Laila Odom: Where Talent Meets Purpose

Since Laila Odom believes in honoring the great women in entertainment while they're still around to hear the praise, she should get her flowers, too. Odom may not be a household name quite yet. But if she continues walking the path she's on, it wouldn't be surprising if, one day, actresses are vying to portray her in a biopic of her life.

Though the actress and producer was actively working before its release, Lifetime's 2021 Salt-N-Pepa biopic put her on many people's radar. Odom played Sandra "Pepa" Denton in the film. In a conversation with Interview Magazine shortly after the picture's release, Odom said that she felt blessed to be a part of the project, noting,

"I had a friend [Woody McClain] who played Bobby Brown in 'The New Edition' and 'Bobby Brown Story.' I just remember thinking to myself, that's awesome as an actor when you get to use other talents besides just acting... It's such a dream. I remember saying that to myself, and I had to have said it to the universe because the universe heard me."

Odom's Commitment to Healthy Living

Fans of Tyler Perry's Zatima might recognize Odom as Connie, one of the protagonist's childhood exes who returned to his life. Odom portrayed Connie from seasons two to four, departing after her character's cancer diagnosis. The storyline gave Odom an open-ended out, letting her explore other projects while not ruling out a Connie return in future seasons.

The role also intensified Odom's commitment to a healthy lifestyle. While she was passionate about healthy living before Connie's cancer diagnosis, performing the Zatima storyline took that passion to a new level and led Odom to a partnership with the American Cancer Society as a Voices Ambassador. Now, Odom uses her platform to spread women's health awareness in Black and Brown communities. As she told Afrowoman:

"I want to use whatever influence I have to show others how to move forward. It's more than looking beautiful; it's important to inspire people to leave where they are and seek better."

Marked by numerous impressive credits, including roles in The Bobby DeBarge Story and Game Shakers, Odom's career is a testament to her dedication to her craft. But make no mistake, this talented actress hasn't peaked. She still has plenty more to accomplish:

"I used to say I want to be on TV. I want to say something, I want to be a series regular on a sci-fi show, and I want to be in a studio picture. But it's changed from what I wanted when I was 11. Now, I want to win an award, work abroad, and do movies in Africa. I'm blessed to have these experiences, but I have a lot of time to grow and do more."

And of course, Odom mentioned in the same interview, she has to be able to help others. That, along with performing, is her purpose:

"I have to be able to help others. That's the calling."