INTERVIEW: Cherrelle Skeete on Season 3 of the Hit Amazon Prime Series, ‘Hanna’

Cherrelle Skeete can currently be seen on the Amazon Prime hit series, Hanna. Season 3 was released in November on Amazon Prime Video so fans can catch up on CIA agent Teri Miller’s latest adventures. Cherrelle is also a co-founder and artistic director of Blacktress; a grassroots organization supporting black womxn creatives. Cherrelle’s background is in theatre and known for originating the role of Rose Granger-Weasley in the Sonia Freidman’s sell-out production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on stage. Cherrelle’s iconic role in the play is one that will be remembered for years to come. She currently finished filming the Sky Original drama The Midwich Cuckoos, which will be out on Sky next year. Glitter recently sat down with Cherrelle to talk about the new season of Hanna, what catches her eye when reading for a possible role, her favorite part about playing Teri Miller on Hanna, her love of theatre, the organization she co-founded, Blacktress, and her positive message to those who follow her. Read on to find out more about this remarkably brilliant actress.

GLITTER: What would you say your big break was?

CHERRELLE: I wouldn’t say I’ve had my big break as yet. With each role I’ve played and through the support of my agents I’ve been afforded the opportunity to make steady progress. It’s been 10 years of growth for me. It takes the time it takes and I believe everything happens when it’s supposed to. With each step, I celebrate every win. Everyone’s journey is beautifully unique.

GLITTER: What are you looking for in a role that catches your eye?

CHERRELLE: Mostly, complexity in the character. A character that intrigues me. Sometimes it’s about the artists attached to the project who I have wanted to collaborate with. I feel fortunate to work within an industry that offers me the opportunity to work alongside my childhood inspirations. 

GLITTER: What has been your favorite part of playing Teri Miller in Amazon’s Hanna?

CHERRELLE: Portraying a young ambitious Black woman who works for the CIA is just fire. Although Terri’s world is isolated, she exudes confidence and self-assurance as she carries out tasks that could risk her life if found out. She is courageous, yet quiet. She has nothing to prove. I really admire her for this.

GLITTER: Speaking of that, do you share any qualities with Teri, and did you go through anything in real life that you also went through playing Teri?

CHERRELLE: Terri is naturally observant, not only in collecting delicate information but also in compassion. She really can see the depth of a person. I’d like to think I see the good in all people but could do with more of Terri’s patience.

GLITTER: If you had to describe the current season of Hanna as a whole with one Hanna quote, what would it be? 

CHERRELLE: “This is the moment you have all been waiting for, you’re going out into the wide world” 

GLITTER: Is there something from the show that you want to keep and if so, what is it and why?

CHERRELLE: Wardrobe blessed me with nude underwear that match my skin tone perfectly. Nubian Skin is a company that provides nude underwear and skin tone hosiery for black and brown people. A special shout out to Jodie-Simone Howe for making it happen. It’s the little things that can make you feel seen and therefore valued.

GLITTER: Favorite fan moment? 

CHERRELLE: Seeing Hanna fans try to figure out if Terri would help take down Utrax. I’m constantly asked whether she can be trusted. I love that people were unsure about her as a whole. 

GLITTER: What is one memory from the show that will always make you smile? 

CHERRELLE: I loved working with Yasmin Monet Prince who played Clara during season 2. There is a scene where Clara is badly hurt and Terri sits with her. It was the first and only time you see Terri take off her glasses to sleep. It’s a tiny detail, but I know Terri saw a lot of herself in Clara. Yasmin is such a phenomenal actress and I loved building that relationship with her. 

GLITTER: What has filming been like for you with all of the necessary COVID-19 safety precautions?

CHERRELLE: We filmed most of the third season in Prague. At times, I found it challenging not being able to explore the city. We’d wrap on set and have to spend what was left of the day in our apartments due to the Nationwide curfew. I’ve heard Prague is a beautiful city. I wish I got to see more of its beauty. 

GLITTER: We also know you have a theatre and stage background. What was it like to play Rose Granger-Weasley in the original theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? 

CHERRELLE: Special. With Noma Dumezweni and myself playing the memorable Hermione Granger and her daughter – Rose, it opened up more conversations around the importance of visibility, especially in regards to the existence of black characters across the fantasy genre. A barrage of negativity and racism from disappointed fans was met with double the amount of support by fans and friends who welcomed the casting choice. During that time, I had a Skype call with some incredible girls from a girl’s school in rural India where they were studying the book as part of their English literature class. I was deeply moved by how excited they were to meet a black girl whose complexion was the same as theirs. For these girls, seeing is believing and it became possible that Rose and Hermione could share a similar skin tone to them – mirroring their own reality. 

GLITTER: Do you love theatre work more than screen, or love them both for different reasons? 

