IN CONVERSATION WITH SKYE P. MARSHALL

interview by JANA LETONJA

Skye P. Marshall is currently starring opposite Kathy Bates in CBS’s breakout legal drama Matlock, for which she has received nominations for two Critics' Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. As Matlock returns for its highly anticipated second season on 4th February, Skye continues to build a career defined by precision, presence, and purpose, bringing depth to every role while advocating for meaningful representation both on and off screen.

Season one of Matlock exceeded expectations. What excites you most about returning for season two?

Season one surprised everybody except the folks who knew what this team was capable of. Season two is exciting because we’re no longer the “new kid” on the block. We’re not guessing who we are anymore, we’re rooted. The stories get bolder, the dynamics get messier, and Olympia gets to flex parts of herself we only hinted at season one. I love stepping onto a set that’s hungry to outdo itself.

dress EMA SAVAHL COUTURE
earrings PANTHEON
hat LACK OF COLOR
shoes INEZ

How does Olympia evolve this season as the stakes continue to rise, and what can audiences expect?

Olympia is leveling all the way up. Last season, she was brilliant and ambitious. This season, she’s those things plus decisive. As the stakes rise, so does her clarity about her power, her ethics, and exactly which lines she will and will not cross. Expect more heart, more juicy secrets, more humor, and more moments that make you say “She did not just do that!” Yup, she did.

Olympia is both powerful and complex. How do you balance ambition with vulnerability in her portrayal?

As a Black woman, and a Libra, balancing ambition and vulnerability is part of my DNA. We move through the world with armor and softness at the same time. Olympia’s brilliance is real, but so are her grief, loyalty, and moments where the mask slips. I play her ambition like steel and her vulnerability like truth. The intersection of those two is where she becomes most dangerous, and most human.

dress and hair piece BRONX AND BANCO
earrings BIBI & KIM
shoes INEZ

You’ve received multiple awards and nominations for Matlock, including 2 Critics Choice Awards for Best Supporting Actress. How does that recognition land for you personally?

It feels like a blessing with boundaries. I’m deeply grateful because no one is obligated to see or appreciate my work. But awards are reflections, not definitions. I celebrate, thank God, call my husband and my mama, and then get right back to work. And the Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema and TV honor? That one touched me deeply. When your own community lifts you up, it feels like home.

Does external validation change how you approach your work, or does it simply affirm your instincts?

External recognition affirms my instincts, but it doesn’t guide my compass. Validation is lovely, but discipline is essential. If I ever started chasing awards, my work would lose its soul. I chase the truth of the character and the integrity of the wonderful story Jennie Snyder Urman and our writers create. Everything else is confetti.

From To Live & Die and Live to Matlock, your range has been striking. How do you choose your projects?

My rule is simple. If a role scares me a little or stretches me a lot, I lean in. I’m drawn to characters with layers, contradictions, and emotional weight. I choose stories that say something about who we are or who we could be.

left:
jacket, top and skirt MEGAN RENEE
earrings BIBI AND KIM
rings KINRADEN and H&M
glovesTWINSET
sunglasses SAINT LAURENT

right:
dress EMA SAVAHL COUTURE
jacket ATUSA G
earrings PANTHEON
hat LACK OF COLOR

You’re a U.S. Air Force veteran. How has your military service shaped your discipline and perspective as an artist?

The Air Force taught me discipline, adaptability, and how to push through on days when motivation doesn’t exist. It also taught me to see people deeply, because you meet every kind of person when you serve. That humanity shows up in my acting. And honestly, I give the military credit for teaching me how to process fear.

Advocacy is an important part of your life. How do you use your platform intentionally, and which causes are closest to your heart?

Currently, advocacy doesn’t always look like a big campaign online. For me, it’s deeply personal. My mom is living with dementia, so Alzheimer’s awareness is close to my heart. I love to pour energy into mentoring young artists in my industry, especially those who may not see themselves reflected enough. I believe my art is its own form of advocacy. Every time I show up fully as myself on screen for millions to see every week, I’m hoping someone feels seen, motivated, and reminded that their dream is possible too.

jacket ENTIRE STUDIOS
earrings PANTHEON
hat stylists' own
boots BCBGMAXAZRIA

What does meaningful representation look like to you, especially in a network drama with a wide audience?

Representation isn’t just visibility or decoration. It means a Black woman can be seen as brilliant, flawed, joyful, messy, powerful, and soft without being reduced to a stereotype. On a network series with a wide audience, that matters. When people see Olympia, I want them to see possibilities.

As your career continues to grow, what stories or roles are you most eager to explore next?

I want characters who surprise me. More psychological thrillers, grounded indie dramas, definitely some action where I can perform my own stunts. I’d love to lead a project that centers Black women’s complexity in a way we haven’t seen before. I’m chasing stories with soul and grit. I think I’d be great with dark comedy as well. The possibilities are endless.

TEAM CREDITS:

talent SKYE P. MARSHALL
photography DYLAN PERLOT at Exclusive Artists
styling SOLOMON SISTERS at Honey Artists
makeup DEE CARRION at Opus Beauty
hair DHAIRIUS THOMAS at Factory Downtown
photography assistant MARCUS CARRILLO
location STUDIO-ISM
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
editorial director and interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN