When it comes to the supporting cast members who are regularly featured on Hallmark and elsewhere, it is one of the most difficult things on earth for me to determine my top favorites. However, in the case of Alison Wandzura, how could I not put her near the very top of my list? She is one who consistently impresses no matter the role, and whether the project is in need of a villain or hero, Alison is always up for the challenge. This fall, Hallmark fans are going to have the supreme joy of seeing Alison not only in one Fall Harvest film (Truly, Madly, Sweetly which premieres this weekend September 22nd), but she will also be seen in a second Hallmark Fall Harvest film (Falling For You which premieres October 6th)! Because Alison and I have become exceptionally close within the past couple of years, I was recently honored to have the opportunity to catch up with this versatile, dynamic, beautiful woman!

Photo: Candace Meyer Photography

RH: Alison, it is so good to talk with you again!

AW: Same here, Ruth, always so much fun catching up with you.

I actually feel like I’ve been talking about you all week. Both Dylan Neal and Nikki DeLoach were so excited to talk about you when I brought your name up. 

Awwww, that’s nice.

In fact, both Dylan and Nikki definitely want to work with you again.

Oh, we’re gonna have to form another love triangle. {laughs}

Well, you seem to be good in those kinds of roles where you play the other woman or the nemesis. Furthermore, it’s been a great year for you, hasn’t it?

Well, you’ve done some incredible things this year too, Ruth. I’d say we’re both on quite the ride.

The last time we talked was right before your Christmas movie came out last year.

Oh, yes, Christmas At Holly Lodge.

And we were looking forward to The Crossing when we talked last as well. I loved that show, and you had such a great part in it. I was so sad when they canceled it. 

Me too. I really thought that show was a thoughtful, interesting, and unique show. It was unfortunate that those who made the decision to not renew it didn’t agree.

Behind-the-scenes
The Crossing

The Crossing was a show my daughter and I so enjoyed. And your character was just amazing. I was so excited to see you get a chance to really act in a very dramatic capacity. I knew you could do it, but you don’t always get that opportunity. And your character’s backstory…simply amazing!

Thank you, Ruth.

And Bailey {Skodje} was in the show too. 

Yes, she was. And it is a shame that we can’t make any more episodes. But as an actor, you always learn the lesson that you can’t get too attached to anything. It’s all fleeting; everything comes to an end eventually. And sometimes it ends much sooner than you would like.

How very true that is. I’ve also been watching Take Two this summer. And I really enjoyed that. 

That’s a fun one.

Behind-the-scenes
Take Two

My favorite part of that show is the guest stars! So much Vancouver talent. In fact, I even got to see you in one of the episodes. 

Yes, I did make an appearance.

And my mom and I got hooked on Salvation this summer as well.

Oh, yes, with Madison Smith and Taylor Cole. Both of them were also in the Hallmark film with me, Falling For You. Madison told me how much he enjoyed being on that show. But he was also really excited to work with Taylor on Falling For You. 

{laughs} Yes, he was! I remember how he told me he had a little crush on her. And in that movie, he finally got to work with her!

It is amazing to me how much TV has become such a major part of the entertainment industry now. It used to be that feature films were the big thing, but so many of the people are coming from feature film work to TV.

I think you’re right. While movies are still popular, TV has just taken off, probably because of all the streaming services. 

Things have changed so much. I can still remember what it was like going to the movie rental store, walking around, trying to get the last copy of the hottest movie that weekend. {laughs} Checking the return cart to see if it’s been returned. I sometimes miss that experience, even if it is more convenient looking for that movie on iTunes.

I know exactly what you’re talking about. We used to go to the movie rental store over the holidays and get a bunch of movies on VHS, and that’s how we rang in the new year. It was so much fun! In fact, we used to check them out at the library, and if you did not rewind them when you brought them back, you were charged a fee!

