Last summer, a moderately underrated, limited series show premiered on ABC called Somewhere Between. My daughter and I absolutely adored watching this show together, and it just so happens that Camille Mitchell had a particularly significant role (Esperanza) in that series. Recently, in light of Camille’s Leo Award nomination for this role (which she, unfortunately, did not win, but as always, it is an honor to have been nominated), I had the opportunity to interview her, and she was kind enough to respond with all sorts of wonderful information about her career as a whole as well as her future endeavors.

RH: As the daughter of two actors, how did that contribute to your decision to become an actress yourself?

CM: Unlike many other parents, mine always encouraged me and my brother, Cameron (Chip) Mitchell Jr. to act – and unlike many other parents, they felt acting to be a noble profession. My mother never missed an opening of mine no matter where the theatre was, and she became famous in theatre circles for her wonderful opening night parties, whether in her home or in her hotel room.

From an early age, Chip and I wrote and performed skits and were in charge of the entertainment at all family occasions. When I was older and wanted to become a doctor and save the world, I spent a daunting semester in pre-Med at UBC and needed a “Mickey Mouse” course to survive. Someone suggested I take an acting class – and I fell in love. My parents were surprised I had ever strayed from wanting to perform and were happy I had come back to it. Family discussions about the profession were always fantastic and I had the best coaches in the world in my brilliant parents.

Henry VIII
Photo by David Cooper – © Stratford Festival

You have enjoyed success on both the stage and screen. What do you enjoy about both mediums?

I love the immediacy of theatre, the fact that we – actors and audience- are all breathing the same air and feeling the same things live. It’s a thrill to think a thought or experience an emotion onstage and know that on a deep level the audience is right there with you.

What are the challenges of each?

Film and TV sets are for the most part pressure-cookers. Things have to cook really fast. You have a certain number of scenes that have to be shot each day to stay on schedule coupled with the light restrictions of shooting outside or at night. Time is money and with 40- 50 people on set the meter is on and every second matters. You don’t want to be the one messing up a line or a bit of blocking with that pressure on. So you really have to be on top of your game, but at the same time keeping calm and relaxed and adaptable as a new line or move may be thrown your way at the very last moment before the director yells, “Action.” But you can only shoot one scene at a time and you know there will always be a break in there to regroup while the crew sets up the new scene. Also, although the hours can be long and grueling, you usually have a full weekend off and work five days a week.

For the most part, film is the director’s medium, TV is the writer’s medium and theatre is the actor’s medium.

And theatre has different pressures. You used to have three to four weeks to rehearse a play and things could organically settle in, but now two weeks rehearsal is a luxury and for a lot of actors, just getting off-book and having a sense of the story and of your character is a challenge in that short time. Also, you have to pace yourself as a theatre actor – you work six days week with eight shows a week. Your day off is spent doing laundry, buying groceries, hopefully reconnecting with family and friends and breathing some fresh air.

A lot of people know you from your recurring role on Smallville. What was it like creating your role and working on that show for all those seasons?

I loved being on Smallville. The work was fun and it involved a wonderful group of people. Also, my son, Charlie, was eleven when I started the show and a big Superman fan. He often came on set and one gorgeous sunny day, filming out at Kent farm, I looked over and saw my son throwing a football near the cornfields with Tom Welling (Superman). It was perfect.

In more recent times, Hallmark viewers have seen you in A Novel Romance and Marry Me At Christmas. Any special moments from either film?

With Dylan Bruce

It was pure joy to work with Dylan Bruce and Amy Acker and director Mark Griffiths on A Novel Romance and with Trevor Donovan and director Terry Ingram on Marry Me – all fantastic professionals and lovely people. On Marry Me, it was also great fun to reconnect with director Terry Ingram, an old friend from many seasons at the Shaw Festival.

The Hallmark network has been experiencing unprecedented growth. Why do you think this network is doing so well? What do you enjoy about working for the network?

Photo: Dylan Bruce, Camille Mitchell Credit: Copyright 2014 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

I think Hallmark’s big appeal is providing old-fashioned TV with a modern pizzazz. Multi-generational households can sit together, watch a lovely show and relax. No one has to worry that Granny will be offended by the sex scenes or that the youngest will be freaked out by the blood and gore. The characters are clear and admirable, and the storylines are charming. To work for Hallmark is a pleasure. They take really good care of everyone and it shows. Walking on a Hallmark set, an actor feels supported and positive, and there’s a happy vibe, which makes work fun and make-believe really easy.

