[Music]

Well, I’m doing well.  You look great! Um, we actually haven’t done a video chat. You and I haven’t.  

No, I feel like it definitely was time for that to happen for sure. {laughs}

Yeah, we’ve talked so much on online, but never in person so it’s kind of nice.

I’m going to get onto the YouTube page one second here

Nice!

–watch later.

Right!

I hear ya. So then you want to get that part out of the way. {laughs}

Yes Friday night, 9:00 Eastern.

I know! I’ve seen that! You know, it’s sometimes…you think maybe Friday night won’t be a popular night to watch TV.  But I feel like after a long week of work, people get home and they just want to watch something that’s going to be entertaining with their family. And I really think that that’s what Date My Dad has kind of done for Friday nights for a lot of people. And I feel that that’s so special ’cause I know when I was young, I used to watch TGIF all the time on Friday nights which I loved, and I looked forward to it every single week, and it was like two hours of just like “me time” with my family and my brother. And so I’m happy that Date My Dad can do that for a lot of people.

Yeah, nobody needs to be watching that with your parents, you know what I mean? {laughs}

Right, right, and so that was just really neat to see something I thought…you guys are really–with this show–are recreating something that we don’t really have anymore.

I could not agree more, and I don’t personally have kids at the moment, but I have friends that do and it’s funny because one of my best friends, um, she watches it with her little daughter that just turned one. And you know, her daughter doesn’t watch a lot of TV, but they have their once a week where they sit down and watch Date My Dad. And she always sends me a little video. She calls me “Aunt Buzz” and she’s like, “Look, it’s Aunt Buzz on the TV!” And her daughter’s like one and she just got

I know it’s yeah I still like can’t even believe it happened. And yeah I’m so happy.

Yeah, I kinda think I was waiting a little while just to be…you know, you know I don’t personally like to talk about things until like things are like set in stone um because you never know what can

Um ooh, that’s a good question. I think-I think that I’m like her in the sense of her work ethic. I think that she’s a very um strong worker. She takes her job really seriously.  She’s going to school at the

It doesn’t go without saying… you know, if anything, she’s a prime example of like someone who like of what you can look like if you take care of yourself, you know?  Uh, so there’s that. And of course, the living in a bit of luxury and things of that nature, but she’s definitely had an incredible life, so that’s for sure.

I remember when I did the first read-through with the cast I was doing it via Skype because I was in LA at the time, and I remember everyone saying “hi” to me because I didn’t know everyone who was part of the cast, like I hadn’t met them. And I remember right in front of the camera I couldn’t see all

Oh, hi, James.

I feel like he’s asked me this on on Twitter before. Um, you know, to start off, I love what I do so much

Simple things. It’s all in the simplicity, you know? I really would like to travel more. My boyfriend and I are trying to plan a European vacation right now so we’re kind of trying to make that happen so that’s gonna be {hard} ’cause he works a lot as well, so we’re trying to take that time for ourselves.

Exactly, yeah. You’ll have like one day off and you’ll visit, but you’re like brain dead basically. {laughs} Or working on your work that’s coming up so there’s never–there’s not a lot of downtime for sure. Your brain is like in work mode. It’s like go-go-go all the time.

Um, I think she would have to be someone who obviously loves kids. Uh, someone who is also career-driven, but also takes um time for herself. I think he needs a strong woman, a woman who can kind of

Um, I don’t have a problem with it. Um, I get more squeamish when I’m watching myself with other people. If I’m watching myself on my own, I really–I can, you know, watch it for what it is. I can kind of, you know, break it down like, “Oh okay, that was pretty.. that was pretty good.”  Like I can watch myself and like get myself props for the good work I’ve done or be like, “You know what? That could have been better, but oh, that seemed was good so..” You know, “Oh yeah that’s what–” or I’ll watch and be like, “Oh yeah, I remember that was going on when I was shooting this or like it’ll remind me of certain things so..” I don’t know, I think–I think personally I think it’s important to watch yourself or to see your work because I don’t know, our work is such a big part of our life that to me, it’s kind of like a big chapter of my life. So to negate or to ignore that is kind of–I feel like I’d be ignoring a big part of my life in a way. I mean I’m not at home watching myself on loop or anything like that, but  I watch everything I’ve done at least once just at least know what the heck everyone is talking about–you know, when they’re talking about my work.

