Carlacia Grant: Age, biography, movies and Outer Banks
Carlacia Grant is an American actress internationally known for playing Cleo Anderson in Outer Banks, the Netflix series that reached its fifth and final season in August 2026. She joined the cast in the second season and, later on, the character became part of the core group of the Pogues.Carlacia Grant.Born in New Haven, Connecticut, she built her career across television, modeling and various audiovisual projects before landing her most recognized role. Before joining Netflix, she appeared in productions such as Roots, Game of Silence, Greenleaf and The Resident.
Who Is Carlacia Grant?
Carlacia Candace Grant is an American actress born on January 18, 1991, in New Haven, Connecticut. As of September 2026, she is 35 years old. TV Insider confirms both her date and place of birth.Her career began well before she became an internationally recognized figure. In addition to acting, she had experience in modeling and took part in beauty pageants during her early years.The role of Cleo in Outer Banks was the turning point of her career. The character initially appeared as a young woman from Nassau involved in survival and smuggling activities, but she went on to become an essential member of the show's main group.
Key facts
Fact
Information
Full name
Carlacia Candace Grant
Stage name
Carlacia Grant
Date of birth
January 18, 1991
Age
35 years old
Place of birth
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Nationality
American
Profession
Actress
Best-known character
Cleo Anderson
Best-known series
Outer Banks
Zodiac sign
Capricorn
Where was she born and where did she grow up?
She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, though she spent much of her childhood in Florida. Her family has Caribbean roots: her mother is of Haitian descent and her father is of Jamaican descent.
That cultural connection has also played a significant role in shaping Cleo. While preparing for the character, the actress has explained that she researched different aspects of Caribbean life and culture and even traveled to Jamaica to get closer to the environment she wanted to convey on screen.That personal experience doesn't mean Cleo is an exact reflection of her life, but it did give her cultural references she drew on for her performance.
How did her acting career begin?
Her interest in acting emerged during adolescence. According to available professional biographies, she discovered her calling around age 13, when she attended a summer theater camp and landed the lead role in a production of Treasure Island.From then on, she began seeking professional opportunities in television and film.Her television debut came in 2016 with Roots, the History miniseries based on Alex Haley's celebrated family and slavery narrative. She played Irene, wife of Tom and mother of three children within the production. In an interview, she recalled that project as an especially meaningful experience for having worked alongside performers such as Laurence Fishburne and Forest Whitaker.
Her early television roles
After Roots, other jobs followed that helped build her experience in front of the camera.
Game of Silence
In Game of Silence, an NBC production that premiered in 2016, she played Leesha Bausch and Alicia Bausch. The series was among her first major experiences in American television.
Greenleaf
She also appeared in the OWN drama series Greenleaf, where she played Danielle Turner across several episodes between 2016 and 2017.
The Resident
In 2021, she appeared as Trinity Jolson in an episode of The Resident, further expanding her experience in American television.These jobs preceded the role that would ultimately transform the scope of her career.
The international breakthrough with Outer Banks
Her big breakthrough came when she was cast to play Cleo Anderson in Outer Banks.Netflix announced her addition to the cast for the second season in April 2021. At that point, Cleo was introduced as a self-assured young woman from Nassau with a strong ability to navigate dangerous situations.The actress has said that she initially received the audition through her representative and that she ended up submitting the same self-tape twice during the casting process. She ultimately landed the role and joined the cast.Her arrival coincided with a particularly important stage for the series, as the story expanded its setting beyond North Carolina and took the protagonists to the Bahamas.
Who is Cleo in Outer Banks?
Cleo Anderson is a young woman from Nassau who meets John B and Sarah during the second season.At first, her relationship with the protagonists is marked by distrust and by the need to survive. Gradually, however, she begins working with them and eventually becomes one of the Pogues.The character stands out for her courage, her ability to react to extreme situations, and her loyalty to the people she considers family.
As the story progresses, Cleo also develops a romantic relationship with Pope Heyward, played by Jonathan Daviss.
From recurring character to series regular
In the second season, Cleo initially had a recurring presence. Her importance within the story grew over time, and she became a regular member of the cast.The actress herself has explained that she had conversations with the writers about the character's evolution and that she had the opportunity to contribute ideas about how Cleo would react in certain situations.That evolution turned the character into an important part of the Pogues' dynamic.
What happens to Cleo in season 5?
