I always say that I have the best job in the world. And truly, I believe it. I live in Canada, home of some of the very best in entertainment. Not only do some of my favorite shows and movies come out of Canada, but some of the very best entertainers hail from our fair country. And here’s the thing about Canadian actors – in the 4+ years I have been working for UrbanMoms – I have yet to meet a Canadian actor or actress that I didn’t want to have coffee with and, well, bake some pie for. Or something.
The cast of Heartland is no exception.
At 8:00 p.m. on December 12th (and re-airing on Christmas Day) you’ll see Heartland like you have never seen it before…in its very own 2-hour-long holiday special. I don’t want to give away too much, but it looks like Christmas might not happen at Heartland Ranch. An avalanche traps some horses and, of course, Amy (Amber Marshall) and Ty (Graham Wardle) try to help save them, but their efforts prove difficult due to a grumpy land-owner, played by the phenomenal-in-everything-he-does Nicholas Campbell.
They filmed last February and March in Alberta, so the snow you see is authentic. And, interestingly, winter was mild last year and the snow started to melt, making shooting what are meant to look like scary avalanche scenes actually be, well, a little scary. So, I guess you could say it was even authentic than you might have guessed.
Heartland is one of those shows that does not, in my humble opinion, get enough buzz. It’s possible that it’s because it doesn’t have its own niche. It’s a show that kids love, especially horse lovers. But it’s a show that adults love too. It’s a show that I can watch with my ten-year-old and not have to pre-screen (it’s good clean PG fun), but also not have to sneak out of the room because it’s too juvenile for me to sit through. It’s chock full of drama and comedy and action and romance. I think it’s a real testament to the writers to be able to build these characters that I – and my ten-year-old – really care about. “And it’s not just Ty and Amy, ” says Amber, “there are so many different characters and so many different storylines that people are following.”
And the family atmosphere seems to have translated into real life for Amber Marshall and Graham Wardle. When I asked if they had any embarrassing set stories or if anyone played any pranks on anyone, Nicholas Campbell let out a laugh and explained that the cast of Heartland is certainly not a pranky bunch. They are more like a big old family. (and NO! Graham and Amber are not dating. “We are really good friends,” she says.) Graham even admitted that he calls Michelle Morgan (who plays Lou Fleming) for advice all the time as if she’s his actual big sister. Nicholas said, though, that even though they are a close-knit group, he fit right in pretty seamlessly. He joked that it may have had something to do with him being kind of a celebrity. (At this point in the conversation, I wanted to put Nicholas Campbell in my pocket and take him home with me).
I asked if we might see him return to Heartland, hoping to get some spoilers for my lovely readers and fans of the show, and while he didn’t give me anything concrete, he did say that he would love to return.
When I asked what music they are listening to (because one of our readers was dying to know! And I’m a giver, you guys), the answers seemed to surprise everyone. Amber, who says that she mostly listens to country music (“it comes with the lifestyle,” joked Graham) but recently has been listening to a lot of hip hop. (“YOU? Hip Hop?” Graham was surprised) Graham played me something on his iphone that was very Sigur Ros-esque (which made me want to put him in my pocket too) and Nicholas said he has been listening to Reggae for the last 20 years. I would have NEVER pegged him a Reggae fan, but he said he is actually in the Reggae Hall of Fame, thanks to the movie Stepping Razor – Red X, about murdered reggae artist Peter Tosh, that he both wrote and directed.
While they were in town, Graham, Nicholas and Amber went to see Battle of the Blades (like I did) and went to The Royal Winter Fair (like I did), only they were there meeting fans and signing autographs, not just, you know, watching skaters and petting cows. “The Royal Winter Fair is our exact demographic,” Amber says. Parents, kids, horse-lovers…it covers just about everyone! Graham adds, “and that’s how WE get the buzz out, we go out and talk to the fans and the people.”
And it’s working, because Heartland is a huge hit in Canada (and it has just crossed over south of the border onto US television stations) and I know you all are going to love the Christmas Special.
And I am probably going to go and bake them some pie.
(Images courtesy of CBC and my iphone. Don’t steal. It’s impolite. Also, it’s illegal.)
(Also, I need to give a special thanks to Graham Wardle for teaching me new iphone tricks.)
That is awesome!
They recently did a casting call in my Twin & Triplet club {I am close to Calgary}, for identical Twin boys – I have girls, I was a bit disappointed!
So nice to see a show film so close to home!
My mother-in-law has loved this show for years, and we’ve only recently started watching it. The kids love it (we even let them stay up late to watch it) and we do now, too!
There are so few shows that our whole family can sit down and watch. It’s great to have a Canadian show that fits the bill.
I’m with Jen – but in this case, I might just have to watch. Mmmmm… Christmas.
Something about a Christmas special, eh?
I love them.
I don’t watch Heartland but am a sucker for a Christmas special! Thanks for the tip.
I love that show too. Great review and thanks! mrs.shopper