Who would have thought that an individual who once worked behind the scenes, immersing herself in the horse stables at Caymanas Park, would find herself in the lime light on the stage soaking up the applause of appreciative audiences, night after night.
Enter Sakina Deer, stage left. Her rise on the Jamaican theatrical landscape twelve years ago has been both meteoric and momentous. Blessed with a smile that could rival Helen of Troy and a body that probably could have sailed all those thousand ships, Sakina is in love with her child, in love with life, and loving everything she does.
Nicola A. Cunningham recently caught up with the busy thespian who recently turned 32 and is basking in her newfound success on the big screen, having been featured in not one, but two films. We sat down to hear all the glorious details about her film debut, being bitten by the acting bug early in life, her role of a mother, her formative years, how it shaped her and how she celebrated the yuletide season during her childhood.
A fashionista of no mean order, Sakina shared that although she is naturally small, she is presently making a conscious effort to be fit and healthy as now she realises she has a personal stake in the matter as genetically she may be at risk; therefore, she is doing everything to minimise the risk.
“Nowadays I’m on a health food kick as many people in my family have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and I intend to give myself a fighting chance.”
Shot on location: Courtleigh Hotel & Suites
In addition to food, Sakina is also into films, appearing in back to back films ‘Sprinter’ with Storm Saulter and ‘Dope Fiend’, which are now in post production. The latter was shot on location in the United States in December of 2015.
“They flew me up to New York City and I got the VIP treatment with brownstone apartment and all. I got into it through Shane Powell who told me they were looking for a Jamaican actress. My audition was done via video and during this period I was so sick but in my sick state I got my iPhone, did my thing and surprisingly I got the job.”
Star studded with well known actors such as Marques Houston, Tobias Truvillion and Malik Yoba, ‘Dope Fiend’ was entered a few months ago in the Newark Film Festival and won Best Feature Film. “It was a totally amazing experience but it was challenging as we were filming in the dead of winter and you better not shiver or shake or show that you are cold. I had on summer clothing, tank top and all and had to fall to the ground in one scene.
I had to really dig deep and pretend I was not freezing my derriere off! But it was overall such a great experience. I got to shoot a dessert eagle gun and they shut down the streets when we were doing those scenes so it was just an awesome experience to be a part of that. Because of that I have since received two other job offers so I am extremely grateful.”
Shot on location: Jamaica Railway Corporation Barry Street, Downtown
Now a household name and recognisable face in both theatre and media, Sakina has over the years been nominated for both best actress and best supporting actress roles. She has won the International Theatre Institute’s (ITI) Award for ‘If There is a Will there is a Wife’ and interestingly, won for ‘Best Costume Designer’ for ‘Duppy Whisperer’. Having no formal training in costume design, the latter award proves her natural talent and versatility. She is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Her biggest and best role to date, however, has been that of mother to 4 year old Sonja who is the centre of her world. “I tell people I had no purpose until her. She is my blessing. Initially I was distraught as I didn’t think I was ready to be a mother, but the universe aligned and the day after she was born I knew this was what I was meant to do. Every day is a learning experience, full of challenges and hiccups, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Shot on location: Courtleigh Hotel & Suites
Currently Deer works as a presenter on the popular morning show ‘Smile Jamaica…. It’s Morning Time’, where hosts and guests interact in an informative and entertaining format with bits of interviews, news, entertainment and lifestyle features interspersed throughout. As host, her natural effervescent and bubbly personality is transmitted to thousands daily but if media and theatre were not an option, then medicine would have been a natural choice.
“If not acting, then medicine definitely, specifically cardiology. I did the sciences before jumping on the stage. Initially I thought of paediatrics until I saw my own child in pain and then I knew it wasn’t for me. At one point I was a veterinary nurse, working for two years at Caymanas Park at the tracks.”
Before all of this though, she was the little girl from Lincoln Avenue (near Black Roses Crew corner) who went to RJR Basic School and received a scholarship to Sts. Peter & Paul Preparatory.
“I grew up with my grandparents who were everything to me. My grandfather was a stickler for etiquette and propriety so we had to speak the Queen’s English at all times. My grandparents were pillars in the church to the point you would think ‘a dem prop it up’. They were serious church people who were loving, respectful and just decent salt-of-the earth good people.”
According to Sakina, she never realised that she was poor until she went to Sts. Peter & Paul and was confronted by the harsh realities, not only of life, but the petty prejudices many in society have about ‘other people’.
“Children can be cruel but now I realise it is what they learn at home and as parents we have a responsibility to teach our children not only tolerance of others but to just be better human beings. I was taken to school every morning by my grandfather on the bus while my classmates rode in cars, and because of this difference, they looked down on me. To make matters worse I never had the expensive Jansport bag like them because my mother went to the tailor man and had him sew my school bag so you know ‘it did well sturdy’. Children can be really mean but looking back at it now, it has made me who I am, appreciative of all my blessings in life and knowing that, my child will be raised with the right values so that she will never display that kind of behaviour.”
As a child, Sakina’s Christmases were filled with love, laughter and lots and lots of food.
“I remember my grandfather used to use an old Berger paint pan which he filled with stones and then cut a branch of the willow tree and stand it in the middle. That was our Christmas tree. The family would all come together and celebrate and I think that’s where I developed my love for food as we would gather at my uncle’s house and once the prayers done, separate me from the food if you think you bad! Christmas was great until my grandfather died.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #9, 2016 Issue.
