Some time ago, I noticed a supporting cast member who had been featured in a few Hallmark movies as well as the second season of Good Witch (as Valerie Hanson). I investigated the career of this particular actress, Claire Rankin, and I decided to reach out to her for an interview. We both have been so busy that only recently did we have the opportunity to make this enlightening and entertaining moment happen.

RH: What inspired you to become an actress? What kind of training have you had?

CR: I was a professional dancer in musicals first. I did shows like Guys and Dolls, Carousel, Kiss Me, Kate. I was at the Stratford Festival when I had the opportunity to audition for the Young Company, which was a two-year training program. I was lucky enough to be accepted and had the opportunity to study with wonderful teachers who instilled a love of the classics in me.

I see you have dance and music experience as well. Please tell us about that part of your life.

From Les Miserables

As a kid, I trained in ballet, jazz, tap…all that stuff and knew very early on I wanted to be on stage. By the time I was sixteen, I was touring Canada in a musical. Shortly after that, I moved to Toronto. I spent a number of years with the Stratford Shakespearean Festival (training and performing) and then went on to play Cosette in Les Miserables. After that, I turned my attention to tv and film.

Since the 1990’s, you’ve guest-starred on some phenomenal shows. Please comment on a couple of your favorites or your most memorable and why you remember them that way.

My most memorable jobs were because of the role or with whom I had the good fortune to work. On Diagnosis Murder, I spent days on set with Dick Van Dyke and we sang show tunes on our downtime!

Star Trek: Voyager

Star Trek: Voyager was thrilling because, it’s Star Trek…you feel like a part of sci-fi history.

Monk

Monk was a fun gig because Tony Shalhoub is so kind, funny and down to earth.

Recently, I worked on Damien and that was incredible because of the creator Glen Mazzara. He’s wonderfully collaborative and supportive of increasing the number of women in front and behind the camera.

It looks like your first recurring role was on Stargate Atlantis. All the Stargate shows still have such devoted fans. Why do you think the fans have stuck with Stargate series for so long?

Stargate: Atlantis

I did a few small recurring roles on Canadian TV shows, but Atlantis was the first high-profile one. Sci-fi fans are the most loyal fans ever! And they’re the most informed and invested. They know the characters better than we do. I think fans love the connection between the characters, their commitment to the team and the mission, as well as the worlds we see that teach us more about ourselves.

You’ve also had a recurring role on Rogue. What was your experience like on that show?

Rogue was exciting. It was sold to me as a “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” type of relationship, where we’re trying to seduce and kill each other. What could be more fun than that?

So how did you first get involved with Hallmark? What do you like about working for the network?

I’ve been lucky to do a few projects with Hallmark over the last couple of years. It’s wonderful to be in projects that the whole family can watch together. Being in a movie that my niece and nephew can enjoy as well as my mom and dad is a rewarding experience for me.

How did you get the role on Good Witch? Any behind-the-scenes stories or memorable moments?

Well, like most of my jobs, with an audition! A fun fact is that James Denton and I were on Ally McBeal together playing boyfriend/girlfriend in a love triangle story. We hadn’t seen each other since. (I did drop the idea of starting a love triangle with Cassie for his affections…you never know!)

Snipped in the Bud

You were also in Snipped in the Bud. What was the on-set atmosphere like? Any memorable moments during filming?

Brooke Shields is the most lovely, down-to-earth person and so beautiful. She hung out with us between takes and had lunch with the cast and crew. I’d work with her again anytime.

You were on one of the most successful Christmas movies on Hallmark–Journey Back to Christmas. What was your experience like on that film? What was it like working with the actors in that film? Why do you think that movie was so successful for the network?

With Michael Kaplan and Doug Murray
Journey Back to Christmas

That was a different role for me. I don’t usually get to play the town busybody and it was enormously satisfying. She’s all no-nonsense. Many of my scenes are with my family only and I loved those actors. Oliver {Hudson} and I had a couple of funny exchanges as well.

Obviously, Candace {Cameron Bure} is a huge Hallmark star and this beautiful story tying past and present sends the audience on a journey of nostalgia.

Molly’s Game and Taken are two of the more current works for which you are known. Please tell us a little bit about your experience with both of these projects and why you think they were such successful credits for you.

Molly’s Game may be the most incredible experience I’ve ever had on set even though lots of me ended up on the cutting room floor! Being directed by Aaron Sorkin, working with Kevin Coster and Jessica Chastain…it was a master class every day.
(and FYI, Idris Alba is as gorgeous and charming as you would hope. Maybe more so.)

Taken

Taken was a crazy experience. I was very nearly set on fire. A bit of a special effects moment gone wrong. Long story short, I was in an upside-down crashed car with the doors shut and floor to ceiling flames went off inside the car. Jennifer Beals was my hero and she helped me get out of the burning car. The most frightening thing that’s ever happened to me on set. True story.

Any other upcoming/current roles you’d like to mention?

I just finished another film for Lifetime called Stepdaughter’s Revenge with Jessica Sipos…can’t say much about the plot but there’s lots of revenge!

{Update: This premiered on Lifetime as A Daughter’s Revenge on May 12th–I have yet to watch it, but it is on my DVR! I have no doubt that Lifetime will air it again. So keep an eye out for it!}

Any plans to write and/or direct?

I actually would love to direct. I coach a bit and really love working with actors. I’ve written a couple of shorts that I’m trying to find funding for and working on what I hope will turn into a web series.

If you could choose one place in the world to spend the summer, where would you spend it and why?

If I could get a group of friends and family together and rent a cottage on Prince Edward Island, that would be delightful. It’s where I grew up and I haven’t spent a summer there since I was a teenager. Sandy beaches, afternoon picnics, and evening bonfires. Perfection.

As an actress with a substantially diverse career peppered with way too many moments to list in this simple Q & A session, Claire is one of the “hidden” marvels in the film and television world today. While she and I only had a brief conversation, what I learned about her has thrilled and inspired me. It is evident that she is completely at home whether on the musical theater stage, a major motion picture or television set, or a smaller, independent film set. She is charmingly ambitious as she reaches for her dreams and goals, but she never takes for granted any of her phenomenal experiences nor anyone who has helped her along the way. I appreciate her candor and sense of humor as she shared some of her on-set experiences, and I am sure that if given the opportunity, she would willingly share more tales that could potentially fill a massive treasure trove!

So if you have not had the opportunity to experience the work of this delightful actress for yourself, I would invite you to make sure that you check out all of her links below and consider checking out her impressive list of credits. There is an excellent chance that you have seen Claire in previous works without even realizing it, but there is nothing better than watching old favorites through new eyes as you pay careful attention to the talent on-screen with whom you have become recently acquainted. I greatly anticipate what is still to come for Claire in the near and distant future, and I can only hope that her directorial aspirations and web series come to fruition for her. After all, she has been a decisive force in the business for over twenty years now, and her commitment to the craft and the industry should afford her the fulfillment of every hope and dream within her heart, mind, and soul.

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