“Motherland: Fort Salem” Exclusive: Jill Morrison Introduces Berryessa Tansey, the Academy’s Caring & Humorous Witch, Talks Audition Process & Inclusive Representation
strong>Motherland: Fort Salem, Freeform’s new, kickass show about witches who protect the country, commenced just a couple of weeks ago on the network. Eager to get the scoop on some of the many new characters you have yet to meet, OMFGTV was able to get the lowdown on Berryessa Tansey, from the woman behind the witch, Jill Morrison (The Good Doctor, Supergirl).
Berryessa Tansey is a witch who teaches at the academy devoted to teaching and training the young witches to protect the country. “Berryessa is a knowledgeable, kind, humorous witch!” Morrison tells us. “She has very strong relationships with her peers, and is very caring to the girls. She loves to watch them grow and become the powerful witches they will one day be.” And she’s also very funny, which may be one of the reason’s Jill landed the part.
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“I believe they had been looking for Berryessa for a while.” Morrison says of the audition process. “I think what I brought to her that stood out was a little flavor of humor. The creator, Eliot [Laurence], was looking for that. So when I auditioned I was able to bring that, along with the empowerment I felt she was giving to these young women, and they liked it. I booked it right away, and was over the moon!”
One major role Barryessa plays in the show is getting the recruits to really open up and use their sexuality to empower themselves, which is a nice change to see on screen, and Jill was also very happy about it. “When I learned the contents of the show, I felt very connected to the idea of empowering these young women to believe in themselves.
“To teach them really to know they deserve whatever they want, and deserve all the respect and empowerment that women should have. This is really what Berryessa teaches them. And to guide the girls into the next chapter of their journeys is magical and special. Those scenes are going to be gorgeous!”
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The obsessive new series is extremely sex-positive for females in ways that aren’t often depicted in media, something Jill is very pleased about. “I found it quite liberating and exciting,” Morrison shares. “Because it really is a focus on empowering the women, and embracing their ability to be strong, self loving and deserving. To see their sexuality as something they can embrace. To know they deserve to be worshiped. That’s a great message for anyone. You don’t deserve anything less than that.”
Motherland: Fort Salem has a very diverse and inclusive cast in regards to sex, race, sexuality, and gender expression, all of which Morrison believes will draw in a very diverse audience. “The creative minds behind the show were so humorous and loving,” she says. “And the inclusivity of the cast made me happy. It was wonderful to work on something that was so female oriented, and focused on the amazing power and strength that women possess.
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“To have so much representation makes me proud. I feel it will invite an array of viewers, and isn’t limited to a specific audience. It’s a very interesting show in that I think it will attract all different kinds of people. It has everything! Action, love, conflict, uniqueness…”
To see more of Jill Morrison outside of Fort Salem, you can catch her on the series Project Blue Book on the History Channel where she plays a recurring character. “It’s fact-based fiction about the US Air Force’s involvement in extra terrestrials,” the actress reveals. “It’s a very rich, exciting, incredibly beautiful show. The talent behind it is enormous. Also, you can get some chuckles in with some comedies I’m in ‘To All the Boys: PS I Still Love You’, and a fun sitcom called ‘The Healing Powers of Dude’ both on Netlfix!”
Motherland: Fort Salem airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Freeform.