Executive Beth Grossbard and I have fostered a friendship that sometimes gives me access to other interviews that I may not otherwise have the opportunity to conduct, and in the case of Audrey Landers, that is exactly what happened. I was aware of this movie, Love At Sea, long before there was an official production or title, and when I noticed it on the schedule for Hallmark, I was ecstatic! Beth was kind enough to connect me with Audrey, and although I had not watched Audrey in her most iconic role, I was well aware of many of her other works. Recently, she and I had the joy of chatting about her life, her career, and of course, her current collaboration with Hallmark.

Photo: Audrey Landers Credit: © 2018 Crown Media United States, LLC | Photo: Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC.

RH: Audrey, it’s so great to get to chat with you today! Beth {Grossbard} has absolutely raved about you and your work in Love At Sea.

AL: Ruth, thank you so much. It was so great to work with her on this film.

Beth has been telling me about this film and how it was in the works for a long time, and now it’s premiering!

I know what you mean. And it was so much fun! It turned out to be such an incredible venue. I don’t think there was one angle where they could have pointed the camera and not gotten a fabulous shot! {laughs} Every angle had something interesting and beautiful. The ship was fun, and we were filming at such an incredible location.

I can imagine. It must have been almost like being on vacation. I realize you were working, but you were on a cruise ship!

It was fun, but especially that cruise ship because it was beautiful! Royal Carribean’s accommodations aboard their ship, Harmony of the Seas, were just incredible. And to wake up and look out at the ocean…it was just spectacular.

Dallas

When I was researching you earlier today, I thought I should know your name, but once I realized you were in Dallas…that was on when I was growing up, but I didn’t watch it. But my mom watched Dallas, and the moment she saw your picture, she knew exactly who you were. But I admit that was one of the shows I wasn’t allowed to watch when I was growing up. {laughs} 

And when compared to today, it’s very tame.

That I do know. But of course, I know about the show. However, my introduction to Larry Hagman was actually watching reruns of I Dream of Jeannie. And when my mom said that guy was on Dallas and played J.R., I remember being rather surprised. My mom did want me to tell you that in your role, Afton Cooper, you played your part very well because she didn’t like your character much.

Aw, that’s too bad. It sounds like maybe she didn’t watch long enough. I was on the show for eight years. I was a little snippy for sure, but by the end, my character became the heroine, and many young women looked up to my character. My character evolved into a nice girl who had the courage to leave her abusive relationship.

With Julie Gonzalo
Dallas

Oh, my mom may not have watched the entire series. Now, I realize you also are a musician. I didn’t realize that either. I believe I read that you went to Juilliard. 

Yes, I did! I went to Juilliard and Columbia, and I’ve had hit records all over the world. I’ve had dozens of platinum and gold albums, and I’ve also been on many concert tours all over the world. In fact, I’m headed to Berlin to do a concert there with their pops orchestra. It’s a lot of fun to be able to have so many diverse, creative outlets.

What I have listened to of your music, Audrey, I really enjoyed. Since I was a voice major in college, I am always interested in finding those music connections. I think you have a beautiful voice.

With her mother, Ruth

Thank you, Ruth. And the other thing I am very proud of is the award-winning children’s musical education series that I wrote. It was forty-seven half-hour shows featuring two hundred fifty original songs. It was a really wonderful series that my mom produced and donated to PBS. It ran for five years, and now it’s running everywhere. It’s a learning tool for preschools and classes for children with autism. It now has a whole new life, and I am still very proud of it. It’s called The  Huggabug Club.

I had noticed that in my research as well. I was actually in college and first married when that show was on, so I think that’s why I am not familiar with it. And somehow, my daughter and I missed it. She just turned fifteen this summer.

Nice! My boy just turned twenty-five this year. I actually work with one of my sons; he’s also a musician and composer. We just completed a screenplay for a musical. It’s a very dark, pop musical. We’re very excited about it and we’re in the early, early stages of preproduction. But it’s moving along, so we’re very excited.

That’s cool! It must be wonderful working with family. I know you’ve gotten to work with your mom. I think I read that she has been your manager.

Yeah, for EVERYTHING!

I think that’s amazing! And I’m sure that working with your son has got to be amazing. 

With her son

It is. We’ve always had a very good connection in that sense. As moms, we all try to support our children’s dreams, and in this case, he has studied hard and he’s a great composer and performer. So it’s wonderful getting to work with him.

I noticed you’ve composed some music as well. I have written a couple of songs in my lifetime, and I know it’s not as easy as some people might think.

Yeah, a lot of people don’t appreciate how much work goes into it.

I know how much goes into writing music or any kind of writing.  Once you get involved in writing, it can truly be all-consuming. 

Yes, absolutely. It takes over your whole brain and kind of your whole life.

