Jackie Dallas: Florida Native Actress Talks Reinvention, Representation, and the Power of Storytelling

From scrubs to scripts, Jackie Dallas shares how her journey from medicine to the screen has become a platform for powerful storytelling, cultural representation, and purpose-driven advocacy.

Before Jackie Dallas was stirring up secrets in Netflix’s The Hunting Wives, she was studying surgical outcomes in medical school. Raised in Florida by a family of doctors, Jackie followed a traditional path into medicine—earning a degree in microbiology, publishing clinical research, and entering residency—until a lifelong love of storytelling pulled her in a different direction.

After relocating to Northern California, she dove headfirst into acting, landing her breakout role in the first season of Stranger Things. Since then, she’s built a steady career with roles in Magnum P.I., 13 Reasons Why, NCIS: Hawai’i, and thrillers opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme and Juliette Binoche.

In The Hunting Wives, Jackie plays Jia-Yi, a sharp political strategist caught in a swirl of scandal. Whether on screen or advocating for women’s health off-screen, Jackie brings thoughtfulness, purpose, and heart to everything she does. In this interview with Miami Living, Dallas talks about her latest role, pivoting, finding purpose, and Florida roots.

Miami Living: You play Jia-Yi in Netflix’s newly released The Hunting Wives, a strategic political advisor in a world full of secrets and seduction. What drew you to this role, and what layers were most exciting to explore?

Jackie Dallas: I am always drawn to playing complex female character roles, and in this show, every character has a sexy secret! It was really fun to dive into a character who is smart and cunning and willing to do whatever it takes to get ahead. When I got the script, I obviously learned where the character ends up at the end of the season, so as an actress, it’s always so much fun to find ways to pepper in clues that, in hindsight, lead the audience to the reveal.

Miami Living: The show is filled with glamour, danger, and manipulation. What was it like stepping into that dynamic world, especially alongside a powerhouse cast like Malin Akerman and Dermot Mulroney?

Jackie Dallas: It was so exciting! All of the characters are so big and bold, so figuring out how to make Jia-yi be able to not only fit into this world, but also stand out in her own way, while holding her own next to actors like Malin, Dermot, and Brittany, who all have such incredible screen presence, was so much fun! If anything, I always learn so much by working with such established actors because it really pushes me to bring my A-game and be the best I can be!

Miami Living: Your path to acting is incredible. From studying microbiology at UF and attending medical school with a focus on surgery and pathology, to performing in indie films and Stranger Things. What gave you the courage to make such a bold career shift?

Jackie Dallas: It was a full-circle moment to be able to rediscover acting as a passion and then get the opportunity to pursue it professionally. Medicine is a field that I have so much respect for, but there is so much of your career that is out of your control, such as where you get “matched” to go to residency. I was at the time working in Chicago, and while the plan was for my husband to also ‘match’ into a residency in a Chicago program, he ended up placing at Stanford in California, which is incredible! So we had to make a decision of whether we chose to try long distance while we both pursued our careers independently, or one of us makes a sacrifice and chooses to be together. I made that choice, but I would not have had the courage to make it alone. Moving to California, instead of trying to figure out another path in medicine, I decided to explore my love for acting, and I am so grateful to have such a wonderfully supportive husband who allowed me to not only pursue love in a partner, but also love in a career!

Miami Living: You’ve said your love of storytelling is rooted in a fascination with the human experience. Could you elaborate more on this?

Jackie Dallas: In an alternate universe, I think I would have also been happy if I had pursued the specialty of psychiatry because I find the study of human behavior so interesting! You can put two different people in the same situation, and they would react so differently based on who they are, where they come from, and what they’ve learned in life. Growing up, I feel like I’ve been exposed to so many different types of people from all walks of life. I grew up in Florida in a family of immigrants. I lived on a Caribbean island for a couple of years, I worked as a bartender through school, and became a doctor, training in surgery and pathology. I’ve had a chance to talk to people at some of their best and worst moments in life. When I take on a character, I get to put myself in someone else’s shoes, and I draw from my memories and conversations that I have had with the people that I have met. I love how it makes me explore the human experience from another person’s perspective, and it teaches me more about empathy and having an open mind.

