Actress Gissette Valentin has been known for her role as ‘Corporal Diane Pierce’ on AMC’s “The Walking Dead: World Beyond,” the limited-series spinoff that follows the first generation raised in the post-apocalyptic world. Gissette’s character is a smart, driven soldier who commands the respect of someone in a much higher position of authority, who is all about the mission, finding a cure and saving the world. To prepare for the role, Gissette created a playlist of what she imagined ‘Diane’ would listen to, which helped her get into character and create a more human side to the mission-driven soldier. Valentin appears on the final season of TNT’s “CLAWS,” in a recurring role as ‘Cherry,’ a cute but tough lipstick lesbian who is a former teammate on ‘Quiet Ann’s’ prison softball team. Gissette can currently be seen as ‘Conscription Officer Dean’ in the Amazon Original Movie “The Tomorrow War,” starring Chris Pratt. She also appears in Ava Duvernay's Origin, Will Trent and The Rookie. And more to come! The Florida native’s love of performing began at the young age of 9, watching Blockbuster VHS rentals such as Paula Abdul’s instructional video “Get Up and Dance” on repeat. Determined to master the art form, Valentin furthered her self-studies of dance via old Gene Kelley movies, and Janet and Michael Jackson music videos, eventually earning a spot on her high school dance team at age 17. Difficult to fathom given her advanced skills, but Gissette did not enroll in her first professional dance classuntil she was 18. After graduation, Gissette relocated to Atlanta to pursue acting studies and fast-tracked her childhood dance passion into an impressive career, working with musical artists such as Luke Bryan, Zach Brown, Sean Paul, Blake Shelton, Arash, The Dream, Keith Sweat, Kellie Pickler and Jennifer Nettles, among others. Valentin showcased her impressive dance abilities in movies such as “Footloose,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip” and the Disney Channel movie “Let It Shine,” and on the television shows “Nashville,” “Empire” and “America's Best Dance Crew.” With a plethora of dance credits under her belt, Gissette made a life-altering and self-affirming choice just four years ago when she hung up her professional dance shoes to focus solely on acting and her passion for storytelling. She plunged deeper into dramatic performance, challenged herself and grew as an artist. Valentin soon booked a role on Netflix’s hit series “Ozark,” followed by FOX’s “The Resident,” FOX’s “STAR” and Netflix’s “Raising Dion.” These achievements proved to the entertainer that without risk there is no reward. Valentin is passionate about giving back and using her voice to impact change and create awareness. Causes close to her heart include organizations serving veterans and active military; multiple sclerosis research and treatment; and wildlife/nature conservation organizations, which endeavor to protect and preserve. When she’s not acting, Gissette enjoys reading about growth mindset, practicing yoga, meditation and affirmations, recreational dancing and exploring the outdoors.
