Ha! What a ham! Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is starring in the second season of VH1's hit series Hit the Floor. Jodi plays Lionel Davenport, the tough-skinned estranged wife of Dean Cain's character on the show.
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe's Q Jewelry Design. Twitter: @JodiLyn_OKeefe , Instagram: Jodilok
You may remember Jodi Lyn O'Keefe from the TV series Prison Break. Jodi Lyn is one of those multi-talented people who should definitely be in your circles. She's so much fun to watch on Hit the Floor! Jodi Lyn also cooks, loves to host dinners, has a great way of staying in shape and designs jewelry and clothes! Wait a minute. I just re-read that previous sentence and came to the conclusion that this girl is perfect!
You're currently on season two of VH-1's Hit the Floor as Lionel Davenport. What was it like being brought into a cast that was already established from season one?
It was definitely intimidating! They have all known each other for over a year and have this great camaraderie. The first cast member I met was Dean Cain during screen tests and we bonded so quickly. He is such a great guy! I watched the show before we started filming and it is so good - definitely a guilty pleasure. I love the cast and crew and I have many fantastic new friends.
Nash Bridges brought you to California from New Jersey. What kind of decision making went on within your family? Did your mom stay with you?
I was pretty close to turning 18, so my mom didn't stay with me for too long before she went back home to New Jersey. It was a fairly easy transition except for the climate change, but I was getting a chance to do what I always wanted to do... act.
How do your jewelry, Q Jewelry Design, and clothing lines actually get manufactured? What type of research did you have to do?
It was a project in the works over a long period of time. It was organic, I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. It's a learning process for me, I'm still finding my way.
I have always loved being creative and I painted, which eventually turned into my t-shirt line Queen George, which was the jumping off point for my sketches of jewelry. I stumbled onto the thing I love most in this world, designing jewelry. In the beginning I had a lot of help from various people in the industry. It was trial and error, I had to make a lot of mistakes before the line came together. Expensive mistakes. It's all manufactured here in Los Angeles, painstakingly one piece at a time.
What was it like growing up in your household with two older sisters? Did you share clothes?
My sisters are six and 10 years older than me so there was no sharing clothes, but rather I was given their hand-me downs. There was nothing better than the day my sister Heather gave me her bike. It was pink with a banana seat. I was the happiest girl in the world. My sisters and I are really close and they have made me Aunt Jodi and I couldn't be prouder.
Libra, huh? Do you believe in all that stuff?
I definitely believe in astrology. I'm a Libra, which means I try to be balanced. I really think that a lot of the Libra characteristics are fitting to me. They say that Libras are very laid back. But we can also be very indecisive.
You've been in show business before social media was around. Do you think social media is a must in today's entertainment world?
I am still very new to social media but I'm learning as I go and getting a lot of help from friends and co-stars. With Hit the Floor it is so important to be active on Twitter and I'm getting better every day. I love connecting with the fans and I'm working hard on my Instagram skills. Hashtags are still a little confusing to me #workinonit. Engagement with the audience and fans is much more key now.
Photo by John Russo
What's your ideal mate like?
The most important aspect in a man to me is his personality. I do appreciate a man who is tall since I'm a tall girl. I'm easily won over by a great smile and someone who makes me laugh.
Is there any particular acting role you like to play more than others?
I have really played a lot of different roles over the years, but the character Gretchen Morgan on Prison Break was one I truly loved because it challenged me, as I'm polar opposite of her. I would never cut off someone's head, let alone stuff it in a box in real life. She was badass.
Tell us a behind the scenes story about Hit the Floor.
Something people may not know is that Dean Cain is very funny. He comes in every morning with his speakers and play Dj Snake and Lil' Jon's Turn Down for What. Dean is an unexpected "Hip-Hop" fan. And he loves to sing the Jason DeRulo's Talk Dirty, but his lyrics are Talk Dirty to Dean. So we have our love of 90's Rap in common.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I'm so happy to have joined the cast of Hit the Floor. I can't wait to hear the feedback on the rest of the season. Things get crazy on this Monday night guilty pleasure.