A couple of years ago, I happened to catch a quick interview with Nikki DeLoach on Home & Family on the Hallmark Channel just prior to the premiere of her Christmas movie A Dream of Christmas, and I was incredibly impressed with her outlook and her commitment to her family, her profession, and her faith. Since that time, I have followed her career rather closely and waited for the perfect time to reach out to her again. Thanks to Dylan Neal and Nikki’s team, I am thrilled to present my most recent interview with the vivacious and gifted Nikki in anticipation of her upcoming film premiere on the Hallmark Channel this evening (September 22) which is entitled Truly, Madly, Sweetly.

Photo: Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

RH: Nikki, it is such a pleasure to be talking with you today. I know we did an email interview back a couple of years ago when you were in A Dream Of Christmas, but it’s so nice to actually be chatting with you.

ND: Thank you so much, Ruth, for reaching out. It’s wonderful to talk with you today too.

I’ve been closely following your career ever since you came to Hallmark. And I am consistently impressed by you.

Thank you. I appreciate that so much. It means the world.

Well, I appreciate you because you bring so much more than just your talent. You bring your positive outlook as well as that vital component of your faith. I greatly respect that in you. And now you’re a mom with young kids, which brings a whole new dimension to you and your work. 

Here’s how I see it. I feel like being an actor, a producer, and a writer is not my purpose in this world. It’s a job, and one I take very seriously. And believe me, I LOVE my job! When I was doing some location scouting for the Christmas movie I’m doing now for the network, I was on my way home, and I just really teary-eyed. It was an overwhelming moment to realize that here I am, more than thirty years in the business, and I get to do what I love every day of my life. I mean like at three years old, I said I wanted to be an entertainer, and here I am doing it! There are so many people who because of their circumstances, they don’t have the opportunity to do that thing that they want to do in life. And there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t recognize how blessed I am. And I’m always grateful for it.

But I do think of all this as my job. I’m humbled when I realize that within the scope of my job, I have the ability to affect people. But my purpose is still bigger than that. My purpose comes from being connected to God and that’s something that is very important in my life. And that means growing my human self, trying to be the best version of myself, and also trying to leave this world a little bit better than I came into it. That’s my actual purpose. So if I can put my head on the pillow every night and say, “Okay, did I grow my human self? Did I do something for someone else? Did I leave the world a little better?” If I’m able to say “yes,” then that was a really good day.

I’ve honestly learned a lot over the years. When I was younger, a good day was having a good audition or booking the role or whatever. But as I’ve grown older and matured, I realize that’s not actually what it’s all about. It’s much bigger. You know, we’re all connected, and we’re all here to help each other and lift each other up. And I feel like that’s what you do as well in the way that you connect with the actors and entertainers that you interview and feature and the material you put out there. You and I are both charging forward and trying to accomplish the same thing within our respective positions. And I think that’s pretty cool.

Wow, Nikki, thank you so much. And you know, I’m right with you on what you’re saying. You truly put into words quite eloquently very much the way I feel, so thank you. And the really great thing is that every time I talk with someone who has worked with you, they always give you the highest praise. For example, Andrew Walker just raves about you. 

Aw, that’s sweet. He’s such a dear man that I’ve had the pleasure of working with a couple of times.

And then Lisa Durupt always has such wonderful things to say about you too. The three of you have gotten to do a couple Hallmark movies together, and it’s always great to see you all together.

Oh, Lisa, is amazing! I hired her for the Christmas movie I’m currently doing. I straight up hired her because I just want Lisa to play my sister. And thankfully Hallmark was like, “Great, we love her!” Lisa is a terrific actress. She is so good, but beyond that, we are besties. I just love being around her. I love her spirit. I love how much she cares for other people. I love how she doesn’t take herself so seriously.

I know Lisa because I’ve gotten to interview her a couple times, and she is just a lovely person. In fact, I think it’s definitely a mutual admiration society between you two. 

Aw, that’s so nice to hear!