Share this post:
Who would have thought that an individual who once worked behind the scenes, immersing herself in the horse stables at Caymanas Park, would find herself in the lime light on the stage soaking up the applause of appreciative audiences, night after night.
Enter Sakina Deer, stage left. Her rise on the Jamaican theatrical landscape twelve years ago has been both meteoric and momentous. Blessed with a smile that could rival Helen of Troy and a body that probably could have sailed all those thousand ships, Sakina is in love with her child, in love with life, and loving everything she does.
Nicola A. Cunningham recently caught up with the busy thespian who recently turned 32 and is basking in her newfound success on the big screen, having been featured in not one, but two films. We sat down to hear all the glorious details about her film debut, being bitten by the acting bug early in life, her role of a mother, her formative years, how it shaped her and how she celebrated the yuletide season during her childhood.
A fashionista of no mean order, Sakina shared that although she is naturally small, she is presently making a conscious effort to be fit and healthy as now she realises she has a personal stake in the matter as genetically she may be at risk; therefore, she is doing everything to minimise the risk.
“Nowadays I’m on a health food kick as many people in my family have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer and I intend to give myself a fighting chance.”
Shot on location: Courtleigh Hotel & Suites
In addition to food, Sakina is also into films, appearing in back to back films ‘Sprinter’ with Storm Saulter and ‘Dope Fiend’, which are now in post production. The latter was shot on location in the United States in December of 2015.
“They flew me up to New York City and I got the VIP treatment with brownstone apartment and all. I got into it through Shane Powell who told me they were looking for a Jamaican actress. My audition was done via video and during this period I was so sick but in my sick state I got my iPhone, did my thing and surprisingly I got the job.”
Star studded with well known actors such as Marques Houston, Tobias Truvillion and Malik Yoba, ‘Dope Fiend’ was entered a few months ago in the Newark Film Festival and won Best Feature Film. “It was a totally amazing experience but it was challenging as we were filming in the dead of winter and you better not shiver or shake or show that you are cold. I had on summer clothing, tank top and all and had to fall to the ground in one scene.
I had to really dig deep and pretend I was not freezing my derriere off! But it was overall such a great experience. I got to shoot a dessert eagle gun and they shut down the streets when we were doing those scenes so it was just an awesome experience to be a part of that. Because of that I have since received two other job offers so I am extremely grateful.”
Shot on location: Jamaica Railway Corporation Barry Street, Downtown
Now a household name and recognisable face in both theatre and media, Sakina has over the years been nominated for both best actress and best supporting actress roles. She has won the International Theatre Institute’s (ITI) Award for ‘If There is a Will there is a Wife’ and interestingly, won for ‘Best Costume Designer’ for ‘Duppy Whisperer’. Having no formal training in costume design, the latter award proves her natural talent and versatility. She is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Her biggest and best role to date, however, has been that of mother to 4 year old Sonja who is the centre of her world. “I tell people I had no purpose until her. She is my blessing. Initially I was distraught as I didn’t think I was ready to be a mother, but the universe aligned and the day after she was born I knew this was what I was meant to do. Every day is a learning experience, full of challenges and hiccups, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Shot on location: Courtleigh Hotel & Suites
Currently Deer works as a presenter on the popular morning show ‘Smile Jamaica…. It’s Morning Time’, where hosts and guests interact in an informative and entertaining format with bits of interviews, news, entertainment and lifestyle features interspersed throughout. As host, her natural effervescent and bubbly personality is transmitted to thousands daily but if media and theatre were not an option, then medicine would have been a natural choice.
“If not acting, then medicine definitely, specifically cardiology. I did the sciences before jumping on the stage. Initially I thought of paediatrics until I saw my own child in pain and then I knew it wasn’t for me. At one point I was a veterinary nurse, working for two years at Caymanas Park at the tracks.”
Before all of this though, she was the little girl from Lincoln Avenue (near Black Roses Crew corner) who went to RJR Basic School and received a scholarship to Sts. Peter & Paul Preparatory.
“I grew up with my grandparents who were everything to me. My grandfather was a stickler for etiquette and propriety so we had to speak the Queen’s English at all times. My grandparents were pillars in the church to the point you would think ‘a dem prop it up’. They were serious church people who were loving, respectful and just decent salt-of-the earth good people.”
According to Sakina, she never realised that she was poor until she went to Sts. Peter & Paul and was confronted by the harsh realities, not only of life, but the petty prejudices many in society have about ‘other people’.
“Children can be cruel but now I realise it is what they learn at home and as parents we have a responsibility to teach our children not only tolerance of others but to just be better human beings. I was taken to school every morning by my grandfather on the bus while my classmates rode in cars, and because of this difference, they looked down on me. To make matters worse I never had the expensive Jansport bag like them because my mother went to the tailor man and had him sew my school bag so you know ‘it did well sturdy’. Children can be really mean but looking back at it now, it has made me who I am, appreciative of all my blessings in life and knowing that, my child will be raised with the right values so that she will never display that kind of behaviour.”
As a child, Sakina’s Christmases were filled with love, laughter and lots and lots of food.
“I remember my grandfather used to use an old Berger paint pan which he filled with stones and then cut a branch of the willow tree and stand it in the middle. That was our Christmas tree. The family would all come together and celebrate and I think that’s where I developed my love for food as we would gather at my uncle’s house and once the prayers done, separate me from the food if you think you bad! Christmas was great until my grandfather died.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #9, 2016 Issue.
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