Being cast as the woman who comes between Virgin River’s golden couple—Jack Sheridan and Mel Monroe—is no easy feat. It’s a role bound to attract fire from passionate fans

who have made Netflix’s small-town romantic drama a global sensation. But Lauren Hammersley, who plays the polarizing Charmaine Roberts, is taking the hate in stride—

and even embracing it with a smirk and an open heart. “I knew what I was walking into,” Hammersley recently shared with TVLine. “Being the other woman in a love triangle is never easy,

especially when the fanbase is as invested as Virgin River’s. But for the most part, people are kind. They’ll say, ‘I hate Charmaine, but I love you,’ which is… kind of the dream?”

Virgin River’s Charmaine Actress On Meeting Fans Who Hate Her Netflix Character | Cinemablend

Indeed, Hammersley’s nuanced portrayal of Charmaine has made the character one of the show’s most talked-about figures. While Jack and Mel’s relationship unfolds as a slow-burning, destined romance, Charmaine has consistently been the thorn in their side—and for many fans, the villain by default. But the actress herself sees Charmaine through a different, more empathetic lens.

Why Charmaine Struck a Nerve
The drama around Charmaine exploded at the end of Virgin River Season 1, when she revealed she was pregnant with Jack Sheridan’s baby. The tension escalated in Season 2 when she dropped another bombshell: she was having twins. Just like that, she embedded herself permanently in Jack’s life—much to Mel’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) discomfort and the audience’s outrage.

It wasn’t long before hashtags like #TeamMel and #TeamCharmaine began lighting up social media, with fans taking sides as if they were in the middle of a small-town custody battle.

But while Charmaine’s presence complicates Mel and Jack’s romantic bliss, Hammersley believes her character is far more than a mere antagonist.

“Charmaine really wanted Jack to be her person,” Hammersley explains. “She loved him, and that was real. But his heart belongs to Mel. It’s painful, and I understand why people want her out of the way—but I also think she deserves a little compassion.”

The Heartache Behind the Drama
Despite being painted by some viewers as manipulative or petty, Charmaine’s actions come from a place of heartbreak and longing. Hammersley is quick to highlight that beneath her character’s seemingly dramatic behavior lies a woman who craves love, family, and community.

“What Charmaine wants is actually very simple,” she says. “She wants connection—not just with Jack, but also with the people of Virgin River. She wants to feel like she belongs.”

The salon, her social hub in town, serves as both a physical and emotional anchor for Charmaine. But her fractured relationships—particularly with Jack and Mel—constantly threaten to undermine the sense of home she’s desperate to build.

“She’s got these broken relationships,” Hammersley continues, “and I don’t think all of them are her fault. She’s made mistakes, sure, but she’s also just a woman who’s been hurt and is trying to cope.”

A Twist of Fate: Hammersley Originally Auditioned for Mel
In an ironic behind-the-scenes twist, Hammersley originally auditioned for the role of Mel Monroe—the very woman her character ends up in conflict with.

“I sent in a tape for Mel,” she reveals with a laugh. “Then about a month later, I got a call saying I’d booked a different role.”

That role, of course, turned out to be Charmaine. And according to Hammersley, the initial book description wasn’t exactly flattering.

“In the books, Charmaine is described as being 10 years older than Jack, and you could tell she used to be beautiful before she had a few kids,” she jokes. “This industry has a way of humbling you!”

Still, she embraced the role wholeheartedly, knowing that showrunners intended to reshape Charmaine into a more formidable presence—one who would add depth, tension, and even chaos to the central love triangle.

“They wanted Charmaine to create more competition and frustration for Mel,” she said. “And judging by the fan reactions, I’d say: mission accomplished!”