And I also, you know, when watching myself, I also enjoy seeing what went on in the editing room because what we’ve done–which is one of the reasons why I like to watch it–what we did in the room can be so different than how they edited it. And then with the music added on and people’s reactions like, it gives you a whole–and editing can truly be magic. Like you can take something that is horrible and make it an award-winning just through editing honestly, so that is pretty awesome.

In theater school, they told me, they’re like,  “If there’s one friend you need to make on-set, it’s the editor.”  And I was like, “fair enough.”  I mean, unfortunately, we don’t really get to see them very often because they’re always in some dark cave somewhere editing our face, but then you meet them at like the wrap party and they’re like, “Cindy,” and you’re like, “Oh my gosh, who are you?” And they’re like, “I’ve been watching your face for the last like six months.”  And you’re like, I’m so sorry.” Haha! You know?

There’s a little bit of a resolution, but it also will be very interesting when we find out that there

Yeah, I love Andrea. She’s amazing.

The best way–I mean–what you have always been so great at doing–which is supporting us, promoting, um you know, hashtagging Date My Dad um anytime you have anything to say about the show specifically on Friday nights 9:00 Eastern UPTV or in Canada on the W Network Tuesday nights

because of fans. And honestly, shows wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you guys watching. So that is a huge component and support and the love that I’ve gotten and the show’s gotten is so overwhelming and it’s so incredible. And every time I read every message–like you know you get one odd random person that’s negative, and like I don’t even like–I don’t even pay attention to that because it’s so not worth it, and I’m like, “You know what?  If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it at all. Or go do something else or go talk to someone who cares ’cause it’s not here!” Hahaha! You know but yeah I think the best way is honestly just watching the show, sharing it with your friends because we all know people that would love a show like this. Like you mentioned there’s just not a lot of this kind of content on. So that’s the best–that would be the best thing to do for sure. And write to UP TV and tell them we want another season!

I agree, I agree. Actually, my friend was on a Virgin Airlines flight, uh like I think it was a couple days

before the show aired, and she saw a commercial like on the Virgin flight for Date My Dad, and she’s like, “I was sitting there on my seat and all of a sudden, there’s Cindy!” She’s like, “Wow, wow, wow…you know that famous line that I said. And she was like, “That was you!”  and I was like “Yes! Amazing!” You know, so it’s it stuff like that that’s so so enjoyable. And again, UP TV really did a great job. I mean, this is their first scripted series, um so that’s pretty–I mean that’s of its kind anyway–and so I think it’s nice as well because they also air Heartland, which is another show that I was on. So that’s really nice. A lot of people can see my, you know, my familiar face on Heartland as well as on Date My Dad. And A Puppy for Christmas aired on UP TV as well.  So I’ve been, you know, just like Hallmark…Hallmark and Up TV has been so good to me and they really create incredible family content. And listen, I wouldn’t have half–like most of my career’s been family content I’m so so happy and grateful about that.

direct scenes. Have I ever worked with kids? Yeah, I guess on on Heartland a little bit. Um, Jessica