CHERRELLE: Stage is my craft and my first love. I wouldn’t have understood screen craft the way I currently do without having had the experience of performing theatre first. In theatre, you spend weeks creating a whole world with a bunch of strangers. Then you perform it. Each performance is unique to that audience and just like that, it’s gone like a spirit. Screen, you can have an audience right in front of you, they can see every emotion behind every facial expression without words. Ultimately, it’s always about truth and listening to your surroundings and your scene partner.

GLITTER: What can you tell us about the organization that you co-founded, Blacktress?

CHERRELLE: We are a community of black women and femme actors who have created a space to learn, love, and heal. We host workshops, social fundraisers and have curated a theatre festival. Our work is black women and femme-centered. We explore new ways of telling stories across many fields that aim to be inclusive and intersectional. We are a movement of love essentially. This year we won our first award from Industry Minds U.K., they are an arts mental health support platform. We are so proud to be recognized by such an important organization.

GLITTER: Do you have a dream collaboration?

CHERRELLE: So many! Ava Duverney, Shonda Rhimes, Daniel Kaluuya, Viola Davis, Lenny James, Pamela Nomvete, and Fiona Shaw.

GLITTER: One highlight from your career so far? 

CHERRELLE: I love August Wilson, so playing Tonya in King Hedley II on the Stratford East stage was an amazing experience. It’s a very mighty play and getting to meet and talk to his wife Constanza Romero was the cherry on top.

GLITTER: Glitter has a celebrity #SelfLoveCampaign. What does self-love mean to you?

CHERRELLE: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” – Audre Lorde

Self-care is about building a dialogue with myself in order to identify my needs. Patriarchy has had women believing that we are here to solely serve men’s needs, which already is shifting the paradigm. Once I identify my needs, it could be I might need help with that through therapy or my Spiritual practice as a Buddhist.

GLITTER: What positive message do you hope to send women who follow you? 

CHERRELLE: You are a galaxy of stars, so shine: when you light the way for you, you light the way for others.

GLITTER: Many women are coming forward in media and standing up for their rights as women. How important is this issue to you?  

CHERRELLE: It’s about restoring balance. When we recognize our own value and move from that place everything changes. It starts with how we see ourselves then affects all of our relationships and then our environments. Many social justice movements have been led by black women and femme people. Even when others haven’t supported us, we have always gained strength and resilience from our community. I’m proud to see the radical ideas of social transformation being picked up across all fields in response to last years’ protests. Black women have been doing the work and have been leading within our communities before images of protests were on social media feeds. We still have a long way to go in regards to the safety of women, girls, and trans people just living freely. At this point, it does feel like a matter of life and death. 

GLITTER: What pushes and motivates you on a daily basis?  

CHERRELLE: So many things but firstly, purely the gift of life and wanting to make the most of it. I’ve seen the sacrifices my mom made growing up, it wasn’t easy, so I want to pay back some of that debt of gratitude. Whenever I reach a milestone, I always think of my grandad, he was my ultimate cheerleader. He passed before I got into drama school and I always imagine him grinning at me every time I’m on stage. I know he’s been with me the whole time. My grandparents took that brave step to move their life from the Caribbean, I know I come from ancestors who took risks that I now benefit from. I’m trying to be a good living ancestor for those that come after. I want a great story to tell the grandkids.

GLITTER: What would be a dream role for you?  

CHERRELLE: I’m ready to play a role that is physically challenging – a boxer or a soldier. I loved Million Dollar Baby. I want to show my god-daughter and nieces that anything is possible, especially coming from Birmingham. I want them to know they can be and do anything.

GLITTER: What’s on your playlist right now? 

CHERRELLE: Tems, Chronixx, Koffee, Wiz kid, Dexta Daps, Janelle Monae, India Arie, and last years’ Carnival playlist with the best soca songs of 2021. 

GLITTER: Favorite way to relax? 

CHERRELLE: My winter relaxation has to be Duvet days with my babes, watching How To Get Away With Murder or Insecure, or listening to an audiobook. 

GLITTER: Any beauty tips? 

CHERRELLE: Choose a happy life for yourself, that way your inner beauty will shine through no matter what. Youthfulness is happiness. I’m not talking about age here, from when your heart beats you got youth, it’s about what you choose to do with it. It ain’t an easy task. Watch the obstacles arise to allow you to transform your life though. 

Drink water, take your vitamins, and get some rest. 

GLITTER: Favorite indulgence? 

CHERRELLE: A good lie in watching Modern Family. I love it so much. It has me belly laughing.

GLITTER: Any projects you can tell us about that you’re working on next?  

CHERRELLE: I have just finished filming alongside Keeley Hawes in The Midwich Cuckoos, a dark, disturbing modern-day reimagining of John Wyndham’s classic science fiction novel of the same name. It’s out on Sky next year. Now I’m catching up on rest, family time, Blacktress planning, and finishing writing my plays.

GLITTER: How can fans follow you? 

CHERRELLE: @cherrelleskeete everywhere, do follow @blacktress_uk too.