Lance Gross,

Film and Television Actor

Hollywood came to The Rock last week with recognisable faces of the silver and small screens turning up as volunteers for the annual RuJohn Foundation. The Foundation started by second-generation Jamaicans Andrew and Christina Bachelor played host to primary-, high school- and tertiary-aged students at acting and sports camps with the celebs, while also awarding scholarships to a fortunate handpicked, college-bound few. SO scribe Omar Tomlinson rubbed shoulders with actor Lance Gross, actress Aisha Hinds, and NFL star-turned-model-turned-actor Keith Carlos.

Spotted at: RuJohn Foundation Awards Banquet at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel and Suites

Island life.

Jamaica is a wonderful place. I’ve been here numerous times and there’s so much beauty that always keeps me coming back. I have a fat kid inside of me and I love Jamaican food — the jerk chicken, the peas and rice, I look forward to the food.

Solid as a Rock.

The RuJohn Foundation is amazing. This is my fourth year being involved

with the foundation. It’s all about the students — they’re bright and wonderful and they have a spark and drive about them that I saw in myself growing up. It’s my duty to give back, and that’s why I’m involved.

‘Tis better to give…

It’s important to give back because there were people in my life, older and wiser than me, who gave back. This is why I pay it forward because I was blessed with the opportunities to have mentors in my life who guided me in the right direction, so it’s only right for me to do the same for the next.

Newly-wed & Daddy tales.

I got married on May 23 [to longtime girlfriend Rebbeca Jefferson]. I am a new husband and it’s wonderful journey. Life has started for me. My wife was here with me, she comes with me to Jamaica every year. Our daughter Berkeley was here. I love watching my daughter change daily and learn new things and grow. It’s an awesome feeling knowing my wife and I created this beautiful little person.

In the pipeline.

I just finished a film called Deuces with Larenz Tate and Meagan Good, directed by Jamal Hill and produced by Queen Latifah’s Flava Unit company… it will be out sometime next year.

Does a challenge still exist for black actors and actresses to land films appealing to mainstream America?

I don’t like to focus my energy on that. I like focusing my energy on doing my job and absolutely killing it. If I do that, I can’t be denied. It’s about working hard and watching that hard work pay off regardless of race or ethnicity.

Ever contemplate moving from in front of the camera?

Absolutely, I am interested in behind-the-scenes. I was blessed to produce my first independent feature film called Last Fall, a couple years ago. I went to school to study directing so that’s later on down the line.

Would a Jamaican-centric and shot film be of any interest?

I would love to do a Jamaican film with dancehall. We would probably go to Kingston to shoot it. I am a fan of gangster movies so it would be something along those lines.