Saints & Strangers: Playing Squanto
What an incredible experience going to the other side of the world, in Cape Town, South Africa, to shoot this awesome series. National Geographic was meticulous with their source material and research, wanting to do their absolute best to present this story about some of the original settlers from England and the impact on the Native peoples of what is known today as America. I had the privilege of reuniting with actors like Tatanka Means, Michael Greyeyes, and Raoul Trujillo. There was a huge element of language, and our production did not shy away from this immensely important facet of this story. It was important that the audience could see the precarious situation that Tisquantum (Squanto) was in as he became invaluable to the Settlers, serving as the translator connecting them to the Indigenous peoples of that region.
The reviews for my performance were well received and prompted a campaign race for an Emmy Nomination in 2016. This role will always remain as one of the highlights of my career.
“One of the most moving dynamics in the film is Squanto’s friendship with William Bradford…I love this conversation that occurs when Squanto finds Bradford sitting alone on the boulders of the shore…it’s a haunting, beautiful scene that has stuck with me.”
“Queypo paints an effective portrait of (Squanto) as a man who has lost his entire tribe and must walk a complicated and lonely path.”
“…the movie’s most fascinating character may be the enigmatic Squanto (Kalani Queypo)…”