Murder, She Wrote

I’ve noticed that in addition to Dallas, you’ve done a lot of guest spots over the years as well. I am sure I have seen you in many of them because some of the shows listed were ones that I never missed watching. Murder, She Wrote, Love Boat, Fantasy Island. 

BURN NOTICE — “Unpaid Debts” Episode 105 — Pictured: (l-r) Audrey Landers as Veronica, Bruce Campbell as Sam — USA Network Photo: Glenn Watson

And more recently, I did a short stint on Burn Notice.  And then I also was a part of the Dallas remake or reboot on TNT.

I was aware of that one too, but I know that sadly, it didn’t continue. 

Dallas on TNT

Yes, they said it ran four seasons, but I think it was a little ambitious. Unfortunately, they chose not to focus on the original concepts and relationships. I mean, that is what so many people loved. I know many Dallas fans said to me, “Oh, I hear they’re doing a remake.” And I said, “You missed it.” {laughs} They had been looking for it and missed it, but I don’t think that generation connected with the internet publicity so much. If they didn’t see it on their TV screens as an ad, they didn’t know to look for it. We had a big Twitter campaign and I was live tweeting every show, which I really enjoyed.  But I don’t think the original, die-hard fans were into social media so much.

Am I right in assuming that you wanted to be an actress your whole life?

Oh yeah, I’ve been acting since I was a child. I started when I was very young. School plays and local theater. I got my first soap opera in New York when I was twelve. So I’ve been doing this my whole life. I did soap operas throughout my teens and through college, and then I joined the Dallas cast just after college.

So the amazing thing is that you are doing your first Hallmark movie!

on set Love At Sea

{laughs} I know, isn’t that insane? I was so excited!  I didn’t realize what a big deal it was. I recently finished filming another movie, and these same producers had done some other films for Hallmark. Their words to me were, “Oh, we’re so excited that you did Love At Sea because we’re going to be doing some more Hallmark films in the future, and now you’re Hallmark-approved, Audrey!” And I went, “Oh, I didn’t know that was a thing.” And they informed me that it is a thing. In fact, I believe the plan is for me to do another film with that company in a few months. I’m not certain if it’s for Hallmark, but according to what they said, it seems like there’s a good chance.

Photo: Audrey Landers, William R. Moses Credit: © 2018 Crown Media United States, LLC | Photo: Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC.

I was very excited to have this opportunity to be in my first Hallmark film. And for me, it was also fun because people seem to know me for playing a certain type of character. But with Love At Sea, this role was on a whole different level for me. I play a socialite widow who is just getting back into the world of dating. In this movie, she has a beau. I play the mother of Alexa PenaVega‘s character, and of course, her character is not very happy that her mother is seeing this man. She thinks this guy must have bad intentions towards her mother. But I have a feeling that Alexa’s character may discover she was wrong about this guy. We’ll see.

I am a huge fan of Alexa’s. I interviewed her back during a film she did for Hallmark, Ms. Matched. She is so amazing! In that case, my daughter knew who she was more so than I did since my daughter loved the Spy Kids films. And having Alexa and now her husband, Carlos {PenaVega}, in another Hallmark film together is just wonderful! I love them together! And even better, Audrey, that you’ve now joined the Hallmark family.

Photo: Alexa PenaVega, Audrey Landers, William R. Moses Credit: © 2018 Crown Media United States, LLC | Photo: Jeremy Lee/Alexx Henry Studios, LLC.

Thank you, Ruth, I am looking forward to enjoying and continuing my Hallmark journey.

I fully expect that you will pull in some of those fans of Dallas to watch this movie, and then some of the younger people, who might not know you, will get to know you. After all, no matter what, Dallas is an iconic show, and everyone should be aware of its influence on film and TV.

Speaking of Dallas, when you do watch it and for anyone else who decides to watch it, my character is actually a singer in it. They actually wrote that in after the first couple of episodes.

That’s awesome! How exactly did that come about?

Well, it wasn’t the original intention for my character, but once they discovered I was a singer and songwriter in real life, it changed things. I opened the script for the following week, and it said, “Sing a song.” And I was like, “Oh boy, I’d better get one ready!’ {laughs} And so I did, and they made my song a part of the scene. And it went over so well that they continued to write it in.

I love hearing stories like that, Audrey! So cool when the writers do that for their actors. Now, in addition to Love At Sea, do you have anything else upcoming that you can mention?

Murder At the Mansion

Yes, I recently filmed Murder At the Mansion, and I’m imagining it will be out sometime around October. It will not be for Hallmark. Again, I play a widow. My husband had better watch out! {laughs} And although I’m playing another widow in this film, this time, she has a bit of an evil twist to her. But she was a very fun character to play.

Since you’ve had such a long career in Hollywood, have you ever experienced gender bias as an actress?

