When I attended the Hearties Family Reunion this past fall, I was thrilled to discover that Charlotte Hegele would be returning to When Calls the Heart in season five! I typically miss many updates due to my busy schedule and social media feed, and this news was exhilarating. Moreover, I had the amazing opportunity to meet Charlotte and talk with her in person.

As soon as Christmas was over, I contacted Charlotte’s management team, and we quickly discovered that attempting to set up a phone interview was becoming a major issue due to time zone differences and busy schedules on both ends, so we finally decided an email interview at this point was sufficient. Thankfully, Charlotte is such an articulate individual that her warmth and passion transferred seamlessly through the written word, and I am elated to finally share her interview with my readers!

Photo Credit: Denise Grant

RH: Why did you decide to become an actress? What kind of training have you had?

CH: Ever since I was young, I’ve loved storytelling and watching movies. I enjoy performing because, not only is it a creative outlet, but it helped me build confidence when I was growing up.

In high school, I started doing community theatre, and with the support of my parents, I applied to a number of different acting programs in colleges and universities across Canada. I chose Humber College’s Acting for Film and Television program because I always knew I wanted to be a film actor. I graduated when I was nineteen and started working professionally after that.

Photo Credit: Tim Leyes

What was your first professional job in the business and what are your memories of it?

My first professional job was the role of “hostess” in the TV movie Sundays at Tiffany’s starring Alyssa Milano. To this day, it’s still one of the most chaotic sets I’ve ever been on. We shot in this little restaurant on Queen St. West in Toronto with fifty extras and thirty crew packed in like sardines. There were fake snow machines outside the windows, and fans of Alyssa were trying to sneak on to set and take pictures. Being my first job, I was so nervous. I thought someone might call me out and say “You’ve never been on set before, have you?” Fortunately, no one did and I was treated as a professional. It was a very validating and important moment in my career.

Murdoch Mysteries

What was most memorable about being on Murdoch Mysteries?

Murdoch Mysteries was one of my first guest star roles, which meant that I had more than five lines. As you can imagine, that’s exciting for any actor. Not to mention, my very last day on set was my birthday! We were shooting in Cambridge, ON and my mum – who had never been on a television set before – came with me. She got to sit right behind the monitor and watch me on screen. It was very special to be able to share that experience with her. It was one of my best birthdays!

Reign and Republic of Doyle are also in your credits. Any special moments from those roles/shows?

Reign

Both of those series were wonderful to work on, and the best part is that they’re both totally different genres. In Reign, I got to play an intoxicated actress impersonating Mary Queen of Scots. Which was pretty hilarious.

Repubic of Doyle

On Republic of Doyle – which is a detective show – I got to play a bad guy. I had so much fun working on each show, and they were both very different experiences.

How did you get involved with When Calls the Heart?

Bomb Girls

I sent a self-tape from Toronto to Vancouver. The director Anne Wheeler, whom I had worked with on Bomb Girls a year before, saw my tape and she was the one who thought I could be Julie. It all happened so quickly. I sent the tape, got cast, and was on set on a horse within one week. I am very lucky that Anne believed in me. Getting to work with her again was a dream.

With Erin Krakow

When you went to set the first day, did you know anyone? What was the atmosphere like?

Aside from the director Anne Wheeler, I didn’t know anyone on set. I don’t remember what we shot the first day, but I do remember meeting Erin {Krakow} and she was just so sweet. She invited me to have lunch with her in her trailer. She had a very welcoming vibe, which made me feel so at ease as someone who was coming in on episode nine. Sometimes when you’re a guest star on a series, it sort of feels like when you were little and had to switch schools. And suddenly you were the new kid. I never felt that way during When Calls the Heart.

How are you like your character Julie Thatcher and how are you different?

Julie and I are both creative, adventurous, artistic, and have a love for reading. I find that we also both trust people easily. If you think back to season one, this isn’t always the best idea. Julie is quite brave and takes big risks, which I try to do myself, especially in my work. I think we also both have big hearts and can be a tad sensitive at times.

On the other hand, Julie has always been pretty determined to find validation through a significant other, and I’ve never been like that. Sometimes I wish Julie and I were best friends, so I could give her some advice. I’ve said this before about Julie: I think that in her attempts to find true love, what she is really looking for is a reason to love herself. I’ve always found that Julie is longing to be accepted and to be understood. I think that that’s an experience most of us can relate to.

Do you have a favorite episode from season one or season two?

I really liked Julie’s entrance into the series. Riding in on the back of a horse in a lavender dress and a hat – it was definitely one of the most iconic character introductions I’ve ever experienced. This was really good writing, as you can immediately tell so much about her character from that one moment. She’s adventurous, out-going, feminine, she doesn’t take herself too seriously, and is maybe a little bit dramatic. I find that the best writing for film and TV is when an enormous amount of information is communicated to the audience non-verbally. As an actor, after reading that one moment, I already had a thousand ideas about who Julie was, what her energy was like, and how I wanted to play her.

