Trish Mann-Grant has wowed audiences with her portrayal of Leslie Thomas since hitting our screens last year on Beyond the Gates. The talented actress has made everyone in the soap opera genre take notice of her performances as Leslie is a true instigator who carries secrets and will ruffle the feathers of most anyone in and around Fairmont Crest, if given half the chance.

In real-life, Trisha has publicly spoken about the time period of her life when she found herself homeless. In fact, during a livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel along with her on-screen daughter, Ambyr Michelle (Eva), she shared some of what she endured.

Now in a recently aired scene on the CBS soap opera, Leslie, throws some shade June’s (Jasmine Burke) way about her living under the bridge, when June is trying to get her life back on track. For Trisha, as she details in a very personal message on Instagram along with said scene, it resonated so profoundly. First, because of her own experience, but also because Trisha shared that her son is still homeless.

Photo: CBS

HITTING CLOSE TO HOME

Here’s what Trisha expressed, “During this scene with Ambyr Michelle and Jasmine Burke, my homeless son, Daniel, crossed my mind. I also remembered the time when he was 5 and I was pregnant with his sister and was myself homeless for a period. My character, ‘Leslie’, throws a dig at Jasmine’s character ‘June’, referring to her still living under the bridge. That was a difficult line to utter.”

She continued, “As actor’s, we have to sometimes detach what we’ve experienced to get through dialogue or use what we’ve experienced. In this scene, I had to detach from the almost 12 years of having a child who chooses to live a homeless lifestyle. (Yes, molestation, addiction and depression are all a part of that choice). Before any of these experiences, I have always had empathy for the homeless but as a mother of one, now more than ever. I have done all I can to get Danny off the streets but know this; I have not lost hope.”

OUT FROM UNDER THE BRIDGE

Next, Trisha shared her hope and belief for her son, Daniel and not listening to the voices of people like her soap opera alter-ego. “The beauty of this scene is that “June” may not yet be BEYOND THE GATES with the rest of the characters but she certainly let “Leslie” know she is NO LONGER UNDER that bridge,” stated Mann-Grant. “I am believing in real time, stepping out on faith that my son will overcome his present situation and walk fully into his God-Given Purpose. Just like some of us, that bridge represents our past and even though our present may not be all that we want it to be, it definitely isn’t what it used to be. We have to focus on the elevation and ignore the ‘Leslie’s’ of the world.”

In closing, Mann-Grant gave some major inspiration for anyone that is currently in a situation as she has been, expressing, “To all the Mommy’s out there, like me, don’t give up. Keep praying, keep believing that this too shall pass. There are help groups out there for parents of homeless children too. Stay strong and look at the message of this scene. ‘June’ is on the rise and so are we all!”

You can watch the scene Trisha references below.

Now let us know, what did you think of Trisha’s message to all the moms out there, children who are on the streets and the plight of the homeless? Are you glad that Beyond the Gates is tackling the subject with the character of June who is doing what she can to improve her life? Come Emmy time, is Trisha on your wish list of nominees? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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On the Friday, May 8 episode of Beyond the Gates, the CBS daytime drama served up another fantasy sequence between married couple Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) and Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley). The moment happened after Dani overheard a suspicious conversation and teasingly asks her hubby if he is spy?

This launches into story time by Dani, when she dreams up a scenario straight out of the look of the Blaxploitation films of the early to mid 70s. We are talking Pam Grier in Foxy Brown, Richard Roundtree in Shaft, and Sweet Sweet Badassses Song from Melvin Van Peoples and others.

In Dani’s story, both she and Andre are spies at Orphey Gene’s. Andre reveals he wears an eye patch. In the fantasy, Andre is also deemed to be a men’s underwear photographer from Iowa. The two seems to be double agents.

Courtesy/CBS

After the scenes aired, the official Beyond the Gates Instagram account and Karla Mosley shared it on social, and many of the BTG cast jumped in the comment thread, as the series always brings it in the hair and make-up and wardrobe department and they had this down.

Sean Freeman said, “Sooo much fun shooting this one 🔥,” while Karla Mosley added, “The way I have been waiting for this episode to drop!” BTG Writer, Danielle Paige shared, “One of my fave days to write!!!”

While some fans loved it, others were not so in love with it. Check out the satire below featuring Dani and Andre’s 70s Foxy Brown-esque fantasy.

Then let us know, did you enjoy the repartee and think it was clever, plus the wardrobe, make-up and hair throwing it back to decades ago in the cinema … or do you think it was a waste of time on an episode and would prefer not to see fantasy sequences? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

 

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Who would have thought that more uptight of the Beyond the Gates Dupree sisters, Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (Daphnee Duplaix), would be the one cavorting around with a few different suitors at one time and living it up!  Such as the case of the psychiatrist at Garland Memorial Medical Center.

In story, after her decades-long marriage went bust with Dr. Ted Richardson (thanks to the bombshell by Leslie that Ted and her had an affair the result of which was her having his daughter, Eva), Nicole divorced the renowned plastic surgeon and since that time has two men actively vying her attention, newcomer in town, Dr. Kial Robbins (Greg Vaughan) and Ted’s plastic surgeon partner, Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald (Michael Christopher Riley).

What’s refreshing for daytime is, this is a woman taking control of her personal life, and not making excuses that she is not being mutually-exclusive, She has even explained to both Kial and Carlton that after the stormy ending and the betrayal of her marriage to Ted (Keith D. Robinson), she’s not rushing into anything with any sort of short or long term commitment. So, everyone knows what they are getting themselves into.

For Nicole, let the fun begin and this week on all new episodes of Beyond the Gates come the Friday, May 8 episode while with Carlton, Nicole runs into Food Network Chef, Sunny Anderson who is also a regular contributor and official “Drew Crew” member on The Drew Barrymore Show. Meanwhile, Ted is thinking about another woman who Shanice thinks is Leslie, but doesn’t he just love Nicole and wants her back, try as he might to move on with anyone that isn’t her? Stay tuned.

This week, in the latest promo for Beyond the Gates, things are getting hot and heavy in the bedroom between Nicole and Carlton, while previous she had quite the time with Kial.

Check out the latest video teaser for episodes airing May 4-8 below.

So, who do you think will be the ultimate love match for Nicole? Will she wind up back with Ted, choose to be exclusive with Kial or Carlton, or will no one get Nicole, and she will just continue to be single and happy for the rest of her life? Let us know your picks via the comment section.