Let’s be real for a second—2020 was a fever dream. We were all stuck inside, doom-scrolling and desperately searching for something, anything, to make us feel normal again. That’s when I, like millions of others, clicked play on Sweet Magnolias. I wanted comfort food in television form. I wanted Serenity, South Carolina. But amidst the margaritas and the mom-drama, I found myself totally fixated on a character I was definitely supposed to hate.
You know the type. The high school mean girl with the perfect hair and the sharp tongue. CeCe Matney.
But here is the thing: I didn’t hate her. By the time the credits rolled on the season finale, I was obsessively Googling the actress behind the attitude. That is how I found Harlan Drum. She wasn’t just playing a trope; she was dismantling it scene by scene. It takes a serious amount of talent to make you root for the “villain” of a teen drama, and Harlan managed it with a terrifying amount of ease.
So, who is she? Is she actually that intimidating in real life? (Spoiler: No, she plays the banjo, which we will get to). I decided to dig deep into the life of Harlan Drum, from her sun-soaked Florida childhood to her double life as an Ivy League student and Hollywood rising star. Grab a coffee—or a margarita—and let’s get into it.
Also Read: Toni Lynn Russo and Richard Emmolo
Key Takeaways
- The breakout moment: Harlan Drum became a household name for us Netflix bingers via her role as CeCe Matney in Sweet Magnolias.
- Not a Hollywood baby: She hails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with deep family roots in the local boating industry.
- Beauty and brains: She juggles her acting career with classes at Columbia University, which is honestly exhausting just to think about.
- The secret talent: She plays the banjo. Seriously. It’s her favorite way to decompress.
- She’s got range: Beyond the teen drama, she has tackled grit in Hightown and action in MacGyver.
- Resilience is key: She launched her biggest role right as the world shut down in 2020 and navigated the industry chaos without stumbling.
Who Is Harlan Drum and What is Her Origin Story?
We tend to assume every young actor popped out of a test tube in Burbank, California, ready for their close-up. Harlan Drum shatters that illusion. She is a Florida girl through and through, born on October 15, 2002, in Fort Lauderdale. And I don’t mean she just lived there; her family is practically local royalty in the boating world.
Her great-grandfather, Bob Cox, founded the Lauderdale Marina. If you know anything about South Florida, you know the marina life is the heartbeat of that city. Growing up, Harlan wasn’t hanging out on soundstages; she was likely around boats, saltwater, and humidity. That kind of upbringing gives a person a certain groundedness. You can’t be too high-maintenance when you grow up around mechanics and sea captains.
Her mom, Christine, saw a spark in Harlan early on. But instead of pushing her into the family boat business, she leaned into Harlan’s creative side. They started with modeling. I love this part of her story because it feels so normal—just a mom driving her kid to auditions, hoping for the best. It wasn’t about fame initially; it was about channeling energy.
How Did She Jump from Modeling Campaigns to Screen Acting?
Modeling is weirdly similar to acting, but also totally different. You have to sell a feeling without saying a word. Harlan mastered this young. She booked campaigns for Justice and American Girl—brands that practically defined my niece’s childhood. She even landed H&M.
But standing still wasn’t enough. She needed to move.
She transitioned into commercials, which is basically boot camp for actors. You have 30 seconds to make someone crave a burger or buy a phone. Harlan did spots for Burger King and Samsung. I always have so much respect for commercial actors because you have to be “on” at 100% intensity for hours just to get the shot. It builds discipline.
When she finally made the jump to narrative acting around age 14, she didn’t start with fluff. Her debut was in Dear America: A Film by Generation Z. That title alone tells you where her head was at. She wasn’t just looking to be famous; she wanted to say something.
Why Did CeCe Matney Strike Such a Chord with Audiences?
Okay, back to Sweet Magnolias. Why do we care about CeCe? On paper, she is the antagonist to Ty and Annie’s love story. We should want her gone.
But Harlan played CeCe with this frantic, desperate energy that screamed “insecurity.” I remember watching her in the mock trial scenes—which, let’s be honest, were high drama—and thinking, Oh, she needs to win this for her dad. She wasn’t being mean; she was trying to survive her own home life.
Harlan brought layers to a character that could have been a cardboard cutout. She used her eyes, her posture, the way she hesitated before delivering a stinging line. She made CeCe human. And that is why she stole scenes from actors with twice her experience.
Is She Just a One-Trick Pony?
Absolutely not. If you think she can only play the Southern mean girl, you haven’t been paying attention.
I caught her in the MacGyver reboot, and she fit right into that high-octane world. Then she pivoted to Hightown, which is gritty, dark, and definitely not for the Sweet Magnolias demographic. Seeing her in a crime drama context proved she has edges. She isn’t afraid to get messy or dark.
She also starred in Grace Point, an indie thriller. Indie films are where actors go to prove they can really act without big budgets to hide behind. Harlan carrying a role in a smaller, intense film shows me she is serious about the craft. She isn’t just chasing the next big paycheck; she is chasing interesting psychology.