Amlee was who played Mallory. She was only, I think, 12 or 13 when she started the show, and so that was that was awesome. You know, there’s something about kid actors that’s so special. Uh, first of all, they’re way their way beyond their years. Like they’re just like old souls in like these small

bodies Haha! So but I am but you know I I really enjoy them. I’m a kid at heart personally, so I always connect really well and I love to have fun and I love to be silly and they do as well. And Zenia {Marshall} and Lila {Fitzgerald} and Audrey {Smallman} are so–there’s no competition. There’s no

weirdness between them. They’re honestly–they act like sisters. And I know that they’ve hung out like outside of work as well. And they–and you know–they invited me too, but then it got canceled one time, and I was like, “I was gonna go!” Like I really wanted to go ’cause they’re so lovely and there’s so much fun. And that Audrey–such a little spitfire. And Zenia is such a talented singer. And Lila knits all the time in between scenes. She is an avid knitter–really, really talented. And all their moms and Zenia’s sister comes to set with her because they’re under 18, but their moms and the sister are so lovely. And they’re part of the cast; they’re part of the crew as well because they’re there every single day that they are. So they’re part of the family too, which is kind of special. But you get to see, you know, why they’re such lovely human beings as you get to meet their parents. And they’re not like show moms or they’re not, you know, anything like that.  They just sit there and they’re like, “Whatever.  Just another day.” And uh and I find that really special and I really respect that a lot. And then that also shows you why they’re such strong women is you get to meet their strong female influences–their moms. And you know, my mom is a very strong influence in my life and I have such a–I have a soft spot for moms because you know, you guys just work your butts off–dads too by the way, dads too. And that’s actually one of the things I love about Date My Dad is that Ricky Cooper is such a great role model for single dads or dads who show up. Because I got to tell you they don’t get enough props in a world that…you know, there are some dads out there that aren’t present, but there are so many great dads that are and I I think that’s amazing and like keep up that good work because you deserve it and all kids deserve to have great dads because they’re just as important as great moms.

I know! He’s gone through all the puberty stuff with them {laughs}

Um yeah, I I have a movie called Betting on the Bride that I did. I think it’s gonna be  Hallmark. And that one was so much fun. It’s with Carissa Lee Staples, and she plays my sister–well I play her sister. Um and it’s another kind of bridal movie, but really, really funny, really heartwarming and also a very strong female cast. And yeah, so I’ve got that coming out. I’m not sure the dates–I’m really not sure,

but of course, on my social media, I will advertise the crap out of it one time when the time comes.

So I have Betting on the Bride. Then I have a Runaway Christmas Bride that I just did with Ion and that I’m assuming will be out sometime Christmas time, probably December.

And then the last thing I just did is called The Ranch and that is a Marvista movie, which is the same company that did A Puppy For Christmas. And again, I’m not sure a which it could be Hallmark or UP TV or I’m not sure yet uh and that is called The Ranch and potentially changing the title, though so uh not a hundred percent sure. But Kevin McGarry plays in that with me, and he is on Heartland now as well. We never got to be on the show at the same time, but he is a cast member. This is his third year now. And he was so lovely, uh and we have the same birthday, which is so funny, I know. What are the chances? Yeah, yeah, March 18th. So we have the same birthday and that was really cool. And so again, that one is gonna be out in the fall because it’s supposed to be done by end of September, so I’m assuming it’ll be out sometime in the fall. But again, I’ll be advertising those um as they come. Um so yeah, it’s been a really, really incredible busy year for me and I’m just yeah, I’m just so happy and

excited about everything. I feel so grateful. And you know the best part of it is? Not only do I get to play really fun characters, but the people I get to work with it’s–I was telling that you know, circumstances on sets aren’t always perfect, but if the people you work with are amazing, that makes all the difference. It’s like–it’s like anything, right? Like you know, you can be having a bad day, but if you’re in good company, what does it matter if you got a flat tire in the road because you’re with it– you’re with someone you love so. That’s all that matters.

That’s um, um, Runaway Christmas Bride, yes.

And we actually shot that on a real ski slope. As you know, a lot of these Christmas movies um

aren’t shot with real snow, which is, you know, which is fine. But we actually shot with real snow on a mountain called Mount Washington. It’s just on Vancouver Island and uh it was such a

beautiful place, but there’s so much snow. But it was–we were shooting there on a week where it was about like in 80 degrees or so like hot probably like 85 and we were wearing like ski jackets and gloves and the whole thing and I remember looking at Travis Milne, who was my co-star in that, he–I remember at one point he was off camera. So he unzipped jacket and I remember looking at his t-shirt and was just like drenched in sweat and I just remember thinking like, “Oh my goodness, this is-this is–” I mean good problems, but still very and very uncomfortable. But it’s better than freezing and I suppose so there’s that.

