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Cherel le Roux (previously de Villiers and de Villiers-Haines) is a fictional character from the South African SABC 3 soap opera Isidingo, played by Michelle Botes. Cherel was created by Isidingo's co-creators, Neil McCarthy and Mitzi Booysen. Botes was cast in the role of Cherel, who was described to her as an "Afrikaans funny girl".

Introduction, casting and characterisation
The character of Cherel was invented by Isidingo's co-creators, Neil McCarthy and Mitzi Booysen. McCarthy said that creating Cherel was the "greatest contribution I have ever made to [television]". Michelle Botes was cast in the role of Cherel, who was described to her as an "Afrikaans funny girl". Botes signed an initial three month guest contract with the soap. Botes made her first screen appearance as Cherel in 1998.

A writer for the official Isidingo website described Cherel as a "very well-groomed, well-preserved go-getter". Cherel learnt to "fend for herself" from an early age and realised that she is responsible for her own destiny. The writer explained that Cherel is an "absolutely loyal friend", but rarely befriends people. They added that Cherel abandoned morals a long time ago, as she sees them as a "nuisance and hindrance" whilst trying to achieve success. Cherel strives for "financial success" and a "position of power". An official Isidingo website writer said tenacity is one of Cherel's "winning characteristics". They said [...] "She makes no moral judgments on people. She'll cut to the bone and work like a maniac to make things happen." However, Cherel is "totally manipulative" and has a "very sharp tongue", which the writer describes as her most "repelling characteristics". Cherel has the ability to transform herself into anything she chooses and the writer added that she is fearless. Botes told a reporter from the Independent Online that Cherel "uses romance as a currency". The actress revealed that she admires Cherel as she comes from a "very disadvantaged and cruel place". Botes defended Cherel's criminal nature, saying she is "very pro-Cherel". Botes revealed that her inspiration to portray Cherel comes from women who have been wronged in their lives and "fight back" in retaliation and how creatively they do it. Discussing the similarities between herself and Cherel, Botes said "Cherel and I aren’t that similar, but I think I live by my own rules, independent of others’ opinions."

During a 2011 interview with Sipho Xolisa Tshapu of the official Isidingo website, Botes said that Cherel only cares about herself as no one has ever cared for her. Botes told the Independent Online's Colin Roopnarain that Cherel is a "phoenix" who refuses to wallow. Cherel lives according to her own rules and Botes admires her character's "tenacity for life".

Departure
On 7 November 2006, it was confirmed that Botes was to leave Isidingo. Isidingo's publicist, Genevieve Cutts, told a reporter from TVSA that SABC3 and Botes were still in negotiations for the actress to remain in the soap until the day before her departure was announced. The website reported that Botes would remain in the role for the rest of the year. The reporter explained that Botes would join the cast of M-Net soap opera, Binnelanders, after her departure. Cutts revealed that Botes was leaving to "broaden her horizons". Of her departure, Botes told a kykNET writer "I'm not tired of [Cherel] - not at all. I've learned more from her as a character than any other. It was just time for another direction, and I really want to act in Afrikaans again." The actress later stated she was "grateful for the years that [she] spent at Isidingo", but felt it was time to "move on". Isidingo's executive producer, Pumla Hopa, said "We wish her well in her new venture and will miss her. She was part of the Isidingo family." Botes filmed her final scenes in February 2007. A writer for The Sowetan reported that Cherel would be seen on screen until April. Cherel's exit storyline began airing from March, and she made her final appearance on 18 April 2007. Botes later admitted that she never thought she would leave Isidingo. The actress explained "I just felt that what was happening to the character... this is very difficult ground to tread on. Let's just say that if it is necessary to leave her for a while to have her going, I would rather have that than to destroy her in being there."

Return
After much speculation, it was confirmed on 26 May 2010 that Botes would be reprising the role of Cherel. Of Botes' return, Isidingo's head writer, Ilse van Hemert, commented "For a long time people have been asking about her. We realised that we no longer had a black sheep in the story, and we brought her back.". Van Hemert added that it was "good" that the actress was willing to return. Botes returned to filming with the series on 2 June 2010. Botes described her reprisal of the role as "weird, wonderful and familiar". Cherel's return aired on 13 August 2010. Discussing her return in 2011, Botes commented "It has been lovely to find Cherel again and while it was a whole set of circumstances that saw her return, which is normally the way of the world, she was not to be ignored." Van Hemert revealed that she was asked to reintroduce the character of Cherel by the television channel who broadcast Isidingo, SABC 3. Van Hemert felt that "the character had done everything that was bad" and was against Cherel returning. She explained [...] "I couldn’t see how we could bring her back. How can we bring her back without people saying; ‘oh Cherel, more of the same, up to her old tricks again’." Van Hemert then devised a storyline featuring Cherel and the Le Roux family, who were introduced to increase the Afrikaans audience. Van Hemert explained to Arts Review that since Cherel and the Le Roux's had not met on-screen, they could "be [her] victims". She stated [...] "We can all go; ‘oh you stupid people can’t you see how evil [Cherel] is'." The Le Roux's were used as the "tools" to reintroduce Cherel.

