Outfit by GURANDA
Gold Ring on right hand by MAM
Right on left hand by Eclat Jewels by Oui at Flying Solo

Known for her role in Bad Monkey and her love of storytelling, Reese Antoinette is a rising Caribbean-American actress who brings passion and creative depth to every project she touches. In Dexter: Resurrection, she steps into the role of Joy, forming the character with the same complexity and spirit that defines her work. Deeply connected to her Caribbean roots, Reese brings an element of storytelling into every role she embodies, aiming to portray a character that feels real within their contradictions and chaos.

A multi-talented figure —actress, singer and producer — Reese Antoinette brings rhythm, emotions, and narrative power to all of her creative outlets. Whether through Dawnie in Bad Monkey, Renee in The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire, or Joy in Dexter: Resurrection, Reese draws from her Caribbean-roots while creating a new and inspiring energy within the character she plays. In the conversation below, we get a glimpse into the thoughtful, grounded, and inspiring force behind the characters: Reese Antoinette.

Fifi Maxi Dress by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet
Flower by Stylist Own
Bracelets by AGMES JEWELRY
Earrings by Eclat Jewels by Oui at Flying Solo

You received an MFA in acting from NYU, studied at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University, and earned a BA in communications with a minor in music from Manhattan College. How do you think these different experiences and places helped shape and develop your love for storytelling? Is one more influential/special than the other to you?
Each experience gave me a different lens to see storytelling through. At Manhattan College, studying communications gave me an understanding of storytelling through broadcast journalism, which was very different from the British American Drama Academy in Oxford. That experience exposed me to classical texts in this deeply immersive way. There was something about doing Shakespeare in the place where he wrote it that made me fall in love with the language in a very cool way. But NYU Tisch’s MFA program is where it all came together for me. I learned to take risks without judging myself, to approach every character with curiosity and specificity. That training gave me the confidence to not just be an actor, but a storyteller.

You’ve mentioned previously you have a goal to bring meaningful representation to your acting and the roles you play. How do you feel your role in Dexter: Resurrection allows you to represent and create a woman on stage that you feel connected to?
Absolutely. One of my goals as an actor has always been to create characters that feel real and reflective of the world. In Dexter: Resurrection, playing Joy was a chance to do that. She’s an ambitious and talented acupuncturist that carries her own history, perspective, and instincts. Joy’s drive and love for her family are things that I can also relate to, it’s such a big part of her character and a big part of my life too.

Sam and Kiki, Bad Monkey, Dexter: Resurrection. It seems all the roles you’ve played each have their own very specific narrative and creative direction. What is your favorite type of character to play?
I’m drawn to characters who live in contradiction … people who are confident on the surface but are quietly unraveling underneath, or who use humor to mask something deeper. I love playing women who are layered and unpredictable.

Suit by MAJE
Boots by Stuart Weitzman
Earrings by MAM

The idea of storytelling is a pillar you’ve mentioned connects you to both your heritage and background as well as to acting. How do you feel this role embodies that principal of storytelling you carry with you? Is there a specific role you’ve played that you think was the perfect outlet for storytelling?
Storytelling, for me, is about capturing the spirit of real people, their contradictions, and honoring where I come from while reaching toward something universal. Every role I take on is a chance to give a voice and presence to characters who might otherwise feel overlooked or forgotten.

In this role, I felt that same responsibility. It wasn’t just about performing lines but about shaping a human being with history, heart, and purpose. That’s what storytelling means to me: finding the emotional truth and letting it guide everything else. I don’t think there’s ever one “perfect” role for storytelling because every character brings a new chance to explore a different truth. Each one has its own rhythm and its own way of reflecting something bigger than itself, and that’s a lot of fun to explore.

**Left:**
Outfit by GURANDA
Gold Ring on right hand by MAM
Right on left hand by Eclat Jewels by Oui at Flying Solo
**Right:**
Coat by Et Ochs
Shoes by UNITED NUDE
Earrings by Elizabeth Hooper

What is another part of your Caribbean background that you feel you bring into each character you portray?
One part of my Caribbean background that I carry into every character is the deep-rooted understanding that we are not one thing. Caribbean people come from such a rich mix of cultures, languages, and histories; we’re African, Indian, Chinese, European, Indigenous, it’s a blend. And growing up around Caribbean friends and family taught me early on that identity is layered and people are full of contradictions, humor, resilience, and grace.

The Ballad of Suzanne Césaire is a movie about Suzanne Césaire, the wife of Aimé Césaire and a Caribbean surrealist from Martinique. How did you bring your Caribbean roots into your role as Renee?
When I first spoke to Madeleine Hunt Ehrlich, our director, we had a long conversation about Renee’s backstory and her Haitian-American roots. As a first-generation American she feels the need to connect, whether it’s to the land, Suzanne Césaire, or to something more spiritual and undefined that mirrors the surrealist themes in the film. There’s a longing in Renee, a quiet searching that runs underneath everything she does. And that sense of seeking felt familiar to me.

Dress by alice + olivia by Stacey Bendet
Brooch by AGMES JEWELRY
Black Italian Acetate Frames and Gold Paperclip Chain by Rosa Rims
Gold Ring on right hand by MAM
Right on left hand by Eclat Jewels by Oui at Flying Solo
Earrings by Alexis Bittar

How has your position as a producer as well as star in horror-comedy short Sam and Kiki shaped that role for you? In your opinion, do you think the character would have been wildly different if you hadn’t produced the film and only starred in it?
Being a producer gave me more insight into the project as a whole, as I was able to influence aspects of the world of Sam & Kiki. But honestly, I still did all the work I would’ve done if I were just acting. Kiki’s voice and personality, that all came from exploring the character the same way I would approach any other character. Producing just gave me a bigger picture view of how she fit into the story.

What was your favorite thing about “Dawnie”, the character you played in Apple TV’s Bad Monkey?
My favorite thing about Dawnie is that she’s truly a badass who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. She has a vespa and a red convertible … she fully steps into her fearless energy. But what makes her really special to me is her heart - she’s bold and fiery, but can be incredibly warm. That mix of toughness and tenderness is a lot of fun. Oh, and Dawnie’s style is so fun. I love all of the bold prints and bright colors; it’s an extension of her personality.

You have a passion and talent for both music and acting, both of which you’ve stated allow you to connect on a deeper level. Do you feel that your music allows you to bring new elements to your acting that wouldn’t be there otherwise?
Absolutely. Music has always been another language for me. It’s another form of expression that allows me to connect with the world in a very different way. It’s a world I’m constantly writing and exploring. I’m also incredibly excited to be releasing a cover of Bob Marley’s Natural Mystic very soon. It’s a reimagined version of the song—something fresh and unexpected—that I originally recorded at Tuff Gong Studios in Kingston, Jamaica. That experience was so meaningful to me, both creatively and culturally. It’s a collaboration that honors the roots of the song while bringing a completely new energy to it, and I can’t wait for the world to hear.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Reese Antoinette
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Eric Hason, https://www.erichason.com
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Hair: Cheryl Bergamy-Rosa for Exclusive Artists using Contents Haircare
Makeup: Tim McKay at The Only Agency
Nails: Eliana Gaviria
Fashion Stylist Intern: Saya Skarbinski
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Tricia Merone, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

Reese Antoinette: BRINGING JOY TO DEXTER: RESURRECTION