Photo: Nikki DeLoach, Dylan Neal Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

And I just talked with Dylan recently again, and I think he could have easily spent the entire interview talking about you. And I wanted to make sure to tell you this though. He said that when he first met you, there was this inner light that attracted him to you as a person and an actress, and I personally thought that was a really cool thing to say about someone.

Oh, that’s just so nice! “Dilly!” I call him Dilly. {laughs} He’s the best. I just loved working with him. He was the executive producer and obviously my partner. And I have to say…not only was it so great working opposite him as an actor, but he is somebody that is there for you, who shows up and is professional, knows his lines and really cares about what he does. He was always asking me on set what he could do to help me. He really cares.

You know, sometimes actors get to a certain place in their lives where they just get up there and say the lines and that’s it. So when you get to work with people who really, really care about their job, it’s just magic. It makes it so much more fun. But also, he is an outstanding producer! Outstanding! He is so specific. He knows exactly what he wants. He makes sure that everyone is taken care of on the set. You don’t have to want for anything. I felt so taken care of by him. He’s such a good guy.

Nikki, that’s great to hear! I hear that regularly from the people he works with, and so it’s good to hear that from you as well. So Truly, Madly, Sweetly premieres tonight, so without revealing too much, what can you tell us about your role and how that relates to the overall storyline?

Photo: Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

The one thing that I can say is that my character is a person who has taken some hits in her life. You know, she was in love and got her heart broken. But not only did she get her heart broken, but she kind of had everything she had worked for–her business–taken away from her. She lost everything. And I can relate to that a lot because of how long I’ve been in this business, and I always say I kind of have had to put my career back together numerous times. So I totally related to this character and her sense of, “All right, I’m gonna brush myself off and I’m gonna go at it again.”

When we meet her, she is in the midst of trying to go at it again in her career. She’s an incredible baker and very talented. And she has herself a cupcake truck. But her dream is to have her own bakery. And what happens is that Dylan’s character had an aunt who was very close to me. She was my mentor and she taught me everything that I knew about baking. Well, these two characters, Eric (played by Dylan) and Natalie (played by me) are brought together when they realize they both inherited her bakery. He’s the nephew, and I’m her mentee.

Photo: Dylan Neal, Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

So now the two of us have to work together to essentially bring this thing to life, and it’s not as easy as they think it’s gonna be. Eric doesn’t really want to do save this bakery and make it work. He’s more of a businessman and he wants to sell it. But Natalie wants to turn it into a dream bakery, but also preserve the memory of this woman who meant so much to her. So within that, conflict arises obviously, but we get to see these two people find their way on that journey to figuring out if they are going to sell the bakery or keep it. What are they going to do? And Natalie helps him to love again and to be happy again. He had lost a lot of that. And he helps her to believe that she has the talent to really make her dream come true. So they help each other in that way. And you know, they may fall in love along the way.

Photo: Dylan Neal, Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Right! We’ll have to watch and see. I mean, we all know usually how these Hallmark movies end, but it’s always the journey to that end that makes these movies fun. People can complain about Hallmark movies being predictable, but it’s a nice, feel-good romance that’s supposed to be like that. From what you shared, I think all of us can relate to Natalie’s situation of having to kind of put the pieces of our life back together and start over. I think most successful people in this world have experienced that kind of thing.

Yes, because if you are successful that means somewhere along the way, you took risks. And by taking risks, there’s gonna be times when you’re gonna fall down and things aren’t going to go the way you wanted it to go or the way you imagined it. But really and truly, it’s what you learn along the way, and that’s also how you collect yourself and move forward. I always think of it this way, and especially now that I have kids. You know, you can tell your kids over and over again not to do that or be like that or whatever it is. But it’s really about what you do that teaches them how to move forward as a healthy adult or human being. If I told my child to pick himself up, brush himself off, and start all over again, but I didn’t do that myself, they’re gonna mirror my behavior and not listen to my words. But if they see the fact that Mommy had a really rough day and a couple of things didn’t go her way but there’s always tomorrow. And then the next day, I wake up, get out of bed, put a smile on my face and I start all over again. If they see that, then they’re gonna do the same things because that’s the behavior they learn as children. I really do believe in walking the talk.

