Jaylen Barron

Free Rein star, Jaylen Barron, is at the forefront of tackling a diverse range of roles that are representative of strong characters of color. In Shameless, she played the outspoken self-assured Dominique Winslow, who sneakily lies to the lovesick, Carl Gallagher. As Zoe Phillips in Free Rein, she transforms from Dominique’s despicable tendencies into a caring character that forms a bond with a horse named Raven.

Recently, Netflix put out a small video titled “A Great Day in Hollywood” that simultaneously advocated for diversity and exemplified that film/tv should be spaces of inclusion. Similarly, Barron also believes that representation is vital for the film/tv industries, because it helps audiences resonate with people that look like them on the TV screen. “Well, it’s everything to me I didn’t have a lot of people to watch that looked like me or my aunties growing up, not in those power roles. I want to be able to bring that sort of pride into the younger audience,” she says about the desire to have more POC playing lead roles within the television and movie screen.

Barron gravitates to three-dimensional roles that breathe a sense of reality, complexity, and layered visions. “It really resonates with me because it’s a minority-lead on a children’s show. I feel the show really teaches vital life lessons to younger audiences. It’s definitely an honor to be able to represent the Black and Latinx community in an equestrian-themed story,” she says. “We don’t have anybody that I can think of and please correct me if I’m wrong in this specific arena so it’s very special. My dad always taught us we can be anywhere and everywhere, we belong where we are and this show breaks certain stereotypes in the equine world. I am grateful and proud of Netflix and Lime production for this amazing opportunity as unconventional as it may seem to some people.”

Barron was raised in El Puente, a small community found within the twist and turns of Los Angeles. Her origin was etched by all the cultures she encountered in her town and within her own biracial identity. “Growing up in El Puente showed me diversity and belonging, it’s sometimes a challenge to be a mixed-race person but my parents taught me to love everything unique about myself. It has also showed me that in Los Angeles there was a wealth of people and cultures to love and appreciate along with your own,” she says.

Disguised behind her profile photo of Michael Scott from The Office, Barron’s Instagram is a masterpiece, showcasing photos of her polished head-to-toe outfits. “I love fashion and well, this summer I will be filming season 3!! So, I will be in Zoe gear but I do feel any cute bag or pair of shoes can completely make an outfit,” recounts Barron on her must-have summer pieces. Her ability to shape-shift into various roles would likely flourish throughout the next couple of years. Yet, the rest of 2018 will be spent wrapping up Season 3 of Free Rein, Barron gives Local Wolves a bit of details for the upcoming season, “There are going to be special things coming up for the fans. I wish they didn’t have to wait a whole year to watch, but stay tuned for updates!”

Barron is a beacon of emerging talent that channels her identity within the roles she picks to the fashion pieces she wears. She personifies the simultaneous technicality and effortlessness that comes with being an actor. As she continues her acting progression, Barron hopes to embody a role metamorphosis much like the icons, Halle Berry, Lupita Nyong’o, and Viola Davis.

Story by Jasmine Rodriguez | Photography by Naohmi Monroe