Oh my goodness! Your daughter, Martha, and her generation have no idea of this and couldn’t begin to understand these concepts! I can remember this time that was a traumatic experience in my life when I went to Blockbuster Video with my cousin. I could drive by this point since I was sixteen. We drove down there and decided to get The Green Mile. That movie had a rating of 18A. So we went up to the till, and the cashier was like, “I’m sorry but your mom has flagged you as not being able to rent any types of these movies.” So then I asked if they could call my mom, which they did. I assured my cousin that we would clear this up. So the lady said, “Hi, your daughter is here and she’s trying to rent this movie with an 18A rating.” And my mom was on the other end of the line and said, “Absolutely not! Tell her to put that back!” {laughs} It was the embarrassment of my teenage life. So we had to go put The Green Mile back with everyone in line watching us. And we got something like Santa’s Coming For Christmas. {laughs}

{laughs} Oh my! How things have changed. By my own choice, I was always a very sheltered child. My daughter is not quite as sheltered as I, but thankfully she has a good head on her shoulders and is very responsible in choosing what she watches.

That’s good to hear, Ruth. There are a lot of kids today who have the impulse to bite the apple when they’re not allowed to have it, and they watch things that are not the best kind of entertainment for them. And some of what is out there is done for shock value alone, and I would much rather watch something with a good story. Lots of times, when you’re absorbed in the story, the more negative or potentially offensive points don’t jump out at you because they are so expertly woven into the story. But when the violence or language is gratuitous just for the sake of being violent or offensive, I’m not as much of a fan of that kind of work. I want to think about the story, not the shocking elements of the story.

Wow, Alison, that’s pretty profound and so true, if you stop and think about it. And I couldn’t agree with you more. I think that if we as human beings would have authentic conversations like this more often, there would be less division between us.

I think as human beings that we have so much more in common with each other than we think. There’s such a common bond between us until we intellectually separate and segregate based on categories. In the film world, whether it be someone is number one on the call sheet or someone is number fourteen on the call sheet, we still are human beings with our unique values and perspectives that add so much to the human experience. However, once you have those numbers in your mind, you’re like, “Okay, that’s where I fit in.” Someone might be an executive producer or just a line producer, and while those two people are intrinsically the same, once we assign categories to them, we start thinking of them as different than us. That’s why when you meet someone you don’t know…like maybe you’re talking to the showrunner. You have a great discussion, but then you find out they’re in this high up position, it is only then we feel like we have to separate ourselves from them. People are just people, but we tend to have a bunch of labels assigned to everybody.

There’s a lot of truth in what you say, Alison. Sometimes people are surprised when I reach out to interview them. They think, “Well, I’m just the supporting cast.” Exactly, but you’re just as important as anyone else on set! Too many don’t see themselves as a significant part of the cast or crew. They think they don’t have anything special to add to the conversation. But those interviews are often some of my best interviews. Sure, I love interviewing the leads–who doesn’t? I’ve gotten to interview the lead actors in three Hallmark movies in a row, and that doesn’t usually happen. But I still really love getting to highlight the supporting cast. In fact, I can look at your career and say, “Wow! Look at all these roles you’ve gotten to do!” And if I hadn’t been paying attention to you and your career, I would have missed out on that. 

We first connected about two or three years ago, if I remember right. And the only reason I’m working at Hallmark more is because I’ve been interviewed by Ruth Hill!

{laughs} Well, I don’t know about that! I will humbly take a tiny bit of the credit, but I would say it’s your talent and experience and being at the right place at the right time. But it is my joy and honor to highlight people just like you, and if it helps the network to consider casting you more, I’m all for it. Or even if it’s just a coincidence, that’s fine too.

You know, a few months after our last interview, I booked Truly, Madly, Sweetly, and one of my first thoughts after I booked it was, “Ruth is going to be so happy!”

And indeed I was! I am! So, speaking of Truly, Madly, Sweetly, where does your character fit into the story?

Well, I play Courtney Belize, and I have to admit that I’m a bit of a troublemaker in this film.

{laughs} That’s kind of what I thought.

Surprise!!

I know you play the “other woman” in a lot of these Hallmark films, but like I told my mom the other day, I think you like to play those kinds of roles. And you’re also very good at playing those roles.

{laughs} Yes, I do love playing those kinds of roles. In fact, I prefer it most of the time.

