Ozark actress Jessica Frances Dukes cast in MGM+'s The Westies

Jessica Frances Dukes, known for series such as Ozark and The Gilded Age, has been cast as a regular lead actress in The Westies, an upcoming period drama series from MGM+. Set in early 1980s New York City, The Westies centers on a violent Irish-American crime gang from Hell’s Kitchen. When construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center begins on their home turf, the Westies see a huge financial opportunity.


Jessica Frances Dukes

Although the gang is vastly outnumbered by the powerful Italian Mafia families—they are outnumbered fifty to one—their brutal reputation and cunning strategies have given them a seat at the table in a precarious balance with the Italian Mafia. However, the situation becomes precarious when tensions flare between the young, unruly generation and the more traditional leaders. This internal conflict threatens to upset the existing power balance and leads to increased involvement by the FBI, which is already conducting a large-scale investigation into the Italian Mafia.

The series is co-created by Chris Brancato, known for Narcos and Godfather of Harlem, and Michael Panes. Filming of the eight-episode series begins in July in Toronto.

Jessica Frances Dukes will play the role of Birdie Polk, a sharp and uncompromising chief inspector of the FBI team that focuses on the Gambino family. She is determined to bring down both Irish and Italian organized crime in New York. With this role, Dukes joins a cast that was previously announced and includes J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver.

Dukes is no stranger to MGM+: she recently starred in the series Earth Abides and will also be seen in the third season of HBO's The Gilded Age. She received wide acclaim for her regular role in Netflix series Ozark. She also had recurring roles on Marvel’s Jessica Jones on Netflix, and guest roles on HBO’s The Regime, CBS’s The Good Wife, NBC’s New Amsterdam (2018), and NCIS: New Orleans, also from CBS.

With her role as Birdie Polk in The Westies, Dukes once again confirms her versatility as an actress, both on television and on stage, and promises to be a powerful addition to this new crime series.