Yeah ’cause I know that people who filmed some spring movies in Vancouver um when

we had–when there was all the snow back in January and February. Oh I know and they had to-and they were filming and it was supposed to be springtime and there’s snow!

And Vancouver never gets snow! This year’s been so out of whack, but what can you do? It’s Mother Nature; she makes her own rules.

Yeah, it’s Somewhere Between. It’s an ABC series.

I actually have no idea. What–like probably. I know that they just about finished shooting. I think they finished like last week or they were finishing this week. But yeah, and I’m assuming it’ll be

pretty soon because they started in February–end of February, I think it was. So yeah probably soonish. But oh my gosh, that is a show to watch! No kidding! This story–I mean, it’s going to be very

different than like the Hallmark stuff, but it’s gonna be one of those shows that’s gonna keep you on the edge of your seat. You’re not gonna know what’s gonna happen next. It is really cool. It’s a really cool show.

Right.

And there are so many talented people–

Yeah yeah, it’s definitely gonna be a great show to watch.

Yeah, I think I’m in three episodes. it’s just a nice–it’s a nice like little cameo for me. Um, I was so

grateful to have been a part of it and yeah, it’s super super exciting – I can’t wait! I honestly– and it was really–I mean I can’t even talk about any of it other than it’s a show and I’m in it. {laughs}

I only know scripts I was in. Like I don’t–there’s so many holes in thes tory that I don’t know, so I’m really looking forward to watching it myself.

Yeah.

I’m in it, and that’s all I can say. {laughs}

Yeah, thank you for asking. That’s awesome.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, but you know what? You gotta have–you gotta have the characters that bring in some action because TV wouldn’t be exciting. Nobody would watch if everything was like cookie cutter, you know what I mean? And I really I hate to say it, but I really love playing characters like that. Like I love being the antagonist and bringing some drama to stories. And I know and ’cause I know I’m not like that in real life so it doesn’t bother me. And I think I play them pretty well ’cause people get pretty fired up about it. So that’s usually a good sign. Um but yeah, I  had auditioned for When Calls the Heart a couple times… not that much. Um, and I was really happy to get to play that character. Um, I was sad that Andrea and I didn’t get to work together, but uh yeah it was really nice. And I mean, I don’t know if my character would ever come back. You know, anything is possible. I would obviously totally be into that and gladly go to to the show again. And getting to play on a period piece was so fun! I’d only ever done that I think like once or twice before, but this was like the oldest I’ve gone so that was really, really cool to get to um try on those costumes. And they actually had most of my costumes tailored to my body, which is what they mostly do. Um yeah, so the the costume designers are incredible on that show. And yeah, Erin {Krakow} is lovely. Lori {Loughlin} is amazing.

Um yeah I know again–I think one of the number one things I love working–and you know my best friend Sarah Smyth and I were actually just having a walk yesterday, and we were talking about this– we’re talking about Hallmark and we’re like, “You know what the best thing about Hallmark is? It’s that every time I work on one of their projects,” (and she was saying the same) “it is one of the funnest, most enjoyable experiences.” Like everyone on set is awesome. The crews just know what they’re doing. It’s like a well-oiled machine. The producers are great. They just come in. They make these movies or these TV shows. They leave. It’s like it just works. And I really respect how well they execute things and how they make them happen and how easy it is because that’s not the case for a lot of things. And I think that they’ve really figured out a formula that works well and that’s such a great thing that they have and that is a wonderful experience for someone like me.

Yeah absolutely. And actually they just keep growing and growing and there’s such a big market for what they do. People love it and again, it comes back down to the same thing Up TV’s doing. It’s like creating content for families because they’ve gotten forgotten along the way, you know? So that’s why it’s working so well.

