Trisha Mann-Grant plays one of the most intriguing characters on the upcoming CBS soap Beyond the Gates. The description for Dana “Leslie” Thomas includes words and phrases like “not wrapped all that tight,” “charming,” and “unsettling.” The actress will undoubtedly have fun with the role.
The Early Days
Trisha Mann-Grant is a Chicago native who is a former beauty queen and print model. In fact, she was once crowned Miss Black Chicago. She told the “I Love Me Project” that she basically always wanted to act.
As a little girl, she appeared in church plays and performed skits with her sister. But there was a teacher who inspired her to achieve more.
“When I was a freshman in high school, there was a teacher named Sister Dorothy who helped bring me out of my shell. She took the time to talk to me about myself and how amazing I was. She was my English teacher.” What the actress learned about herself and from her teacher was invaluable. “Sister Dorothy allowed me to put on skits, and she always gave me an A. This not only birthed my acting but my writing as well.”
READ THIS: BTG promises fresh, unpredictable storylines
Post-High School
After high school, Mann-Grant stayed in Chicago to attend Roosevelt University for Music Education. In 1997, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. And now she’s a multi-hyphenate. In addition to acting, she’s an author, producer, director, writer, acting coach, and host.
READ THIS: Here’s what you should know about BTG’s Jibre Hordges.
Her acting credits include TV shows like Cold Case, Eve, The Parkers, and Love Thy Neighbor. One of the roles she’s most known for is playing Dominique Leroux on the BET+ crime drama The Family Business. She has also made a splash on stage in national musicals and in movies. She recently starred in A Royal Christmas Surprise on BET+.
Pushing the Boundaries
Now, Mann-Grant is tackling a complex role in Beyond the Gates. She plays Dana “Leslie” Thomas, Eva Thomas’s (Ambyr Michelle) mom, who will undoubtedly exhibit mysterious behavior.
READ THIS: Here’s what you should know about The Gates’ Ambyr Michelle.
Apparently, Dana “Leslie” is intense and not wrapped all that tight. But on the other end of the spectrum, she’s charming and easy out in the world. The only person who sees what’s disturbing about her is her daughter, Eva, which will make for some very interesting mother/daughter issues.
The show predicts that very soon, all will see what is unsettling about her, too. So, tune into Beyond the Gates when it premieres on CBS on February 24, 2025, at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT.
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