This 'Despised' CBS Soap Star Breaks Silence on Her Secret 12-Year Real-Life Family Heartbreak
Beyond the Gates Leslie ‘Dana' Thomas may be one of daytime's most despised current characters; however, her portrayer, Trisha Mann Grant, is opening up about how different she is from her character and how a recent scene affected her personally.
Grant took to her Instagram account and shared a scene from a recent episode of Beyond the Gates. While at Orphey Gene's Soul Kitchen, Leslie is having lunch with her daughter, Eva, and discussing the upcoming cotillion. Eva (Ambyr Michelle) explains that she is helping Samantha, Jessica, and June (Jasmine Burke) get ready for the event.
Leslie questions why June would attend the event, "Look, I have a hard enough time trying to get those snobs to accept me, and I've got just as much money as they do. You? Well, hell, you still live on that damn bridge."
Grant shared that while filming this scene, her son's real-life son flashed before her mind, as he is currently unhoused. "I also remembered the time when he was 5, and I was pregnant with his sister and was myself homeless for a period," she wrote.
She explained that saying the ‘Living under a bridge' line was difficult. Grant continued, "As actors, we have to sometimes detach what we've experienced to get through dialogue or use what we've experienced."
She explained how she had to detach from the scenes and the fact that for nearly 12 years her son has chosen a lifestyle of homelessness.
Grant then explained how, before filming any of these scenes, she had empathy for the unhoused, "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," she added.
Reflecting on the scenes, Grant states that the beauty of the story is that, despite June not living "Beyond the Gates," she let Leslie know she is "no longer under the bridge."
In the scenes, June responded to Leslie living under a bridge, "You know what, you are partly right. That is where I used to live, but I now have a place of my own. And more importantly, I'm going to the cotillion to support my daughter."
June asked Leslie if she would be attending the cotillion, but when Leslie responded that she hadn't been invited, June added, "I hear everybody that's anybody is going to be there."
Grant shared, "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."
The actress continued, sharing that she sees the bridge as a metaphor. "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."
She hopes people will start focusing on elevation and ignore the "Leslies" of the universe.
Grant ended her post with a message to the mothers of the unhoused, writing, "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!❤️."
In the comment section, Grant's co-stars showed up to support her. Karla Mosley wrote, "❤️❤️❤️❤️ love you, thank you for sharing. You're a gift and a testimony," while Ambyr Michelle added, "I love you so much, TV Mama! 🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽." Jen Jacob wrote, "Love you so much, you are so so inspiring. Grateful to learn from you ❤️" With Rhonni Rose adding, "You're amazing!❣️❣️❣️."
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS with episodes streaming weeknights on Paramount+.
Viewers can catch up on all of the drama from Fairmount Crest from the beginning of the series on Paramount Plus or for free on Pluto TV's dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates FAST channel.
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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM.