Not surprisingly, it is frequently other actors whom I’ve had the honor of interviewing that alert me to other talents I wish to seek out for an interview, and in the case of Alvina August, I have Viv Leacock to acknowledge! In our recent interview, he mentioned the name of the actress who would be playing his new love interest (even before IMDB had her listed), and when I reached out for an interview with this up and coming actress, I got more than I had bargained for, but in only the best way!

Photo by RebeccaRoss Studios

RH: What inspired you to become an actress? What kind of training did you have for this career?

AA: I started out as a singer and about three years ago, I had the opportunity to audition for The Lion King, which happens to be my favorite Broadway musical. That process really opened up a whole new world of expression for me. So I started taking classes/coachings to develop my acting skills. I’ve trained with Anthony Meindl here in Vancouver

The Other Kingdom

I believe The Other Kingdom was your first official project in the business. How did that role come about, and what did you enjoy about playing your character?

I played an elf fairy on Nickelodeon in my first ever TV role appearance. I got that role about a year after I started acting. Initially, I auditioned for the queen fairy and was asked to cold read for another character right afterward. I got the call about a week later that I had booked the role of Versitude, who was the King’s right-hand advisor.

The Other Kingdom

My favorite part about playing a villain was the freedom it gave me to play. Versitude was funny, cunning, smart, ambitious and wouldn’t think twice about turning kids into mice 😉 Personally, I’m not a yeller, so to play a character whose modus operandi is manipulation and intimidation was well….intimidating! But I embraced the challenge and learned so much from that experience.

I notice you had a role on Supernatural in season twelve. What was it like being on the show? Any special memories from behind-the-scenes?

Supernatural

Supernatural was incredible! That was the first role I booked when I moved to Vancouver last year. I was directed by Richard Speight Jr., who also plays Gabriel. I loved working with him because as an actor himself, he could articulate his vision so thoughtfully and collaboratively in a way another actor could understand.

Supernatural

As for working with Sam {Jared Padalecki} and Dean {Jensen Ackles}, it was challenging, mostly because I had to play dead and not flinch, but they kept cracking jokes during our shoot. It’s easy to see why the show has been around forever. They were so kind and charming and it really did feel like I was part of a family for a week. What a blast! 🙂

The Good Doctor

You were also on a few episodes of The Good Doctor last season. What was it like being on that show? Any possibility you could return?

I played nurse Alana Paikin. My character was always dealing with high stakes medical emergency situation,s so that was fun to maneuver. Seeing Freddie Highmore up close play such a complex and loveable character was really something. He has such keen perception and engagement with everything around him. I appeared in three episodes and hope for more to come once Season two starts back up again.

Arrow

You were also recently in Arrow. How was that experience, and is there any opportunity for your character to return?

My guest star role on Arrow was brief. I played Tigressa, an ex-league of assassins member who tells of the whereabouts of a secret map. As far as I know, my character will not be returning unless there is an afterlife that they explore in upcoming seasons, lol!

Hallmark viewers got to see you in the most recent Hailey Dean Mystery films. How did you get connected with this series? What was your experience like filming it? What do you enjoy about your character Meghan? Any chance we’ll see you again in another installment?

Photo: Viv Leacock, Alvina August Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

I auditioned for Hailey Dean in Vancouver where I am based. I was really excited when I booked the role of Meghan for two reasons. One: because it was my very first Hallmark production and two: I would be playing a doctor. Before I became an actor, I was pursuing medicine, but the performer inside of me pulled me in the other direction.

Photo: Viv Leacock, Alvina August, Kellie Martin, Matthew MacCaull Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

Meghan is smart and funny. I love that she didn’t let one seemingly bad speed-date stop her from pursuing love. Hopefully, you’ll get to see more of her in her professional life in upcoming Hailey Dean movies, but for now, I’m thrilled about exploring where Fincher and Meghan’s relationship could go. I think she is good for him!

I LOVED filming these movies. The cast, crew, and director were so passionate and they genuinely cared about the project. Viv {Leacock}, who plays Fincher, was such a gentleman and a big part of making me feel so welcome. To top it all, working with Kellie Martin was so surreal because I have admired her ever since Life Goes On.

I understand you are in an upcoming Hallmark film with Andrew Walker. Please tell us what you can about the film, your role, and your experience.

Photo by Marco Grazzini

That’s correct. I will be in the upcoming Hallmark movie Love in Design. We just wrapped shooting in Winnipeg, and the Hallmark audience is in for a treat with this one. I play Julie, a character trying to balance career pursuits and personal commitments all while supporting her best friend and colleague Hannah, played by the amazing leading lady, Danica McKellar. That’s about as much as I can say about that!