And then they get older and remind you of the very messages you taught them. My daughter does that to me now and then. You realize you taught them right, but then you realize you’re not doing what you taught them!

Oh yeah, I completely understand. My four-year-old already calls me out when I’m not doing the right thing.

Photo: Dylan Neal, Bailey Skodje, Karen Holness, Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

In addition to Dylan, I have also talked with Alison {Wandzura} and Bailey {Skodje} who appeared in Truly, Madly, Sweetly with you.

Oh, yes, I had some scenes with Alison. And as far as Alison goes, talk about a gem. You know, even as I was recently involved in casting for my Christmas movie, sometimes a special talent would come in the room and just light up the space. I just get so excited when that happens, and my other producer says, “I don’t know what is more fun. Watching them or watching you watch them.” And sometimes there is that person who comes in who’s just got it. They’re funny, they’re present, and they’re sharp. And I found that with one girl on the Christmas movie. I asked for her resume, and I put it in my folder. I plan to keep it forever because I’m using her every single chance I have. Alison is one of those special people for me. We have this scene and it’s me, Dylan, and Bailey, who plays Dylan’s daughter. And Alison is there with us too. We’re in a grocery store, and Alison was so funny, pitch-perfect and incredible that I said to her afterwards, “You are a revelation. I think you are so incredible and so talented.” I can’t wait to work with her again. She’s fantastic.

I couldn’t agree with you more about Alison! She is incredible.

And Bailey. She is great and so terrific, and I love her mom. And by the way, that doesn’t always happen with mothers who have kids in the entertainment business. I’m always sensitive to it because I was one of those kids. But Bailey’s mother is super down-to-earth and so relaxed and laid back. I feel like it’s important for kids who are in this business to have parents that are like that because it needs to feel like it’s a hobby. Their job at that age is to go to school and to learn and to be a kid. Acting should be a hobby for them. And I really felt that from Bailey’s mom. So I’m big fans of the both of them.

Well, this movie is going to be a treat for Hallmark fans because we haven’t seen you or Dylan in a Hallmark movie in quite some time. 

Yes, my last Hallmark movie was The Perfect Catch last year. I didn’t do a Christmas movie last year because I was pregnant. It’s kind of funny. Hallmark called me last year with the perfect Christmas movie for me, and I was like, “Well, I’m a little pregnant.” They asked, “How pregnant?” I said, “Seven months.” So they tried to figure out if they could put a jacket over me, but there was no covering this belly. Also, you probably heard that I had a baby that had to have open heart surgery when he was born. We knew that before he was born, so it was a pretty complicated pregnancy. I wasn’t really able to work and travel. I had to be here because I had tons of doctor’s appointments. So I did what I was meant to do, and I stayed here. But I really, really did miss being in one of their Christmas movies.

So I understand you are in the middle of filming a Christmas movie. What can you tell us about it?

Yes, I am. It’s called Christmas Reunited. It’s about a family who because of their parent’s divorce, they’ve been doing the holiday shuffle. They’ve all been at separate houses throughout the years and have not really had that kind of holiday where everyone was together under the same roof. The grandmother passes away and her dying wish was that the whole entire family would spend one last Christmas together doing all the things that they used to do. And of course, with that happening, it reunites the family and brings them all back together again. It’s a really cool story, and it speaks to so many families out there that have to do this in real life. It’s got a lot of heart and a really happy ending. I think the audience is gonna like it.

I like the sound of this one. Is it an original screenplay or based on a book or anything?

It was actually my idea. I developed it with another friend of mine, and it’s been really cool to see this from the ground up. It’s amazing taking an idea and watching it come to life.

Is this the first time you’ve developed something for Hallmark?

