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Lori Harvey is stepping into a new chapter of her career and says she is ready to prove herself as an actress.
In August, Hulu confirmed that Harvey will join the third season of the breakout legal drama Reasonable Doubt. For Harvey, the role is not just a career move but also the fulfillment of a long-held passion. She explained to PEOPLE that acting has been part of her life since childhood, when she attended acting camps before pursuing other ventures.
After focusing on beauty and fashion through her early and mid-20s, the 28-year-old made her acting debut last year in Peacock’s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. “I’m just at the part in my life now where I really want to focus on it and take acting seriously,” Harvey said.
Harvey will portray Chelsea, a complex character with a troubled past that resurfaces and disrupts Jax, played by Emayatzy Corinealdi. The role is especially meaningful because Harvey was already a fan of the show’s first two seasons.
Earlier this year, she introduced herself to creator Raamla Mohamed at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood ceremony. Harvey recalls asking Mohamed to keep her in mind for future projects and later followed up with a message suggesting they meet. The two eventually shared dinner in Atlanta, and Mohamed was impressed by Harvey’s dedication and authenticity. “We had so much to talk about. She is so committed to acting, and I thought she would be a great fit for Chelsea,” Mohamed said. Harvey auditioned, earned a callback, and officially landed the part.
News of her casting sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans questioning the choice. Harvey, however, remains undeterred. “I’m a new actress. In this day and age of social media, people don’t always understand that everybody has to start somewhere. My goal is to take it as far as I can,” she explained.
Rather than dwell on criticism, she views it as motivation. “Honestly, you can’t look at the comments. They can be a cesspool for negativity. If people are talking, good or bad, it means you’re doing something. It fuels me,” Harvey said.
After focusing on beauty and fashion through her early and mid-20s, the 28-year-old made her acting debut last year in Peacock’s limited series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. “I’m just at the part in my life now where I really want to focus on it and take acting seriously,” Harvey said.
Harvey will portray Chelsea, a complex character with a troubled past that resurfaces and disrupts Jax, played by Emayatzy Corinealdi. The role is especially meaningful because Harvey was already a fan of the show’s first two seasons.
Earlier this year, she introduced herself to creator Raamla Mohamed at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood ceremony. Harvey recalls asking Mohamed to keep her in mind for future projects and later followed up with a message suggesting they meet. The two eventually shared dinner in Atlanta, and Mohamed was impressed by Harvey’s dedication and authenticity. “We had so much to talk about. She is so committed to acting, and I thought she would be a great fit for Chelsea,” Mohamed said. Harvey auditioned, earned a callback, and officially landed the part.
News of her casting sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans questioning the choice. Harvey, however, remains undeterred. “I’m a new actress. In this day and age of social media, people don’t always understand that everybody has to start somewhere. My goal is to take it as far as I can,” she explained.
Rather than dwell on criticism, she views it as motivation. “Honestly, you can’t look at the comments. They can be a cesspool for negativity. If people are talking, good or bad, it means you’re doing something. It fuels me,” Harvey said.