I know! That was actually unexpected for me as well because I when I originally did the first one–which was the first one they ever did–I didn’t know that they would ask me to come back. It was kind of like an open-ended sort of thing. Um and so when I got the call, I was working on Date My Dad and for the second one, and my agent called me and told me that they wanted me to come back and I was like, “Of course, I would love to come back.” And you know, the producers of Date My Dad were awesome and Hailey Dean and we were able to make it work in my schedule, which was lovely. And you know, it was nice to just like to just get back with the same director and same–pretty much

the same cast other than a few new people–obviously a new villain and all that kind of thing. But uh yeah, it was so great seeing Kellie {Martin}. Uh, Kellie and I went for dinner one night like she’s just I don’t know.  All I feel all I can say is lovely things about everyone I work with apparently, but I I truly feel so lucky. Like I get to work with amazing people and Kellie is probably one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever worked with. Like hands down, just a good human being who’s a great, talented

actress who just shows up has fun, grateful for what she does and is a great family woman. She’s got her priorities straight, and I really, really dig that about her. And she’s hilarious. It’s funny. She plays a lot of dramatic stuff, but she is so funny. I love it. I love–I think I get along the best with people that have such a great sense of humor ’cause at least ’cause they don’t take themselves so seriously, and I think that that’s one of the great things I love about Barry and Date My Dad and then one of the things I loved about Kellie too – is that she’s just like always ready to just like, you know, kind

of like riff raff with me.

Um, I think they’re supposed to. Um, it’s definitely–I think it’s supposed to be an ongoing series,

but I don’t know when they’re gonna be shooting them. Or I–it’s I guess it just depends on a lot of availabilities and things like that and scripts. But again, if there’s another one, I don’t know if I would be in it, but of course, I would–I would definitely be a part of it if they asked me to.

Um yeah, that’s a tough one. I–again, I can’t really say too much, but I definitely heard some positive things in that regards, but I haven’t been contacted in reference to scheduling or hiring or anything like that. So I definitely think there is there is an Unleashing Mr. Darcy 2 floating around in the universe somewhere which has been talked about–uh definitely seriously talked about–but uh we haven’t shot anything and I haven’t been personally contacted yet. So it’s not in the wheelhouse right now, but I wouldn’t close the chapter on it is what I’m saying.

Well, I don’t want to be–I don’t want to be 50 doing Unleashing Mr. Darcy 2. {laughs}

I’ll get some of Raquel Welch’s secrets. oh yeah so see that we

You know what? At 80, why not? Probably need to get some new dogs though, that’s for sure. I don’t know that they’ll last that long.

No.

So this is the power you guys have. I mean you guys just have to keep requesting things and

that’s all it takes, you know, some positive reinforcement.

I know Unleashing Mr. Darcy {was loved} a lot. So that’s for sure.

Oh, she’s totally on board! She is so lovely and I hope she can make another cameo in the second when and if we shoot it.  So that would be pretty cool.

Yeah

Um, yeah. I definitely would like to dabble in other things other than acting. I think um writing is–I have a couple friends of mine–Elise and Devin–we started writing sketches together uh and we put that a little bit on hold because we got busy, but I know that we’re gonna we get back into it. And I think maybe directing–I think producing is something I would really like to get into actually. Um, that’s what my boyfriend does. He’s in producing and I would really like to dabble in that. And I think that I have a lot of great ideas, but I also am a very organized person. I feel like I’m a very big mover and a shaker sort of thing, and I think that that–I think producing is incredible because you really start from the beginning and you’re there till the end. And the reason things come about is because of producers in production and so that’s absolutely something I’m really interested in right now. It’s cool because the the producers of The Ranch that I just worked it with Good Soldier Films–they are a director/producer combo, together a married couple–Brigitte {Kingsley} and Andrew {Cymek}. And I was really, really passionate and fascinated by what they did, and it was actually really nice to work with them and see them. Brigitte was the producer and she was just so awesome and worked really hard. And just they delivered and they made a great product. And you know what? She–they actually really planted a seed in me to explore the behind-the-scenes a lot more and I’m really excited to do that. So it’s very, very much in the early stages, but it’s something that I’m starting to kind of really think about and just start to pursue.