You know, I’ve been very fortunate in that first of all, I grew up with a very strong mother who basically moved mountains at a time when women were not typically pursuing careers in business. She was a very successful and dynamic businesswoman. So it never occurred to me that there would ever be any sort of gender bias or inequality. I just plowed ahead. Maybe I just didn’t see it as much because I didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, I just forged ahead with whatever I was determined to do in my life as a career, as an actor, as a writer, as a producer. I just don’t feel like I faced a lot of gender bias issues.

It’s interesting, Audrey. I have talked with a handful of women like you who say they didn’t experience the gender bias that so many women have. Not negating the fact that it did happen and still does, but I sometimes think it’s about your perspective. Women and people, in general, run into roadblocks all the time. It’s all about what you do when you face those obstacles. Some give up too soon, and others, like you, just keep fighting. If someone tries to stop you from doing it, you don’t give up. You’ve got to keep at it.

Yeah, because there has to be another way of doing it and maybe another path to take to get there. I’ve never looked at the obstacles that I have run into as something that was based upon gender. I just figure everybody has obstacles in their lives and challenges. Some people address it differently, but you just have to persevere.

I think that’s a great outlook, and it’s probably why you’ve continued to do so many different things in the industry. You’ve been involved in just about every facet of the industry over the course of your career. And you continue to have success. It also seems that you haven’t been stereotyped like sometimes happens when actors play a popular character like you did on a series.

I have worked very hard in the industry so that I would not be stereotyped. And I also think I wasn’t stereotyped because even while I was doing Dallas, I was always doing other things. Whether it was my concert tours, my writing, and my music videos throughout the ’80’s and ’90’s and early 2000’s, or the concert tours and the writing that went with that. But also all the episodics. And also being in the movie A Chorus Line. Those were all very different types of roles

I think you made a wise decision, Audrey, in diversifying. That could be why some people have struggled because they have focused on one series or one type of role. But you’ve done it all practically. And I also think it’s your attitude. You know, just talking with you, I can sense your excitement for everything that you do. I would say that there is a very positive energy about you.

On set with Alexa PenaVega
Love At Sea

Thank you.

Oh, you’re welcome. It definitely comes across. And I think the Hallmark fans are just going to fall in love with you if they haven’t already. 

Well, I really have to say this. I love the Hallmark Channel, and I enjoy watching all the different movies that they have on their network. And I’m so excited now to be a part of the Hallmark family, and I can’t wait to do more with them!

Maybe next time they’ll be able to work your music into your role. Hallmark is very musical in their films. A lot of the actors have had the opportunity to sing and play music in their films. 

That’s so nice! I’d love to be a part of that. I’d love to be a part of Hallmark any way I can.

Audrey, thank you so much for your time, and I know the fans and I are both excited to see you in Love At Sea. And I am sure that the fans will look forward to live tweeting with you during the premiere.

I definitely look forward to that too, Ruth, and thank you so much for reaching out and taking time to speak with me. I truly hope everyone enjoys the movie, and may it be the first of many!

On set Love At Sea

In truth, it is women like Audrey who have paved the way for countless women in this business and in this world as a whole. As one who has sometimes given up on my dreams only to have them rebirthed within me at a later date, I respect and appreciate the unwavering determination Audrey has demonstrated at every stage of her life and career. It would have been easy for Audrey to have followed the way of so many actresses in the world of entertainment and just do what was expected and was presumed acceptable for a woman of her age and capabilities. And of course, she and I both recognize the fact that every person has obstacles to overcome, and there is nothing easier than making assumptions and excuses while concluding that going against the flow is less socially acceptable and causes fewer ripples, thus making it a more comfortable course of action. However, Audrey has continued to propel herself forward and refuse to resolve that any of those perceived obstacles are insurmountable. Her mother taught her that anything was possible in this world if you were willing to work hard enough for it, and the success Audrey is continuing to enjoy is living proof of her relentless tenacity and inherent passion. In Audrey’s vocabulary, I would venture to say that “impossible” is a nonexistent word, and she continues to create new opportunities for herself long after some people might be tempted to call it quits. The fact that her opportunity to appear in a Hallmark movie has ultimately materialized is something that delights me to no end, and I am thrilled to witness her continued partnership with them over the course of the next few months and years (fingers crossed!). 

I sincerely hope that everyone tunes into the Hallmark Channel this evening (August 11th) for the network’s newest “Summer Nights” offering in the movie that was actually filmed aboard a cruise ship–Love At Sea. Additionally, please check out all of Audrey’s links below and consider following her on social media where applicable. I believe her plan is to live tweet with the fans tonight along with the two leads of the films (amongst others connected with the film), so let’s make this movie a categorical success for all involved. And who wouldn’t want to follow the inspiring, talented, and positively radiant Audrey as she continues to make her way in a universe that she has fully embraced in every sense of the word? I know I am quickly becoming one of her most devoted supporters, and I hope everyone else will join me!

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