Five Questions with Julene Robinson | Entertainment

 

Year Two of the fantasy drama tv sequence, The Witcher, has a new addition. Jamaican actress Julene Robinson, who performs a barmaid, stands out in the fictional storyline – which is crammed with actors talking in their European accents – when she opens her mouth and offers her personal native accent. You straight away want to rewind to look at and hear to her once again.

 

Robinson wears her Jamaicanness with pleasure and would like to do all the things in the correct way, that will mirror her society authentically. She was casted in Get Up, Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical to participate in the purpose of the reggae icon’s mother, Cedella Booker, but has used the earlier pair months in silence. The biopic of Marley’s everyday living and audio opened in London’s West Finish in November but simply because of the pandemic has been put on pause.

 

“A daughter, a sister, a buddy who is also an artist, an actor and a scientist,” is how the London-primarily based actress describes herself, which could be puzzling to some people who wonder how she mixes the arts with science. The peaceful, unassuming actress genuinely “sees and thinks of the entire world with my science qualifications”.

 

Robinson claimed, “I imagine of myself that way since my mom and dad, my dad in specific, is a massive affect on my existence and I am his kid first. He would not permit me to soar ship on my education and learning.” She examined environmental chemistry at The College of the West Indies, but typically could not dismiss the urge to skip courses to go to the Phillip Sherlock Centre, which she calls “the nurturing room for the inventive leaders”.

 

“It sustained us people like Shantol Jackson, who is main in a very long-time working British Television set present, and Kevoy Burton who is executing incredible matters. So lots of of us were collecting in that house to create and make us superior ready to do our reports, continue to be pushed in our distinct regions of study until finally we stuck to the arts,” Robinson explained.

 

Her mentor, Michael Holgate, casted her in a musical and that, she said “was the commencing of the route I am on right now”. She has labored with a number of Jamaican stalwarts this kind of as Basil Dawkins, Trevor Nairne, Patrick Brown and Dahlia Harris. Robinson tells us in 5 Concerns with …where she sees the path taking her, how she utilised her scientist mind to put together for The Bob Marley Musical and The Witcher, and reveals the music that tends to make her want to ‘bruk out’.

 

1.Do you approach to go back again to sciences?

 

I hardly ever remaining the sciences. The Bob Marley Musical is at present closed due to the fact the Omicron variant is placing a damper on a large amount of things in this article, and I spent the overall weekend executing investigate on it, just to make absolutely sure I have a sturdy comprehending of what’s heading on. Of course, I really don’t intend to go back again in a lab like I did when I was accomplishing high quality assurance at Red Stripe, but there are so lots of concepts that I have that I want to tap into. As an environmental chemist, I fork out consideration to the way things these as beauty treatment products are designed and the impact on our surroundings. So perhaps in the long term I will be like Tracee Ellis Ross and have a whole normal haircare line.

 

2. What kind of research did you have to do in preparation for your position in the musical and in The Witcher?

 

For Bob Marley, I read through Cedella Booker’s book. I study all of the accounts of Bob’s existence from distinct views. I enjoy Bob’s mom in the demonstrate and, when you read her e-book, you sense her. The individual who wrote it was amazing, they stored her voice so authentic and you get a deeper being familiar with and how she claims the words and phrases. Also, the accounts of other folks, whose life she would go through, like Rita Marley. I did investigate into St Ann, where by he was lifted, and I am incredibly privileged to have been able to do this. I appeared into previous footage. I even spoke to my individual family members. Then I trusted myself and the director to make confident I am speaking real truth which was so, that if anybody from the Marley family members, his small children, even if Cedella Booker sat in the viewers, she would see me and not be dissatisfied.

 

For The Witcher part, I had viewed the entire initial period. I did the audition and I was not anticipating to get it simply because it is a fantasy piece of operate established in a land with magic and monsters so I did not see how the Jamaican accent would match into it. But I claimed I am going to rely on myself and do it, and just be authentic since it would be great to see a Jamaican girl move through this collection that I watched. I was extremely anxious at the time, simply because I did not want it to come to feel like I didn’t belong. When I viewed it, it did not sense displaced and I enjoy the way people today have been supportive. Fingers crossed all the prayers of my grandmothers and these who love and support me will be answered, and there will be far more.

 

 

3.You also produce, who is your writing affect?

 

I am motivated by so quite a few individuals I was impressed by Nadean Rawlins, first observing her at Phillip Sherlock Centre and she is now a filmmaker. I am seriously influenced by Michael Holgate and appreciate him dearly, Patrick Brown and Trevor Nairne as very well as the excellent Miss out on Lou. Her written work is published to be alive, we all need to be influenced by her, if you are not, you need to have to test yourself! Also, Brian Johnson, who was my peer, he is an outstanding writer, I was so impressed by his function and considered probably I could be a writer much too.

 

4.When was the very last time you spent Xmas in Jamaica, why was it specific?

 

Last Christmas. Currently being in lockdown for 9 months straight, I jumped on the the past flight to Jamaica and I’m delighted I made that choice mainly because my grandmother, Hyacinth Rowe, died the following working day. I could be there for my grandfather far too. My grandmother was a female who was never ever worried and I am basically performing on a venture titled The Evening Female, that is motivated by her. It is about a healer woman who travelled with us at the base of a ship she is banished into the darkness consequently my use of the do the job ‘night’. Healer ladies, frequently named obeah women of all ages, are criticised and some individuals have stated a little something about my very own grandmother but she remained sturdy and individuals phone her almost everything less than the sun but she by no means deviated from who she was. When the identical persons who claimed items about her showed up at her doorstep, she was constantly there to assistance them.

 

5.What genres of songs are you currently listening to?

 

It’s definitely really hard to nail it down to 1 or a couple genres. Any music that allows me get into a sure headspace will make the listing and that’s not at any time a single style. Appropriate now, I generally listen to my exhibit playlist which is a wide assortment of new music. It has some Bob Marley, Gihrl, Labyrinth, ASA, Dobet Gnahore and some other soft, soul and R&B songs.

BRAWTA: If you were in the middle of a dance in Jamaica, which reggae or dancehall track pretty much constantly will make you want to ‘bruk out’?

 

I am a massive Spice admirer so any music of hers, is unquestionably my time to glow. For absolutely sure you can photo me dancing to Guh Down Deh. Haha!