I would love-I mean I would love to direct absolutely. I–that’s definitely on my list.  You know, there’s so many wonderful things, and I think as a woman too um there’s different–there’s not enough female directors, but I think it’s becoming more and more. And I think Wonder Woman is a great example of how great that can be. So yeah, I’m definitely open to the opportunity. I think that anything is possible and I think the possibilities are endless, so I’m totally open and excited about it.

Aw, thanks.

Yeah, you know I appreciate you saying that because it’s so easy for people to just watch the final product and not–and just see all of the greatness of it and it is all great, but it’s definitely so much work. And you know there’s a lot of ups and downs in every actor’s career and of course, most of social media just highlights all of the great parts, and because, you know, with reason. It’s incredible when it’s going really well, but there are moments where it’s not going so so great, but you know nobody really talks about that part. But I–you know–it’s people like you and any fan that like anytime people are busy and great things are happening, it’s just nice to know that the support is there and that is probably my favorite part of the Hallmark community is the support. I mean, you guys are just like above and beyond anything else. I probably compare it to the sci-fi community actually because

the sci-fi community is huge and they will support you till the end. And I think that that has been the greatest gift, as far as um as Hallmark, you know, Hallmark–any kind of family show has taught

me.

Yeah, totally!

Oh yeah, they are they are very present and they’re very protective and I get it, you know, I get it.

And that’s why when I showed up, they like loved to hate my character, but like there was a lot of

love there, so it’s all good. Um but yeah, I mean, the Hearties have welcomed me with open arms like from the minute I started advertising it, and they were so excited because a lot of them recognized me from other things. And so I think that when you have someone who enjoys your work and then you show up on their favorite show, it’s like it’s heaven really.

Hallmark fans are the best! Wohoo! Thanks, Kate, they are.

For sure. No, absolutely. You know what? It’s Friday. It’s five o’clock, people, and I don’t know what

it’s like where everybody else is living, but in Vancouver right now it is like there isn’t a cloud in the sky. Like it is, I’ll give you a little sneak peek. Pretty nice out there right now. Pretty beautiful. So that’s that’s the view I’m looking at right now.

It’s definitely been rainy, that is for sure.

No, honestly, it’s been my pleasure. I’m so happy to um talk about Date My Dad because again, it’s such a passion project for me, and I’m in and I’m really happy to touch base with all of the other Hallmark stuff. And again thanks to you for always being such a big supporter of mine and a big Hallmark supporter. And I know that you’re kind of–it’s funny, I talked to Chris, who’s my boyfriend, and I told him like, “I have my interview with Ruth Hill today,” and he’s like, “Oh yeah, Ruth!” because I always–it’s funny, I refer to you as like the “godmother of Hallmark.”{laughs}

Because I just I feel like you kind of–I feel like the community is there, but you kind of like bring–you like rally the troops together like, “All right, all right, everybody, we’re doing this!”  I’m like, it’s just like, it’s really cool to have someone like you and I think, um, I think there’s a couple of you, but you’re the one who stands out for me. And anyway, but thank you for making this happen and uh sharing it with everyone. That’s awesome.

Godmother of Hallmark, there you go, uh as said by Cindy Busby.

And I will retweet as well and share on my Facebook page.

So yeah, it will be there. It won’t be going away. Um it’ll be back up probably by sometime early tomorrow. And we’ll get it.

Perfect.

Thank you so much. Enjoy Date My Dad tonight–every Friday on UP TV at 9:00 Eastern and then in Canada the W Network on Tuesdays. Thank you.

Lovely talking to you. Thank you for everything. Bye, everybody who tuned in. Muah!

Bye!