Sophie Dianne explores the complex intersection of faith, Hollywood, and representation through one actress’s career choices. She examines how Jazz Raycole navigates her Christian identity while portraying a queer character in The Lincoln Lawyer, raising thoughtful questions for Christian audiences.
The latest season of Lincoln Lawyer was released to Netflix on 5 February 2026, and the fifth season has already been announced. The story revolves around a charismatic defence attorney ‘Micky Haller,’ who does business out of his Lincoln Continental Sedan. ‘Haller’s’ driver turned para-legal, ‘Izzy’, is played by Christian actress, Jazz Raycole.
Raycole was born in Stockton, California on 11 February 1989, to Christian parents. During her childhood she attended the Church of God in Christ – the largest Pentecostal denomination in the country and one of the largest predominantly African American Christian bodies in the world.
When she was a toddler, Raycole started dancing at her mother, Claudia’s studio and excelled. By the age of four, she was a competitive dancer, but she then took a break until she reached her teenage years.
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In 2000, Raycole got her big break, playing ‘Claire Kyle’ in My Wife and Kids but this would be short lived, as Claudia expressed concern about a storyline revolving around teen pregnancy. Describing it as a “taboo” topic, Raycole was encouraged to leave the show, and her character was re-cast. Speaking about the situation, to Christian Post she said: “leaving My Wife and Kids was a blessing from God. I was 12 years old when I got that job. The producers wanted a different thing; they wanted someone a little bit older. I wasn’t ready for that. I ended up going to New York to dance, which was my first passion. I really thank God for that because I got to grow and travel.”
At 24, Raycole joined the cast of Christian comedy The Soul Man, where she would play the Pastors daughter.
At 24, Raycole joined the cast of Christian comedy The Soul Man, where she would play the Pastors daughter. During the promotional tour, she mentioned she was attracted to the part, because she could relate to the characters background.
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Although Raycole has openly acknowledged the importance of her faith, she has expressed a desire to be viewed, as more than just a ‘Christian artist,’ preferring to be seen as a person first. This leads me to her latest role in Lincoln Lawyer.
Raycole was cast in 2022, as a season regular, the role of ‘Izzy’ was originally scripted as a ‘sexy tomboy’, but having read this description, Raycole pitched the idea of the characters queer identity, to the show’s producers.
While she doesn’t share ‘Izzy’s’ sexuality, she connected to her bold persona through her professional dance career, and their shared experience of trauma: for ‘Izzy’ this was addiction, but for Raycole, it was the death of her brother.
In an interview with Praise Houston Raycole said that the “church is very close to my heart”
In an interview with Praise Houston Raycole said that the “church is very close to my heart” and that she worshipped her way into certain acting roles, including her part on Lincoln Lawyer. She credits God with being her anchor, during a deep personal transition; grief fundamentally altered her perspective on life and her approach to the “forever battle” of mental health. She believes that her acting career enables her to explore the depth of the human experience and playing ‘Izzy’ is a creative instinct born from the juxtaposition of her own identity, as a Christian.
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Passionate about authentic storytelling Raycole, prefers to take on roles that elevate the experiences of women and Black people, for her its more than a question of faith, being a Christian has allowed her to see people as “human beings first.” Her decision to play ‘Izzy’ was motivated by her desire to tell untold stories and represent diverse communities.
Though she is a devout Christian, Raycole has not used her faith to publicly condemn homosexuality, rather demonstrate unconditional love. Whether you agree with Raycole’s views, or not, she stands firm in her principals, “I don’t think that I will be the kind of actor that I want without God.” It will be interesting to see where her career and faith, take her next.
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