Yes, this is the first! Hopefully the first of many.

I know Dylan had mentioned how you were getting into producing with Hallmark.

And Dylan has been an invaluable resource. He has been so kind in helping me in whatever way he can.

Well, I’m just so happy to see you branching out like this. I get excited when I see people like you who are following their dreams. I find that very inspirational.

Thank you, Ruth. I’m so happy to be bringing this movie to Hallmark. It is a very heartwarming story. And with Christmas Reunited, I feel like this is a bigger story for Hallmark to tell. There is a romance, of course. It’s also got a big family that is involved in the storyline. Everyone is super excited about it, and I think the audiences will really love it.

I agree with you. I can relate, and I’m sure many fans are going to watch this movie and really relate to it since they have similar stories.

Exactly! That was the idea. I was like, “Let’s tell a story for the families who don’t all get to be together for the holidays.” What does it look like when they all do get together? And I hope we remember the importance of that. I think we get on down the road of life and some people decide to go to Disneyland for Christmas one year. Or maybe they go to Montana or wherever. And you forget that before you know it, the kids are grown and have hardly if ever been really together as a family for the holidays. They’re at their mom’s one year and at their dad’s the next. And we forget how important it is for everyone to be together. I think it’s a really important story and one we’re very excited to bring to the fans this Christmas.

I wish you all the best with this movie, Nikki. And of course, we’ll be watching Truly, Madly, Sweetly tonight. I just thank you so much for your time. It means so much.

Ruth, thank you for your consistent support and the support of all the fans. It means so much. And I hope that everyone tunes in for our movie tonight and during Countdown To Christmas!

Photo: Nikki DeLoach Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

To be quite candid, I don’t know where to begin to praise and celebrate this extraordinary woman. Nikki is one of the most grounded people I have ever had the opportunity with whom to converse, and the values and ideals instilled deep within her soul permeate everything she does both personally and professionally. She could have chosen the path of “pop star” and headed down the difficult road that so many child stars have traversed before her. And by the time she had become a young adult, she could have been a has-been with nothing left but tabloid gossip and a fractured life. However, Nikki chose the high road, so to speak, and she pursued her passions while remaining on that narrow pathway that kept her close to her principles and beliefs, and for that, she earns my most paramount commendation. Moreover, whenever her life has taken an unforeseen detour, she has never surrendered. Instead, she has chosen to pick herself, dust herself off, and start all over again (exactly the advice she gives her children). Because of her relentlessly optimistic spirit and her unswerving work ethic, she has attained a level of success within her professional life that continues to challenge her to bigger and better things down the road. She is not content to settle for the status quo; instead, she is always investing herself in projects about which she is passionate while endeavoring to pour herself fully into the roles at hand. And in spite of any professional accomplishments, she still maintains her quality personal life in which she sets her priorities and never shirks her responsibilities.

In this final interview of the six I’ve posted this week to promote Truly, Madly, Sweetly which premieres tonight (September 22) on the Hallmark Channel, I do believe I have saved the woman who is the epitome of the project for last. Nikki embraces everything about the entire premise of this engaging tale, and I do hope that all viewers will tune in to witness her prowess on the screen. Furthermore, please consider visiting all of her links below and following her where you can. As a woman, an industry professional, a wife, and a mother, Nikki has demonstrated that she is one who aims for excellence in a world where mediocrity is often admired and sometimes even the evil prosper. Nikki has illustrated with her gentle spirit, her charismatic persona, and her devotion to her family and faith that adherence to one’s purpose in this life (that ethereal quality that reaches beyond one’s profession and passion) is something that can grant you a life of personal fulfillment and steadfast fortitude. As Nikki continues on her quest of making this world a better place by her being a part of it, it is refreshing to witness that righteous living, decency, and humility can render an often more rewarding form of success, and it absolutely exhilarates me to consider what may be on the horizon for this paragon of virtuous womanhood and incomparable expertise.

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