I think that’s really great, Alison. Sometimes people play those characters that are not the well-liked characters in the story, and they are just waiting for their opportunity to move into playing the lead. Of course, I’m not saying that you would ever turn down a leading role in a Hallmark film.

Yes, let me make this clear. I will not ever turn down a Hallmark lead!

I know that, and I know you’d do very well if the opportunity ever presented itself. But I do know that you are very convincing in those roles where you play the other woman or the antagonist. 

Honestly, those roles are great, and this one in Truly, Madly, Sweetly is particularly fun. In fact, I was just in Garage Sale Mystery–the one that played the last week of August. I was clearly the villain in that one!

And I had a suspicion from the very beginning. But that’s because I look at the guest cast list for these mystery films and predict before I even see the movie who’s going to be the murderer. It’s so much fun! And in this case, I was right!

I guess you knew I’d be holding people at gunpoint, right?

Yes, and I think it’s very interesting that you were in another Garage Sale Mystery way back with Marcus Rosner. All That Glitters Is Gold.

Yes, and I was also threatening people in that one. It was interesting. My friend said to me the other day, “Gee, I wish I could have a role where I was holding a gun or something.” And I said, “Gee, I wish I could have a role where I’m not holding a gun!”

But back to Truly, Madly, Sweetly, it was fun because it was different from your typical villain role. There’s a real comedic element to it. Courtney is one of those characters who is ridiculous, but doesn’t know she’s ridiculous. She has sort of a warped sense of self. And in the terms of that kind of comedy, as an actor, you have to know how to take the pie in the face and slip on the banana peel. So it was lots of fun because she wasn’t the straight villain. She was a little more crafty.

Behind-the-scenes
Truly, Madly, Sweetly

I was already looking forward to the movie, but I’m even more excited now because it stars you,  Dylan, Nikki, and Bailey.

Oh, yes, Bailey and I got to do a scene together with her in this one. It was so cute. In fact, I think that scene was my favorite one I did in the movie. I think it’s going to be a great movie to see, and the crew behind it was also fantastic. If how much fun we had on set is any indication of how much fun the movie will be to watch, you’re going to want to see this one!

Ron Oliver is the director. He is a treat. There’s different kinds of directors out there. You’ve got the quiet ones, the intense ones, and sometimes you even get the disgruntled directors. Sometimes they’re really cool as a cucumber and really chill. Ron is one who looks like he’s having his own birthday party on set every day. He makes it so fun. And his outfits are always remarkable. It’s like he goes through makeup and wardrobe every day just like we do! Between takes, because we’re not making a deeply emotional, serious film, we get to have fun. And he plays really fun music. And then he’ll suddenly be like, “And action!” He’s so funny. He’s a one-man show in himself.

That’s so awesome. I know he’s very popular at Hallmark. And with this shoot, I think everyone has mentioned how much fun he was.

One other thing I just love about Hallmark is the fact that there are so many women not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. You see women in the producer’s chair and the director’s chair. The network has access to so many talented women. For example, Crystal Lowe. She is such a talented director. I was on a short film where she was the director, and she is really working her way up in that world. I hope to see Hallmark use her in that aspect in the future. I think it would be phenomenal. I also do photography, and I offered to help her out on her short film set as a still photographer. That was a couple of years ago if I remember right. She produced that film, and it was an amazing experience.

So we’re also going to have the opportunity to see you in Falling For You this fall on Hallmark.

It’s interesting how you have had the opportunity to see me on Hallmark in August, September, and also October. That’s three months in a row. Now I just need to do a Christmas movie.

Well, the fans are hopeful that Hallmark will snatch you up for a Christmas movie. So tell us a little bit about Falling For You.

Behind-the-Scenes
Falling For You

It was formerly known as Baking For Keeps, and Taylor Cole is the lead in this one. In Falling For You, Taylor and I play the two radio station DJ’s. We try to bring the community together by promoting events on the radio. The problem is that we’ve lost our funding. So Taylor has taken up a campaign to save the radio station. And really, it’s my first time playing a nice person in a Hallmark movie.

Isn’t there some kind of bachelor auction included in this movie?

It’s actually a bachelor bake-off. It’s the big fund-raising event to raise money for the radio station. We auction off dates with these bachelors, and the people bid on the item these bachelors have baked. And if you win that item, you also win a date with them.