What Does She Do When the Cameras Stop Rolling?
This is my favorite part. You expect a young, blonde Hollywood actress to be into, I don’t know, pilates and green juice? And sure, Harlan is a fitness nut (you kind of have to be in that industry), but her soul is a little more… eclectic.
She plays the banjo.
I laughed when I found this out. It is such a specifically Southern, charmingly weird hobby for a Gen Z starlet. It paints such a vivid picture: Harlan Drum, rising star, sitting in her room strumming folk songs. It grounds her. It reminds us that she is still that girl from Fort Lauderdale.
And then there is the brainy side. She enrolled at Columbia University. Do you realize how hard that is? Filming a TV show is a 60-hour-a-week job. Ivy League coursework is a full-time job. Doing both simultaneously? That requires a level of time management that I simply do not possess. It puts her in the league of Jodie Foster or Natalie Portman—women who refused to let Hollywood be the only interesting thing about them.
How Did She Handle the Pandemic Curveball?
Imagine this: You book the biggest role of your life. You shoot the season. The billboards are going up. And then… the world stops.
Sweet Magnolias dropped in May 2020. We were all locked down. Harlan couldn’t do the premiere parties. She couldn’t walk the red carpet. She missed her own senior prom because of COVID-19. That breaks my heart a little. You work your whole childhood for these moments, and then poof—gone.
But she didn’t crumble. She took to Instagram and Zoom. She engaged with fans digitally. In a way, I think it helped. We were all home, glued to our screens, and she was there with us, just as bored and anxious as we were. It forged a bond between her and the audience that might not have happened if she were jet-setting around the world.
What Is the Vibe for Her Future?
I’m not a psychic, but I have been watching Hollywood long enough to know who has “it.” Harlan Drum has it.
She has the look, obviously. But more importantly, she has the work ethic. You don’t get into Columbia and survive a Netflix production schedule by being lazy. I think we are going to see her take on darker, more psychological roles as she gets older.
I’d love to see her in a A24 horror movie or a period drama where she can really use that intense focus she brings to CeCe. She has a “final girl” energy—resilient, smart, and a little scraping.
Why Harlan Drum Matters Right Now
We are living in an era of manufactured celebrity. Anyone with a TikTok account can be “famous” for 15 minutes. Harlan feels like a throwback to when actors actually worked for it. She put in the hours modeling. She did the commercials. She studied the craft.
She represents a generation of young women who refuse to be put in a box. You can be the mean girl and the banjo player. You can be the actress and the Ivy League scholar. You don’t have to choose.
So, yeah, I’m a fan. Not just of the character she plays, but of the way she is navigating her career. If you haven’t watched her work yet, go fix that. Harlan Drum is just getting warmed up.
Conclusion
From the docks of the Lauderdale Marina to the halls of Columbia University, Harlan Drum is carving out a path that is uniquely hers. She took a character we were ready to despise and turned her into a fan favorite through sheer force of charisma. She brings a human touch to a plastic industry.
I’ll be watching whatever she does next—partly because she’s talented, but mostly because I want to see just how far this banjo-playing, boat-loving, scene-stealing actress can go. My bet? She’s going all the way to the top.
For more on how arts education shapes resilient young adults like Harlan, check out the resources at The University of Florida.
Harlan Drum interview on Sweet Magnolias S1 E9 Official After Show
This video is a must-watch if you want to see her personality shine through—she breaks down the “mock trial” intensity and gives us a peek behind the curtain of the show.
FAQs – Harlan Drum
Who is Harlan Drum and what is she known for?
born Sophie Harlan Drum on October 15, 2002, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a talented American actress and model. She is best known for her role as CeCe Matney in the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, which gained her widespread recognition.
What is Harlan Drum’s early life and family background?
Harlan Drum comes from a prominent boating family in Fort Lauderdale and is the great-granddaughter of Bob Cox, founder of Lauderdale Marina. She started modeling at the age of seven and grew up with her siblings Clark, Olivia, and Cole in an environment that encouraged ambition and creativity.
What are some of the notable roles and achievements of Harlan Drum?
Harlan Drum’s notable roles include CeCe Matney in Sweet Magnolias, a recurring role in Grace Point, and guest appearances in MacGyver. Her achievements include establishing herself as a rising star in the entertainment industry with her performances in various television series.
What are Harlan Drum’s future plans and career prospects?
Harlan Drum plans to expand her presence in television and film, taking on challenging and high-profile roles. Her early success and consistent career growth suggest she will continue to develop her acting portfolio and leave a lasting impact in Hollywood.
What are the physical attributes and social media presence of Harlan Drum?
Harlan Drum is approximately 23 years old, with a height of 5 feet 8 inches, weight around 121 pounds, and body measurements of 34-26-34 inches. She maintains an active social media presence on Instagram under the handle @harlan.drum, sharing personal and professional moments with her followers.