Miami Living: The roles you’ve played have spanned from thrillers to sci-fi to crime dramas. Is there a genre or type of character you haven’t explored yet that you’re itching to dive into?

Jackie Dallas: I love the action movie genre! Just pure adrenaline entertainment! I even took a utility stunts course when I first started acting because I thought it would be so cool to get to play a bad-ass tough girl!

Miami Living: Can you tell us more about your work as a philanthropic patient advocate for women’s health? What long-term outcomes would you like to see as a result of your work?

Jackie Dallas: I love that my platform has given me a chance to advocate for women’s health. My husband is a urologist, and through him, I’ve met such an impressive array of doctors who specialize in women’s pelvic health, and one of the things that they always discuss is how underrepresented, underfunded, and under-researched the field of women’s health really is. While I recognize that improvements in policy and the health care system are what we need (and that is also a kind of advocacy I strive for), but now with the stripping of government funding and removal of resources, I just don’t feel confident that they will make the changes that women need in the immediate future. So I think the next best thing we can do as healthcare providers that might make the most impact on individuals is to try and raise awareness for female-specific conditions and self-educate women about their own bodies and how to be their own best advocate! I work with prominent physicians in the female pelvic health field to help spread awareness through educational videos, partnerships with self-funded condition-specific organizations, and even supplement companies that are committed to helping women find the answers that they are so desperately looking for.

Miami Living: Miami has a thriving indie film scene and a rich healthcare community. Could you see yourself working on a creative or philanthropic project here sometime in the future? 

Jackie Dallas: Oh absolutely! I love Miami! I actually lived in Miami for a few years during medical school, and I love how it is such a vibrant and diverse area in both the arts and community! I would absolutely love to return for projects! Plus, my family all still lives in Florida, and it would be so nice to be close to them again. LA is so far!

Miami Living: What were your favorite memories from growing up in Florida? Do you have any special memories tied to Miami? 

Jackie Dallas: The town I grew up in was a sleepy little beach town when I was little, called New Smyrna Beach. It has since grown to have a nice amount of beach tourism, but when I was little, it was small, and aside from a movie theater and bowling alley, there really wasn’t much to do. I took the beach for granted and remember being bored a lot. So naturally, as kids and teens do when they are bored, they get into mischief! I won’t confess to any shenanigans, but it was one of the reasons that I wanted to move to Miami. To me at the time, that was a ‘real city’ and I loved the idea of having so many things to do! I loved it so much, in fact, it opened my mind to wanting to live in all the big cities, and so afterwards, I moved to live in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, and now, Los Angeles! But Miami will always have a special place in my heart!

Miami Living: If you were to take a vacation back to Florida, what does a dream day in Miami look like for you? 

Jackie Dallas: I would love to go back and stay in a nice hotel overlooking the ocean that is within walking distance to restaurants and things. South Beach is a lot of fun, but I also love all the little side streets where you can get tapas and find little boutique shops. Maybe rent a sailboat to take out and sip some wine on the water. Just a little bit of relaxation during the day, and then find a restaurant with good surf and turf for dinner, and finally a nice lounge with live music to round out the evening.

Miami Living: On a personal note, what’s something fans might not know about you — a hobby, a routine, or a moment of joy that keeps you grounded in between roles?

Jackie Dallas: I used to be big into the car world as a teen. When I was in high school, the first Fast and the Furious film came out, and I remember thinking that I would be perfect to be in that movie because I was already a part of a bunch of car clubs! My boyfriend and I, at the time, loved working on cars, and we would do everything from engine upgrades to body work to custom interiors. We went through Dodges, Hondas, and I had a Mitsubishi Eclipse that had a body kit, rims, and Lamborghini doors. I actually gave it a candy pink custom paint job because I wanted everyone to know that it was a girl’s car! I loved that car! My tastes now are a little less flashy, but I still respect a nice ride.

Stream Dallas’ latest project, The Hunting Wives, now on Netflix. Connect with her on Instagram @jaxdallas.

By Morgan Harms | Photo Credits: JSquared Photography