Botes admitted that she found reprising the role of Cherel as "difficult". She commented "You really have to work for it to make acting look easy and that's when you know you have paid your dues." Botes said that the most difficult thing about portraying Cherel is that you have to "disregard yourself". The actress added "You can't judge the character. And she works because I can get out of Michelle's way to play her." Discussing how Cherel has changed, Botes told a reporter from the Independent Online "Cherel has grown, like all of us. She has been away for a few years and has been through a lot."

In her return storyline, Cherel wants to exact revenge on ex-husband, Barker, as she holds him responsible for her daughter, Tanya, committing suicide. As part of this, Cherel plans to infiltrate the Le Roux family household. Cherel gains employment as Braam Le Roux's (Anton Dekker) executive personal assistant and hopes to make him develop feelings for her. Cherel befriends Braam's wife, Marlien (Elize Cawood), and causes numerous problems in their marriage. Cherel drugs Marlien to make her appear as though she is suffering from mental illness. Botes told a reporter from the Independent Online that Cherel feels guilty for drugging Marlien as she loves her. She said "Right now there isn't another way to get what she wants. Braam is the only one who has got what she needs." Cherel also begins a secret fling with Braam and Marlien's son, Benjamin (Arno Marais), who attempts to foil her plans. Cherel persuades Braam to send Benjamin away on business and later arranges for him to be injured in an accident on a construction site. Botes called the plan "classic Cherel" and explained that Cherel's actions are "means to get what she needs". The actress said that Cherel's previous actions were "a case of survival", but now she wants revenge for Tanya's death. Botes stated that this makes Cherel a "very powerful and unpredictable person". Botes opined that Cherel has done her research on the Le Roux family "very well". She explained "This is an entrenched Afrikaans family. She knows where the weak links are. And she knows they are a strong and proud family unit - they don't speak out. That helps her cause." Botes stated that Cherel needs a reason to live and has "latched" onto her plans to infiltrate the Le Roux's. Botes said that she is amazed by Cherel's "single-mindedness", teasing "She is unrepentant about any collateral damage. If she can get money without hurting anyone, that's first prize. But it isn't the case. She doesn't want to harm people, but if they don't move out of her way, well so be it?"

Sibeko family
In May 2011, Van Hemert told Arts Review's Tiisetso Tlelima that Cherel and Barker would be given a "common enemy" and would be "forced to work together" against them. Van Hemert explained that Cherel and Barker would be "standing on the same side" as they both have "something the other one needs" against the new Sibeko family. The Sibeko's own the multinational conglomerate, Sibeko Gold, and arrive in Horizon Deep to launch a new development in the town. Vusi Kunene was cast in the role of family patriarch and businessman, Jefferson Sibeko. Kgomotso Christopher was cast as Jefferson's wife, Katlego, and Linda Sokhulu was cast as Jefferson's niece, Nikiwe. Letoya Mangezi was also cast as family friend, Ayanda Diale. When asked by Tashi Tagg of TVSA if Jefferson prefers Cherel or Barker, Kunene said "I think he'd like to go toe-to-toe with Barker. Fight him. With Cherel, maybe he'd like to wrestle with her." Kunene stated that Jefferson is not aligned with either Cherel or Barker. The actor revealed that Barker would be Jefferson's "nemesis". However, Kunene was unsure as to what would happen between Jefferson and Cherel. Cherel is unimpressed by the Sibeko's plans for Horizon Deep.

Len Cooper
Cherel embarks on an affair with Len Cooper (Chris Beasley), whilst married to Barker. Upon Cherel's return in 2010, Len is her only ally. When asked whether Len is still "carrying a torch" for Cherel by a writer from the Independent Online, Botes said that Len's "big love" was Tanya. Botes explained that Len is one of the few people who understand Cherel as she has never been fairly treated by anyone. She said "Len is the one who saw the lengths she went to for her daughter - he saw the vulnerable woman in there." Botes added that Cherel and Len are both "irreverent" characters, who "don't care for society rules".