Martina Laird, an actress previously known for her role in the popular TV drama “Casualty,” has explored her heritage through her writing, creating a family drama titled “Driftwood.” The play is set against the vibrant backdrop of Trinidadian independence. Laird describes the writing process as a deeply personal endeavor, akin to solving a complex crossword puzzle, undertaken after she reconnected with her roots.
Over twenty years ago, Laird embarked on a journey back in time. At the height of her career on “Casualty,” where she portrayed paramedic Comfort Jones, she felt a sense of stagnation despite her public recognition and fulfilling work. She recalls thinking, “Okay, there are things from the past I need to confront.”
Her quest led her to St. Kitts, her birthplace, in search of her Black Caribbean mother, from whom she had been separated at the age of three. Her white British father had taken her to live with his family in Trinidad. While she experienced a relatively comfortable upbringing, questions about her origins lingered. In St. Kitts, she finally met the family she never knew existed. She reflects, “I thought I could shield myself and not let people in, but that wasn’t the case. It all had to burst open. Afterward, the world seemed beautifully upside down. Everything I had learned to fear was loved, and everything that was down was up.”