Being the woman who gets between Virgin River’s favorite couple isn’t for the faint of heart — but Lauren Hammersley, who plays Charmaine Roberts on the Netflix hit, knew exactly what she was signing up for. And while viewers may not be shy about their disdain for her character, the Canadian actress is handling the criticism with grace — and a healthy dose of humor.

“For the most part, the people who interact with me directly are very sweet,” Hammersley told TVLine. “They’ll say they hate Charmaine, but they still like me, and they think I play her well. So that’s good.”

Of course, not all feedback is so measured. Some fans still struggle to separate actor from character. “There have been a few weird interactions that usually end in me saying, ‘Have a great day!’ because I don’t know how to deal with that,” she added.

Why Charmaine Struck a Nerve

From the moment Charmaine announced she was pregnant with Jack Sheridan’s child in the Season 1 finale, fans have had Opinions — and they haven’t held back. Season 2 cranked the tension even higher when she revealed she was expecting twins, placing herself permanently in the orbit of Jack (Martin Henderson) and his new love, Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge).

For many viewers, Charmaine became the villain by default: an obstacle standing in the way of Mel and Jack’s slow-burn romance. Social media even saw fans dividing into camps, with hashtags like #TeamMel and #TeamCharmaine sparking endless debate.

But Hammersley sees a more complicated picture — and she believes Charmaine deserves a little empathy.

“There are two sides to the story,” she says. “Charmaine really wanted Jack to be her person, but his heart belongs to Mel. It’s been a tough go for Charmaine, but I can see why people just want her out of the way, because of the chemistry between Jack and Mel.”

The Pain Behind the Pettiness

Yes, Charmaine can be impulsive. Yes, she’s made decisions that have left fans scratching their heads. But Hammersley argues that underneath all of it is a woman longing for love, stability, and community.

“What Charmaine wants is pretty simple,” she explains. “She wants love, she wants a family, and she wants to be connected — not just to Jack, but also to Hope. She feels like she belongs at the salon, but she really wants to belong in Virgin River.”

For a character so often portrayed as manipulative or melodramatic, Hammersley’s take is refreshingly human. “She’s got these shattered relationships, and I don’t think a lot of them are her fault,” she continues. “I feel compassion for Charmaine. And now she’s pregnant, and the guy who did that to her is off with another woman. So that sucks.”

The Road Not Taken: Hammersley Auditioned For Mel

In a fun twist of fate, Hammersley initially auditioned for the role of Mel Monroe — the very woman who would become her character’s biggest rival. “I sent in a tape for Mel,” she revealed, laughing. “Then about a month later, I got a call that I’d booked a different role.”

That role, of course, was Charmaine — and the original book description wasn’t exactly flattering. “I’m paraphrasing, but in Robyn Carr’s novels, 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,” Hammersley joked. “This industry has a way of humbling you!”

Still, she was told that the showrunners were reimagining Charmaine to bring more fire to the Mel-Jack dynamic. “They were changing the character in order to create more competition and frustration for Mel,” she said. “Mission accomplished!”

Could Charmaine Be Jack’s Shooter?

Virgin River’s Season 2 finale ended with a literal bang — a mystery gunman left Jack bleeding on the floor of his bar. And fan theories ran wild.

Even Martin Henderson (Jack himself) floated the idea that Charmaine could be behind it. So, what does Hammersley think?

“It’s possible!” she teased, clearly enjoying the speculation. And with Season 3 on the horizon, she’s excited to see where things go next.

Hope For Redemption?

Despite all the drama, Hammersley still wants the best for her character — even if Jack’s heart lies elsewhere.

“I just hope that Charmaine ends up happy,” she says. “Even if she can’t have the father of her children all to herself.”

It’s a surprisingly tender wish from an actress whose character has weathered more fan backlash than most. But in Hammersley’s hands, Charmaine is more than just a love triangle plot device — she’s a woman in pain, trying to figure it out like everyone else.

Final Thought

Love her or loathe her, Charmaine Roberts has become one of Virgin River’s most memorable and controversial characters — a testament to both strong writing and Hammersley’s layered performance. And with new twists, new characters, and maybe even redemption ahead, don’t count her out just yet.