American actor Lance Gross, known for his roles in House of Payne, Sleepy Hollow and Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counsellor, fell in love with Saint Lucia during his visit for this year’s Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.
The Oakland native, accompanied by his wife Rebecca Mamie Jefferson, explored the island’s scenic beauty and vibrant culture – and now he’s eager to return.
“This is my first time in Saint Lucia, and it has been absolutely amazing,” Gross told St Lucia Times with a grin. “Everybody is so welcoming, and if you guys don’t mind, I’d like to claim this as a second home. Yeah, I love it.”
When asked what stood out most, he didn’t hesitate: “The people and the food. We had some of that local bread; it was so amazing,” he said. “And the people… this is paradise. That mixture, it’s a winning mixture.”
Gross, who sported fresh cornrows during his visit, also shared updates on his career, including an upcoming film, Sugar Baby, and a new season of House of Payne set to film in June. A four-time NAACP Image Award winner, he reflected on the importance of representation.
“It’s everything,” he said. “When you’re on a platform like an entertainment platform, you have people looking up to you. I have a six-year-old son and a ten-year-old daughter – you have to set a good example. When they see it, they can believe it, and then they can achieve it. So, it’s a big responsibility I have.”
Saint Lucia’s beauty left such an impression that Gross is already pitching it as a filming location. “Absolutely,” he said. “All my friends have been hitting me up, and I’m like, ‘We need to run down to Saint Lucia’. I have so much content that you guys haven’t seen that I’m gonna post, but yeah it sells itself.”
The trip doubled as a celebration of his 10th wedding anniversary, and Gross hopes to return for Carnival. His festival highlight? Discovering local talent.
“There are so many [artists] I didn’t know before; now I’ll follow and support them,” he said. “It’s been so welcoming, and you know when you have that type of love you got to show that love back. So I’m a champion for Saint Lucia.”
Between the warm hospitality, delicious food and serene atmosphere, Gross is already dreaming of a more permanent connection.
“It’s a beautiful place to visit, and yeah, to move to if we can,” he said with a smile. “With everything going on in the US, we’re itching to live somewhere this beautiful, without all the drama. That’s the feeling I get here.”