My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed Somewhere Between last summer, and we remember your character quite well. How did you get this particular role? What did you enjoy about bringing this character to life?

Somewhere Between

Thank you! That was a very special show for me. I had auditioned for another role earlier in the year and didn’t get it – I thought that was it and was very down on myself for blowing it. But then later, Stephen Tolkin, the show’s wonderful creator, told me he had remembered me from that audition and had written the role with me in mind. I was speechless. I will never forget that moment. The character is such a living, breathing, passionate, but conflicted spirit. I’d never played anyone like her before. It was a fabulous ride.

Having talked with many who were on this show, why do you think the show worked so well and resonated with the fans?

It is about devotion and family – very powerful themes. What a great cast of actors – leads and supporting. Paula Patton and Devon Sawa and Aria Birch are superb. It was fantastic too, that Stephen Tolkin sought out Vancouver actors to fill out the rest of the cast.

Any other upcoming/current roles you can mention?

Van Helsing

I’ve just finished an amazing episode of Van Helsing, playing Mme Fontleroy, a British aristocrat. But I can’t say any more about it right now.

I know you’ve done some writing/directing/producing in the past and I believe you have plans to do more. Please tell us about these projects and what you enjoy being on the other side of the camera.

My two short films A Mother’s Love and By The Fountain have been shown all over the world, much to my delight, and received awards, which has been very encouraging for me as an emerging filmmaker. My first feature, The Vacant Lot, is in rewrites right now and I am trying to finish a play titled Dear Chania.

Director Camille J. Mitchell with Susan Hogan and Crew

The world is much bigger on the other side of the camera. As an actor, your focus is on the world of the one character. Behind the camera, your focus is on the many worlds of your story. Small decisions matter as much as the big ones. And it is so very exciting to take an idea from the air, capture it with words, lock it onto a page, and flesh it out with actors and ambiance.

I got into this really late in life and although the sexism has eased, the ageism has not. So honestly, I am also working on just building up my confidence as a filmmaker and trying to pick stories that matter and should be told and working on the muscles and the skills to tell them.

In terms of women in the industry, what positive changes have you seen over the course of your career?

The MeToo movement is huuuuge. That predatory ethos was always been there – overtly and covertly and now there is a real freedom in knowing that none of that sexist spectrum -from the offensive nonsense to the dark abuse -will be tolerated any longer.

Also, seeing more and more women behind the camera and on the crew being respected and accepted is fantastic. When I was growing up, the idea of a woman being allowed to do anything in entertainment or pursuing anything other than being an actress was presented as an impossible path.

When you have free time, what do you like to do?

I adore chess and movies and hours of discussing anything with my son, hanging with family and friends, hiking with my dogs, bird watching, star-gazing – and getting moved by the Muse.

I am unfailingly charmed by actors whose parents were involved in the entertainment business. Thankfully, as in Camille’s case, most of them are not overbearing nor insistent that their children follow their lead and pursue a similar career, but I am certain, just like Camille’s parents, they are always ecstatic when their child chooses of their own free will to pursue a performing arts career. With Camille’s solid family background and incredible opportunities, it is quite satisfying to see the way she has remained grateful, grounded, and invariably courteous to those with whom she has had the honor to work. Her eagerness to collaborate with others in the business and provide leadership steadfastly housed in appreciation and humility is something that has served her well in her chosen profession. She has worked hard for every chance that has come her way, and she has always striven to give her optimum efforts to every project with which she has been involved. She does not shrink back from being a clever, talented woman; instead, she accepts and acknowledges everything that various modern movements and initiatives have afforded her. But she refuses to adopt an entitled attitude, a pitfall to which some other notable actors have acceded.

If you have not had the opportunity to watch and/or peruse some of her past performances, I would invite you to check out the links below and take some time this summer to check out her formidable list of credits (including her Hallmark works). And just to demonstrate the kind and considerate person she is, I am going to conclude this post with the words she penned to me following this interview (as I share her sentiments). “Hello Ruth, thank you so much for these thoughtful questions! Hope to meet you in person one day 🙂 ” Indeed, if I could only be that blessed one of these days! Needless to say, she is a phenomenal role model for other women in the business and the world as a whole, and I am honored to have shared her with all of my readers today!

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