Exclusive: Beyond the Gates Cotillion Arc Heats Up - Interview With Najah Jackson & Alex Cheeks
- Ashley
- May 19
- 3 min read
We go inside the most talked-about event coming to Beyond the Gates.
Beyond the Gates is gearing up to turn tradition into must-watch television with its three-episode cotillion arc airing May 18–20 and viewers should prepare for elegance.
In an exclusive conversation on The Soap Wire Podcast, Najah Jackson and Alex Cheeks, who portray Samantha Richardson and Donnell McBride, opened up about stepping into one of the show’s most visually ambitious storylines yet. Set at the prestigious Barrington County Cotillion at Fairmont Crest Country Club, the arc centers on debutantes, generational legacy and a competition that puts personal pride squarely on the line.
Jackson described Samantha’s journey as one shaped by pressure and ambition, noting that the character is navigating an unfamiliar world while trying to prove herself. That tension is heightened by the arrival of rival debutante Francesca “Chessy” Belleclaire, setting up a Platinum Debutante showdown. It’s a storyline rooted in identity, expectation and the uncomfortable weight of being watched.
Cheeks, meanwhile, offered a grounded perspective on Donnell McBride’s role in the event. Rather than leaning into spectacle, he framed Donnell as a stabilizing presence, someone acting as a guide for Samantha as she moves through a world she is still learning to navigate. Their dynamic, as both actors explained, leans into a supportive connection that slowly shifts as emotions begin to surface beneath the formal structure of the cotillion.
“I think with Samantha, she’s really, really excited about this,” Jackson explained. “She’s not used to this life… participating in something like a cotillion means a lot to her.” That emotional grounding became central to the arc’s impact, especially as Samantha found herself under pressure from expectations and Chessy. What looked like a formal celebration quickly revealed itself as a competition where status and self-worth were constantly in motion.
"I think Donnell is kind of an older brother figure for Samantha in a way."
“He’s kind of taking her under his wing," Cheeks added. That dynamic played out on screen as a steady counterbalance to Samantha’s rising anxiety, though even the most supportive partnerships in daytime drama rarely stay simple for long.
The actors also revisited the demanding ballroom sequences, which were choreographed by Jamaica Craft. Jackson admitted the experience was a first for much of the cast. “I personally loved it because I love to dance and I’ve never learned ballroom dancing,” she said, noting that rehearsals stretched for hours over several days.
Cheeks echoed the sentiment, adding that the process was as rewarding as it was challenging. “For most of us, I don’t think we had really explored that area too much,” he shared. “It was awesome just to kind of learn something new.”
Across the three-night arc, from preparation and family dynamics, to the formal debut and finally the crowning moment, the production leaned heavily into visual storytelling. But it was the quieter emotional beats, particularly between Samantha and Donnell, that lingered after the final scene aired.
When asked to sum up the episodes, both actors struggled to land on just one tone, circling words like “engaging,” “shocking,” and “fun.” Cheeks added a final thought that may best capture the audience reaction now that the dust has settled: “Suspenseful… I feel like it’s going to be one of the best.”
Beyond the Gates clearly isn’t done with what it set in motion, especially when it comes to relationships that are only just beginning to shift beneath all that elegance.
Check out our full interview below.
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