Charlotte Hegele Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs

Without giving any spoilers, is there anything you can tease about Julie’s return in season five?

Well, Julie returns to Hope Valley during a transitional period in her life. She’s really trying to discover what will make her happy and what kind of person she wants to become. In the past, Julie has tried to find meaning through her relationships with others, but this season, she’s working on the relationship she has with herself.

What have your interactions been like with the Hearties?

From Hearties Family Reunion #3 (October 2017)

Phenomenal! The Hearties are the best! And it just goes to show how universal these stories are, that there are When Calls the Heart fans from all over the world. I get messages on social media from fans that are so supportive and it makes me feel honoured to be on a show that has such a loving fan base.

The women of Hope Valley are very strong during a time period where women were usually looked upon as weak or just an ornament and/or housekeeper for their husbands. Why do you think, especially in today’s society, that the way in which women are portrayed in this show is an important message?

It’s important for any person, regardless of sex, age, gender, or ethnicity to feel like they are the writers of their own stories. We need to encourage one another to dream big and to not let others define what we can accomplish with our lives. There are still many people who believe in these “traditional gender roles” – and the more exposure these people have to alternative storylines and characters, the more open they may become in their own beliefs. In regards to our female viewers, they may see themselves reflected in strong, smart, complex and courageous female characters – like Elizabeth and Abigail – and that can be very empowering.

Why do you think When Calls the Heart has had such a long, popular run?

Well, first of all, it’s a really good show! The series is so well-produced, well-written and – in my humble opinion- well-acted. Secondly, it speaks to a large portion of the population who want to be able to watch TV with their families, and not worry about violence or age-inappropriate storylines. That’s what I’m told by The Hearties; it’s a show that’s for everyone and anyone between the ages of 0 and 117.

Without giving anything away, what are your hopes for Julie if the show is renewed for another season?

I would love for Julie to start discovering the reasons why she is lovable and talented, and for her to truly start to believe them. I’m very excited to see how she fares in her newly chosen career path. I have a good feeling that the more Julie evolves as a person, the happier she’ll be.

Do you have plans to eventually write or direct?

That’s a really good question. I would love to. Besides the training I would require, I think I’d just need the confidence to try. I’m so envious of people who dive headfirst into challenges that ultimately help them grow in the long run. I’m trying to do more of that.

Photo Credit: Tim Leyes

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

Nothing to mention as of yet, but I am headed out to LA for pilot season in February and March. Hopefully I’ll have some news to report during our next chat 🙂

When not working, what do you like to do in your free time?

Most of all, I love spending time with my family and friends. Hanging out in a comfy little coffee shop or enjoying a tasty meal with someone I love is the absolute best.

I try to keep active, by playing different sports or just working out at the gym.

I love to read and listen to audiobooks.

I also love music! I sing, play guitar, ukulele, and write my own songs.

I love visual arts – I paint, draw, weave, work on calligraphy. Sometimes I paint little Russian dolls to look like my loved ones and give them as gifts.

And I love to take classes. For art, singing, improv, cooking, knitting and acting. You’re never too old to stop learning. That’s some of the best advice I’ve ever received.

Photo Credit: John Bregar

In spite of the brevity of this interview, I found Charlotte to be charming, well-versed, and amiable. I can think of many things I would love to ask her in a follow-up interview, and I anticipate doing that one day in the near future. For now, her positive outlook and delightful perspective have injected such enthusiasm for the continuation of Julie Thatcher’s character into this heartwarming series that I can hardly wait to see her grace the screen again this Sunday. Charlotte is indeed one of the loveliest and most enlightened young ladies I have had the pleasure of recently interviewing in this business, and the fact that her character is so well-remembered (although she has been missing from the series for two full seasons) illustrates the way in which her character has connected with audiences. The fortitude and energy that rests within Charlotte’s innermost being is something that cannot be taught; it is an innate attribute that only the most masterful actors in the business possess, and there is no doubt that Charlotte has this in spades.

I hope that everyone tunes in tomorrow (February 18th) to the Hallmark Channel for the triumphant return of the beloved When Calls the Heart series now making its series five premiere, and I further hope that all the viewers will watch with bated breath for the arrival of this remarkable, young woman as she illuminates our screens yet again. Additionally, I trust that everyone will check out Charlotte’s links below and follow her where applicable. While the business of acting is often invaded by young people who have a glint in their eye that solicits stardom and notoriety, it is self-evident that Charlotte is of the persuasion that portraying roles that encourage and inspire and doing that to the best of her abilities as an actress while still being kind and gracious to her fans is her endeavor within this business. And in my humble opinion, I believe Charlotte is all that and more, and I am deliriously happy to have the opportunity to support such a vibrant woman as she!

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