We had a great crew made up of people from all over Canada and LA. It was my first time in Winnipeg and I will definitely be coming back. Minus a couple of torrential downpours, all in all, it was a hugely successful shoot. I can’t wait for you all to see it!

Any other upcoming roles you can mention?

I have a recurring role in the Sabrina the Teenage Witch re-make Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, currently shooting in Vancouver. I play the role of Lady Constance Blackwood, a choir teacher at the Academy of Arts. Moreover, I have a small cameo in the feature Bad Time at the El Royale out in theaters Oct. 5th.

Photo by Randy Lange Photography

I understand you are also a singer. Can you tell us more about that?

I am. Long before acting came along, there was music! I grew up singing in the church in Zimbabwe from a very young age pursuing music through high school musicals and choir/a capella groups or writing songs and collaborating with other musicians. At one point, I was working as a wedding singer 🙂 Currently, melodies AND make-believe are my modus do operandi, but music will always have a special place in my heart because of how much it reminds me of my childhood. My artist name is Alvina August on iTunes/Spotify.

As a young woman in the business, what is your advice to other young people (especially women) who are considering a career in entertainment?

Photo by Marco Grazzini

My best advice would be first and foremost to nurture and develop your craft. Don’t get caught up in the showbiz of it all. There are tons of things beyond your control, so just have fun! My grandmother always said to me, “Your talent will make room for you,” so let your talent speak loudly.

Secondly, surround yourself with people who know you, keep you grounded and want to see you be the best version of yourself. Nurture your relationships!

Thirdly, be a well-rounded, multi-dimensional human being. Know who you are and define your values/standards, or someone else will define them for you. I found I didn’t need validation from acting exclusively because I know I am educated, kind, kinda funny and talented too. Maybe it’s because I came into the industry late with a healthy dose of self-esteem already given to me by my awesome mother (my shero) and earned from travelling the world/meeting all kinds of people. My greatest teacher has been my life experiences and they continue to inform the characters I portray. Make sure your manager and the people working in your corner are all on the same page.

Sorry to bombard you with advice. Clearly, this subject is near and dear to me and I felt it important to share.

Photo by Marco Grazzini

Thank you, Alvina, for sharing that incredible advice. No need to apologize! I love it when people are passionate about things and share that passion readily with others.

Just some random things now:

Favorite food: Thai cuisine. I have a huge sweet tooth so I’m a glutton for pastries, ice-cream, chocolate all day every day!

Favorite restaurant: Currently Banana Leaf in Vancouver (Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian cuisine)

Favorite book: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Favorite movie: Any Sandra Bullock romantic comedy

Favorite series: GOT, The Mindy Project

Favorite place to visit for relaxation: Mexico

With the solid recommendations of both Viv and Matthew MacCaull, I was more than prepared to be captivated by the vivacious Alvina, and her music background was a point of connection for us about which she probably wasn’t aware (I was a vocal major in college and a former music teacher). What I had not anticipated was her singular insight and enchanting demeanor that instantly endeared the viewers (myself included) to the character of Meghan as she illumined the screen in the two Hailey Dean films in which Meghan played a somewhat prominent role. While I am convinced that the entire cast of the series was welcoming and kind, it still takes a professional with masterful abilities to match the caliber of actors like Kellie Martin, Viv Leacock, and of course, Nancy Grace herself. Alvina never depicted Meghan as a shrinking violet who was not assured of her capabilities as a strong woman, and I can only hope that we have not seen the last of this beautiful, feisty woman who is the perfect match for Fincher’s unconventional, sometimes undisciplined fashion of approaching life. And now that Hallmark has employed her services yet again for the first of Andrew Walker’s executive producing stints, I can only surmise that Alvina is fast securing her place as one of the newest members of the Hallmark family who will feasibly enjoy the unprecedented rights and responsibilities that accompany that position.

So if you have not had the opportunity to savor the trilogy of Hailey Dean mystery films that graced the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries scene this month, be sure to watch for the encore showings of these exceptional films, as I will state for the record that this series has earned my unmitigated stamp of approval for the best of the mystery series on Hallmark to date. Additionally, please check out all of Alvina’s links below and consider following her so that you never miss any of her upcoming projects again. After all, since Alvina was able to command the screen with her expertise for the short time in which Hallmark fans witnessed her prowess, it boggles the mind to imagine where she might be one, two, five, or even ten years from now as her career continues its gradual, upward climb towards dreams that perhaps Alvina herself may not have realized she fostered within the depths of her soul.

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