Cherrelle Skeete is an actress, writer, cultural producer and co-founder of Blacktress UK. She trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her theatre work includes Alterations, Three Days in the Country and Amen Corner, to name a few. She is about to appear on stage at the National Theatre in The Authenticator as Marva. In this Big Interview, Joy talks to Cherrelle about beginnings, storytelling, craft and community, ahead of her new role. (Main image Cherrelle by Tyler Fayose)
TV Includes: Pierre, Slow Horses, Black Cake, The Midwich Cuckoos, Hanna (seasons two and three), Silent Witness, Doctors, Danny and the Human Zoo, The Five, Ordinary Lies and Call the Midwife (season four).
The Authenticator is booking until 9 May 2026,
This house is full of secrets
Soon after inheriting her family’s stately home, eccentric artist Fenella Harford discovers a stash of hidden diaries and enlists a young academic, Marva, to confirm their authenticity.
Joined by Marva’s brilliant but overlooked mentor, Abi, the three women come together to seek the truth, soon realising that secrets at the heart of Harford Hall were darker than they could have imagined.
A gripping gothic psychological thriller, The Authenticator reunites writer Winsome Pinnock (Leave Taking) with director Miranda Cromwell (Death of a Salesman) following their acclaimed production, Rockets and Blue Lights.
ALT A: Thank you so much for talking to ALT A Review in advance. I really appreciate it.
Cherrelle: Thank you for having me.
ALT A: Let us start at the beginning. When you look back now what do you remember most vividly about the decision to become an actor?
Cherrelle Looking back now in hindsight I always knew that I loved performance. I always loved live performance whether that was watching a gig watching a dance performance or watching a piece of theatre. Being in a space where you experience something with other audience members really captivated me from a very young age.
So, I knew I was going to do something within performance, but I did not know it would be acting. I did not know that at all.
Before stepping into theatre, I was always around brilliant storytellers. I come from a very vibrant community in Birmingham, and I grew up in a hair salon. I was that child who would sit and listen to the women sharing stories about their lives while getting their hair done and my mum was doing their hair.
From a young age I understood the importance of story. Not only for entertainment and representation but also for connection. It brings community together and allows us to understand ourselves and each other. It also creates space for conversations that might not otherwise happen.
We are all stories in some way, that really interested me. You do not realise how a seed is planted and nourished over time. It blossomed from dance and then I realised I loved text. Someone suggested drama school and from there it continued to grow. Stepping out of an environment I knew into something new made everything expand from there.
ALT A: Was there a particular moment or person early on who made you feel that this was really possible?
Cherrelle: Yes there was a Black theatre company called Nu Century Arts based in Birmingham. Stepping into that space made me feel that this was possible. It was important that it came from the Black community where I could explore text in a way that connected to my culture. It did not feel separate.
That gave me confidence before going to drama school which was a very different experience. It was a big culture shock because I was no longer learning through my own culture but through something that felt new and unfamiliar. I feel like I come from two different schools and that has influenced the work I do and the roles I take on.
ALT A When you start a new role what is the first thing you do to get the character under your skin?
Cherrelle I try to get a sense of how it feels to speak the words. There is a lot in how a person speaks in terms of rhythm and choice of language. How do they communicate Are they direct or more reserved
I also think about how they talk about themselves and how they speak to others. That gives me an idea of their psychology. I am drawn to complex characters not necessarily likeable ones but those that are fascinating and layered. Especially Black women and femme people who deserve to be represented in that way.
So, I usually start with how the character speaks.
ALT A You have steadily built a career across screen stage radio and video games. Which project first made you feel truly seen or recognised as an artist?
Cherrelle That is a big question. I think any project I choose to do where I am working with brilliant collaborators makes me feel seen. Theatre in particular is about collaboration. It is about a team coming together and working from the blueprint of the text.
Sometimes you have the privilege of sitting with a text for a long time and building a character over that period. That is when I feel most seen because I love collaboration. I love working deeply with text especially new writing or revisiting work with a fresh perspective.
For me it is always about collaboration. Whether it is theatre television or radio I feel seen when I can contribute to building the character fully. I am not just saying words. There is a thought process behind everything. My job is to make sure the character feels real and has a life before and after the audience encounters them.
ALT A: How do you navigate between work that pays the bills and work that feeds your spirit?
Cherrelle I feel very fortunate to work across different mediums. Being able to do voice work and explore my instrument vocally and also make bold physical choices on stage or for screen gives me variety.
Coming from a working-class background I do not take that for granted. I always encourage people not to box themselves in. Whatever skills you have will be useful and you will find a way to bring them together.
I also enjoy teaching because I have had brilliant teachers. That has opened more opportunities for me to share knowledge and stay connected to my community both in London and back home in Birmingham.
It is a balance and it is also about supporting others. I love supporting my friends’ projects and being part of their creative journeys. That sense of community is important.
When you look at creatives who have built strong teams over time it shows how important it is to grow together. It should not just be one person succeeding. We should all be moving forward together.
ALT A Let us talk about the character Marva. Tell us about her motivations?
Cherrelle Marva is a young academic who is invited into a house to authenticate a series of journals. She works alongside her mentor, and they begin to uncover what is inside these diaries and how it affects both their professional and personal relationship.
She enters the space for one reason but there is a deeper journey about identity and understanding history. The play asks who we are when we are confronted with difficult truths.
I would describe Marva as brave and courageous. She is also searching for answers about her own identity. She is young and full of energy and curiosity but while she has knowledge she does not always have wisdom. That is what makes her interesting.
ALT A: What do you admire about Winsome Pinnock’s work?
Cherrelle I had the privilege of seeing Leave Taking at the Bush Theatre. I was completely moved by it. Her work captures the voices of Black British women and the diaspora in a way that feels honest and layered. She explores history and how it shapes identity across generations. There is also a spiritual depth to her writing which creates space for actors to explore. It is both liberating and challenging.
I feel honoured to be part of her work because it asks important questions about Black British identity beyond the lens we often see represented.
ALT A: What does Yvonne Brewster’s legacy mean to you?
Cherrelle I feel deeply honoured to be performing at the National Theatre. It will be my fourth time, and I have now performed across all of its stages.
As a working class Black queer woman, I know that this would not be possible without those who came before me. People like Yvonne Brewster and Carmen Munroe paved the way.
I stand on their shoulders, and I carry that with me every time I step into that space. It is important that we say their names and honour their legacy because without them we would not be here.
ALT A How do you feel the industry has changed over the past ten years?
Cherrelle: The conversation used to be about visibility and that is still important. But now we are also asking who is telling the stories and who is making decisions.
We are looking at authorship and ownership across the entire process. From writing to directing to design and production. It is about representation at every level.
That is why I always encourage people to explore all areas of the industry. Whether that is technical roles or creative roles we need representation everywhere.
ALT A: How do you stay grounded?
Cherrelle: I have a strong spiritual practice as a Buddhist which helps centre me. I make sure I am grounded before stepping into any role.
I also have a supportive partner and community around me. I make time for joy whether that is dancing reading or spending time with loved ones.
It is important to step away from the work and live life. That balance allows me to return to the work with clarity and energy. Book Tickets for The Authenticator at the National Theatre: HERE
More Cherrelle: cherrelleskeete.com
