepped up to take a friend’s place in Church, and acting was an escape she could not let go after her first experience. Fast forward to today, and Odley is starring in her first show, playing Dominique in Netflix’s Grand Army.

Growing up, Odley did not have optimal conditions, but she made do with what her mother could provide. Most of all, her mother raised Odley to be a grateful and strong woman, something she uses, whether it is performing on stage or raising voice against race and gender inequality. So, here are five facts you need to know about the actress.

Odley Jean is 24 Years Old – She is from a Haitian Family

Odley Jean is a 24-year-old actress from Brooklyn.Odley Jean is a 24-year-old actress from Brooklyn.
Source: Odley Jean Instagram

Odley Jean turned 24-years-old this year. She was born to her Haitian mother in America. A resident of Brooklyn, it was difficult life growing up for Odley and her family, but they made through it.

A religious family, Odley attended Church. This is where she got her first exposure to acting. She is also in touch with her history and heritage. Odley says she makes it a point to study black and female leaders who influenced the America of today.

The actress also mentioned she was afraid to visit Haiti at first. Hearing all the things in the media about how bad it is in Haiti, she was scared. But one visit to the place where her mother grew up changed all that. Now Odley makes it a point to go to Haiti once every year.

Odley Jean Plays Dominique “Dom” Pierre in Netflix Series Grand Army

Grand Army is the Netflix adaptation of Slut: The Play by Katie Cappiello. Katie is also making the show for Netflix. There has been some behind-the-scenes controversy surrounding the show, but Grand Army seems to be rolling on.

Grand Army follows the lives of five teenagers studying at the largest school in Brooklyn. The violence in school, race relations, sex, love, and teen angst all form the backdrop as the five teenagers trying to navigate their young lives.

Interesting Read: Grand Army Netflix Cast Age – How Old are the “Teenagers” in the New Show?

Odley Jean plays Dominique “Dom” Pierre in Grand Army. Dominique is one of the five teenagers the story will be focused on. She is seen in the trailer, taking a knee during the American national anthem and falling in love. And the trailer ends with Dominique saying, “We need someone to hear us.”

Odley Jean plays Dominique in the Netflix series Grand Army.Odley Jean plays Dominique in the Netflix series Grand Army.
Source: Grand Army Instagram

This is not the first time Katie Cappiello and Odley Jean are working together. Jean was only 16 when she joined Katie’s theatre group. The theatre group was Odley’s home away from home, and the actress said she considers Katie Cappiello her second mom.

The new Netflix series will be released on 16 October 2020. Grand Army cast includes Odessa A’zion as Joey Del Marco from Stuyvesant Town, Odley Jean as Dominique “Dom” Pierre from East New York, Maliq Johnson as Jayson Jackson from Spanish Harlem, Amalia Yoo as Leila Kwan Zimmer from Upper West Side, and Amir Bageria as Siddhartha Pakam from Jackson Heights.

The 2010 Haitian Earthquake had a Massive Impact on Her Family

In 2010 a massive earthquake rocked the country of Haiti. The earthquake caused massive damage, and more than three million people were displaced from their homes. Among those displaced were Odley Jean’s sister and her nephews.

After the earthquake, Odley’s mother bought plane tickets and brought them all to America. Odley said the whole family was living in a single bedroom apartment, 13 people all living in a small space. The Dominique actress said her grades suffered and she could not study, sometimes even sleeping in front of the front door.

The earthquake happened in Haiti, but it affected Odley and her family in America. It was a difficult situation, but Odley found a respited in Opening Act, where she got attention and education. Odley said the care in Opening Act was huge in helping her get her education back on track.

Odley Jean is a Feminist – She Supports Female Empowerment and Other Social Causes

Odley Jean is involved with Make Equality. She performed for the organization in 2016 and spoke about the abuse of women, genitalia mutilation, and rape. She advocates for equal rights, the right to choose, and the overall empowerment of women.

She looks up to strong women in her life and tries to follow in their footsteps. Whether it is through activism, performing on stage, through social media, or protesting on the streets, she is a proud feminist who wants equality and safety.

The Dominique Actress wanted to Major in Theatre

After finishing high school, Odley Jean wanted to continue her passion for acting by Majoring in Theatre. But when she went to college, the actress instead chose African-America studies as her major.

Studying at Nassau Community College, the actress later changed her major to Human Service and Sociology. She thought the course covered more ground, and she could still apply what she learned from African American studies.

Though her course was different, the love for acting never went away for the actress. She performed in numerous plays before finally getting her shot on the small screen. The role of Dominque in the Grand Army is her debut TV show.

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