The fifth season of Outer Banks premiered on Netflix on August 20, 2026, and is the show's final installment. Carlacia Grant returned as Cleo alongside Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Daviss, Drew Starkey and Austin North.The story begins after the death of JJ, played by Rudy Pankow, and finds the group trying to rebuild their lives while seeking justice and attempting to reclaim the future they lost.Cleo once again becomes part of the mission alongside John B, Sarah, Kiara and Pope. Netflix confirmed that all ten episodes of the final season are available to watch.
The end of an era
Her participation in the fifth season marks the close of one of the most important chapters of the actress's career.In an interview published by Netflix to mark the final premiere, she spoke about the emotion of saying goodbye to a series she had worked on for four seasons and about the bond built with her castmates.The cast also took part in a farewell event in Los Angeles ahead of the release of the final episodes.
What movies and series has she been in?
Although Outer Banks is her best-known work, her filmography began several years earlier.
Television series
Her main credits include:
Roots (2016) — Irene.
Game of Silence (2016) — Leesha Bausch / Alicia Bausch.
Greenleaf (2016-2017) — Danielle Turner.
The Resident (2021) — Trinity Jolson.
Outer Banks (2021-2026) — Cleo Anderson.
Movies and other projects
She has also appeared in productions such as:
Headlines (2019) — Crystal Thomas.
Apollyon: The Black Awakening (2021) — Janet.
Bae Night: The Little Black Book (2022) — Kim.
Her career path shows that her success didn't start with Netflix, but was instead built up through a variety of television and film projects.
What did Carlacia Grant study?
Beyond her professional work, she studied at Florida State University, where she earned a degree in Media and Communication Studies, with a minor in English. Biographical sources place her graduation in 2023.Her academic background complemented a career that had already begun in the entertainment industry years earlier.
An actress deeply connected to her character
One of the elements that stands out most in her interviews is the preparation she puts into playing Cleo.
In conversations about the character, she has explained that she uses music, cultural research and writing to build her performance. She has also noted that while preparing for some seasons, she traveled to Jamaica to connect with the Caribbean atmosphere she needed to convey.That process helped set Cleo apart from the rest of the group and turned her into one of the show's characters with the most distinctive identity.
What is she doing now?
In 2026, her most recent and significant work is the fifth season of Outer Banks, which brought the story to a close after five seasons.Netflix also brought the actress onto the official Outer Banks podcast, where she joins other cast members to look back on moments from the production and talk about the experience of being part of the series for several years.After the production's conclusion, her next professional chapter remains open to new film and television projects.
Does she have a partner?
There is no current romantic relationship that has been publicly confirmed by a reliable source.The actress keeps much of her private life out of the usual media coverage, so it's not advisable to treat rumors about possible partners circulating online as fact.
Frequently asked questions about Carlacia Grant
How old is Carlacia Grant?
She is 35 years old as of September 2026. She was born on January 18, 1991, in New Haven, Connecticut.
Where was she born?
She was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. She later spent much of her childhood in Florida.
Who is Carlacia Grant in Outer Banks?
She plays Cleo Anderson, a young woman from Nassau who eventually joins the Pogues and has a romantic relationship with Pope Heyward.
Which season does she appear in?
She debuted as Cleo in season 2 and continued in seasons 3, 4 and 5. The fifth installment was the show's last.
Do Cleo and Pope end up together?
Cleo and Pope have a romantic relationship within the series, and their bond becomes one of the significant storylines in the seasons following the character's introduction.
What other series has she appeared in?
Before Outer Banks, she worked on Roots, Game of Silence, Greenleaf and The Resident.
What is Carlacia Grant’s Instagram?
Her public Instagram profile is @carlaciagrant. The profile has a large following and is used to share content related to her work and projects.
Is Carlacia Grant Haitian or Jamaican?
She is American and has Haitian and Jamaican family roots. Her mother is of Haitian descent and her father is of Jamaican descent.
What did she study?
She studied Media and Communication Studies at Florida State University and complemented her education with English studies.
When did Outer Banks end?
The fifth season, which is the last, premiered on August 20, 2026, on Netflix. All ten final episodes are available on the platform.
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Carlacia Grant es una gran incorporación a Outer Banks, su personaje Cleo le dio mucha vida a la serie. ¡Qué gran talento!
No sabía que Carlacia había empezado en modelaje, pero se nota su presencia en pantalla. ¿Ya confirmaron la quinta temporada?