Laysla De Oliveira

From Toronto Runways to the Horror of Stephen King

Laysla De Oliveira was born in Toronto but has roots in Brazil. Before stepping in front of a movie camera, she worked as a model starting at age fourteen. That period helped her understand the visual language, although her real goal was always to play complex characters in well-written scripts.

And she made it happen.

In 2012, she landed her first professional role on the series Covert Affairs. It was a brief appearance, but it caught the attention of casting directors who began noting her name on lists of rising talent in the Canadian market. During those early years, she balanced small television jobs with ongoing training at acting schools.

In 2019, she starred in In the Tall Grass for Netflix. Playing Becky DeMuth was a major physical challenge, given the conditions of shooting in endless fields of grass under the sun. The film received mixed reviews for its script.

Still, her performance caught the attention of the producers of Locke & Key. They offered her the role of Dodge in 2020. That antagonist character allowed her to explore a much darker and more sophisticated side than her earlier work. For three seasons she had a steady presence on the show and built a massive global fan base.

Taylor Sheridan's Bet

Her definitive career shift came in 2023 with the premiere of Special Ops: Lioness. Creator Taylor Sheridan chose her to bring Cruz Manuelos to life. She had to share the screen with stars of the caliber of Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman without being overshadowed by their experience.

For this role, she underwent rigorous military training for several months.

She didn't want stunt doubles.

The series became one of the pillars of Paramount+ during its first year on air. In 2024, she returned for the show's second season after passing extreme physical tests during filming in international locations. Her dialogue in this drama often mixes English and Spanish (with a very personal touch) because of her gift for languages.

In 2021, she appeared in the science fiction film Needle in a Timestack alongside Leslie Odom Jr. and Freida Pinto. The film's estimated budget was around $12 million.