Actress Chyna Layne. - Contributed

Chyna Layne, a 22-year-old actress with Jamaican roots, is making strides in Hollywood.

In the 2008 movie Cadillac Records slated for release this month, she plays Quanita, the jealous girlfriend of a harmonica player.

The movie chronicles the real life of Leonard Chess, founder of the Chess Records, which helped form the careers of musicians Etta James, played by Beyoncé Knowles, Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry.

"I cried when I got the role," Layne admitted in a telephone interview with Flair. She was born in the United States to a Jamaican father and a Filipino mother.

Great history

"It was a very great history lesson for me. Daniel Martin is an amazing writer and director. It told the story of some unsung heroes and it was good to be a part of that," she said.

Other actors include Oscar winner Adrien Brody along with Jeffrey Wright and Cedric the Entertainer.

Next year will be another good year for the young actress with the release of the teen comedy, All Screwed Up. In it she plays the lead character, Teenisha Flowers, an awkward teenager with attention deficit disorder. Flowers acquires a beetle which bites her and makes her switch places with her athletic male neighbour.

Finding a connection

Meant to be a comedy with a message, Layne said she connected with the character because she too had a difficult time as a teenager.

"I had holes in my sneakers, I was always teased. To deal with that I sort of became the class clown but it was kind of funny, because I had to fight for the part," she said.

Other upcoming roles include a part in the movie Push directed by Lee Daniels the producer of Halle Berry's Oscar-winning film, Monster's Ball.

Layne encourages other actors to hone their skills through studying their craft and perseverance.