Words by Carol Wright | Photographs Courtesy of Alyssa Cheatham
We got to chat with actress Alyssa Cheatham about her roles in Santiago Of The Seas and HBO’s The Flight Attendant.
Did a certain movie or television show inspire you to start acting?
I actually started acting at three years old, so I can’t remember. I just know that when I was two years old, my mom showed me videos of me singing, telling stories, or doing skits on camera, that she would film of me at home. I would be crying at the end of the videos, saying “No, don’t turn off the camera!” when my mom would tell me it was time to say “Bye” and she was putting the camera away.
Tell us about Santiago Of The Seas! How did the opportunity to work on the show come about?
Almost all actors have to audition for a role. So, for Santiago Of The Seas, my agent Pam Goldman, sent me the audition. I recorded my audition at home and sent it to her to send to casting. Then, I got a callback. I had to go down to the NYC Nickelodeon office and audition for the creator and executives of the show. They recorded me reading some lines of a script and I had to sing. I have to admit, I was nervous because I really wanted this opportunity but also felt really good about my callback audition. Then, we had to wait. That’s always the hardest part! Right after my audition, I told my mom how I felt and she was so proud of me! She took me to have a big fancy dessert. She says it’s important to celebrate the journey and if there is a booking, that’s just the icing on top. It was a few weeks though, before we heard back but after five weeks, my agent called me and my mom. I was actually at Radio City Music Hall, rehearsing for a music show I had later that evening. She told my mom first but I didn’t know. Then, my mom passed me the phone and my agent said “You booked the role of Lorelai. The role is yours! Congratulations! You’re going to be a singing mermaid!” I actually couldn’t believe it. I was so, so happy.
You voice the character Lorelai. What’s your favorite part about playing her?
Lorelai is adventurous, helpful, and loves to explore. She travels the world with Santiago and his cousin Tomas and together, they go on sea adventures and solve problems. Lorelai is like a global citizen because wherever she goes, she can speak the language, which is really cool. She also has the ability to transform from a mermaid to a pirate girl, with the help from her magic bracelet. What I love most about Lorelai though is that she has so much love for her friends and that she sings. I love my friends and family and I love to sing. It’s really cool that I get to voice a role that also sings and tell stories that show how important it is to do the right thing and help people. I also love that Lorelai is black, like me. I think it’s so important for black kids and kids of color to see themselves represented on TV. Lorelai is a character I am really proud of, for so many reasons.
You got to be in The Flight Attendant on HBO Max. What did you learn from that experience?
I have a recurring role in The Flight Attendant and I am so excited for the show to debut, on HBO Max, later this Fall. This was a very fun experience. I have done a lot of on-camera work and what I learned from this experience and others is that preparation is key. Film Directors and Producers always want their actors to be ready because time is money. They need to get “the shot,” so you have to know your lines. Also, you have to be open to change, in case what you rehearsed will be changed on the spot. Sometimes, that happens. Actors always need to remain coachable and willing to take directions, as they come. I think the coolest part about working on this show was seeing how the props were made to look so real! We shot one scene on a plane but it wasn’t a real airplane. It looked so real, though.
You recently found yourself in the middle of a sticky situation concerning the show Made By Maddie but you found a way to look at the positives. How do you practice staying positive even during tough times?
It was disappointing to find out Made By Maddie was pulled from the Nickelodeon lineup, after they announced the show would air, but my mom has always raised me to look at the bright side of things. She immediately asked me to make a list of all the positives that I gained from my experience of working on the show. After I did that, I felt really good and I no longer was upset. Things happen for a reason and I am okay with that. I am not in control of what happens and I am okay with that, also. My mom also asked me to think about all the other great things I have going for me and I made a list of those things, too. I have a new song coming out in a few weeks. It will be my third music single. I had Santiago Of The Seas coming out. I had The Flight Attendant coming out. I have a movie called Cicada 3301 coming out and it just got picked up by Lionsgate. I’ve been in 11 films. I’m an honor roll student. I live a great life and I do so many things and go so many places. I have amazing friends and family and so many people who love me, for me, and that’s the most important thing of all. These were all the things I thought about. It’s important to acknowledge how you feel about a situation but it’s also important to make sure that if you’re in a situation that makes you feel bad or upset, not to stay in those feelings. You have to do whatever you need to move forward into a happier place.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Acting is not easy. It looks easy but it’s not. You will hear a lot of “No’s” before you hear a “Yes.” You have to really want to do the work that comes with acting and make sacrifices. There will be times where you want to go to a party or hang out with your friends and you can’t because you have to learn lines for an audition or you book a role and you have to be on set. So, you really have to love the work. Also, if this is your dream, don’t let the word “No” stop you. Don’t ever give up because it hasn’t happened for you. Get training and keep doing the work and eventually you will see the rewards. Dreams do come true.