J
aylen Barron knew she wanted to act from a
young age. After modeling for a short time,
she soon landed recurring roles on shows
like Good Luck Charlie and See Dad Run.
She ventured into edgier waters as Carl’s girlfriend
Domi on Shameless. Currently starring in Netflix’s
equestrian-themed hit Free Rein, Jaylen eagerly
jumped at the chance to showcase her professional
range and hopped a plane to film in the UK. Despite
all the international jet-setting, she remains humble
and grounded. Her platform of over 118,000
Instagram followers provides the perfect megaphone
to speak out on social issues that matter to her. Jaylen
sat down with Cliché to talk about transitioning
to more mature roles, her love of animals, and
the importance of knowing our (true) history as
Americans. BY ERIN TATUM
Cliché: You started your career as a child model.
What compelled you to make the transition from
modeling to acting?
Jaylen Barron: I’ve always wanted to get into
acting but modeling got my foot in the door. The
transition was actually intentional.
Your Netflix show, Free Rein, is about a 15-year-
old girl, Zoe, who bonds with a horse during a
summer in Wales. What first attracted to you the
project?
Honestly, it was a lead role for Netflix! When offered
the role, I said yes. I had just finished Shameless, so
this wholesome story was just what I needed to show
my range as an actress.
The show films in Wales! Where you nervous
about moving that far? What do you like most
about being in Wales and Europe?
Yes, I was very nervous and sad to be away from
my family and friends. It was tough, but filming it
has been a very bittersweet experience. Wales is a
beautiful place and England has a lot of rich history.
England has very scenic places and was breathtaking
along the countryside.
Did you have a love of horses prior to taking the
role of Zoe? Have you learned anything about
them along the way?
I love all animals and always thought of horses
as regal animals. I had little knowledge about the
Taking the
Reins
Photographer: BIRDIE THOMPSON
Makeup & Hair: ALLISON NOELLE
Dress: MIMI CHICA
"DON'T BELIEVE
THE HYPE, STAY
CONNECTED TO
YOURSELF, AND
TRUST IN GOD"
necessities of taking care of a horse, riding t hem
and working alongside an animal that size. I’ve
learned so much I can’t even begin to tell you the
details.
What messages do you hope kids can take
away from Free Rein?
I hope kids learn to take a chance and experience
new places with new people. I also hope the
show encourages the viewers to try a sport that
isn’t as common.
You started out on Nickelodeon and Disney.
You also scored a recurring role as Domi on
Shameless. At 20, you seem to be successfully
navigating your way to more mature roles.
How do you avoid the pitfalls and temptations
that so many child actors have faced?
My mom, honestly! She takes no crap and I have
a great deal of respect for myself and my parents’
opinions. We work as a team so it’s not that
difficult when you have a strong family behind
you.
What's the most valuable lesson you've
learned during your time in the industry?
Don’t believe the hype, stay connected to
yourself, and trust in God.
Your social media reflects your passionate
stance on social justice issues, like feminism
and police brutality against men of color.
Why is it so important to you to make your
voice heard in the current moment? How can
we as individuals work to better ourselves as a
society to fight against prejudice?
With my social media, I have an opportunity
for thousands of people to hear the stories of the
injustice being done and the hate being passed
off as political opinions. I also have a unique
perspective in that my dad is a police officer
who is African American. My mother and I
know firsthand that we want my dad home safe
either from the job or just driving through a
neighborhood that he may not frequent or “fit
into.” My brother is in the military and he’s
African American, and although this country
may not accept him always, he still goes and
fights for our freedom. We need to educate
people from kindergarten to university with
TRUE history, not whitewashed history, so that
we do not repeat mistakes made in the past.
Do you have anything else you're working on
that you're excited about? Any other dream
projects or subjects that you would like to
work on in the future?
I’m currently working on a couple of animated
projects and I have a movie in the wings. My
dream job? I’m kind of living my dream now so
I will let you know.