So there must have been a lot of nice guys on set.

There were a lot of nice guys in aprons. I like to see a nice man in a nice apron.

I know that Madison Smith is in it along with Matt Visser. I understand they play brothers.

Yes, and they look hot in their aprons! And there’s a really funny dynamic between their two characters. They play rivaling brothers.

Behind-the-scenes
Falling For You

That’s my understanding. When I read through the summary of the plot, I thought this movie sounded like so much fun. And also a little bit different. 

And Lini Evans in this one too.

Oh, yeah, how could I forget? 

I had so much fun getting to know her. She is such an interesting person with some incredible talents besides acting. I mean, I was surprised to realize that she knew Mandarin Chinese. Did you know she spoke Mandarin?

I think I forgot, but somehow I think I’ve heard that before.

We honestly had so much fun when we worked together, and we seemed to be in a bit of a giggling mood. Sometimes there is a certain chemistry between two people where everything becomes funny, and our time working together was like that.

I’m sure that will come across on screen. You can always tell when people have fun working together. 

Behind-the-scenes
Falling For You

In our case, a lot of our work was in a barn. There were a hundred and fifty people stuffed into a barn, and it was hot. Now, it wasn’t like a rugged barn. But it was a nice barn; it was rustic but nice. You could have a wedding in there. But everyone was packed into this barn. It was long hours, and you either get sweaty and complain about it, or you start giggling about everything. I was just deliriously giddy about being there. Lini and I both really swung that way. We had a lot of fun filming in the barn.

It sounds reminiscent of going to camp. Like a camp you all wanted to go to and have a good time.

It was kind of like a camp experience. And there were so many background actors, so there were tons of people to hang out with. We just had so much fun.

Behind-the-scenes
Falling For You

Well, it sounds like another fun one to look forward to. I tell you, Hallmark has really stepped up their game and is just hitting it out of the park with all these movies. I mean, look at all the movies they shot in exotic places for their summer movies.

I know what you mean! Let me put in my request now. I definitely want to sign up for the Hallmark movies that shoot in the tropics.

I don’t think it’s out of the question for Hallmark to go back to Fiji and South Africa and who knows where else. And I hope they take you along next time, Alison.

That would be amazing.

Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder In D Minor

And I just wanted to tell you again how much I especially enjoyed your final scenes in the Garage Sale Mysteries film you did. That flashback was something how we saw your character suddenly become that hooded character knocking people off. You did a great job of transforming there at the end because my mom did not suspect your character at first.

That’s great! Your mom is a super sleuth, right?

Oh yes. 

With Kevin O’Grady

You know, it was so much fun. We shot it basically in chronological order, so the crew first got to see me as the nice person. One of the make-up artists said to me, “You’re just so nice. I can’t see how they’re gonna make you into a murderer.” And then we got further into the movie, and she said, “Oh, I took one look at the screen, and I was able to see it! There it was!” And I was like, “Oh yeah, that’s my thing. I know how and when to flip the switch.”

You know, I also saw you in Counterfeiting in Suburbia, and you looked so different that my mom almost didn’t recognize you.

Oh, that’s right. My hair was slicked back.

And you played a good person! You were still fierce.

But I was on the right side of the law.

It seems like they are able to make you up to be whatever they need you to be. And not everyone can do that. You are able to transform into such a diverse variety of roles. 

Behind-the-scenes
The Crossing

I like to think it’s that way. That’s been an evolution over time because when I first touched down in Vancouver, I was doing a lot of the same kind of stuff. Lots of times, we start out in procedural drama here in Vancouver. But it’s so wonderful when we finally start breaking out of that so we can do more diverse roles and play people who have more dimension. In fact, what I loved about my role on The Crossing was that I played someone who had a family and the stakes could not have been higher. Honestly, that role has been one of my all-time favorite roles so far.

Indeed, Alison, that role was one of your best. It was great that you were a recurring character who had time to develop her character so we could really make a connection with your character. So is there anything else upcoming besides these Hallmark Fall Harvest movies?

I will be on the upcoming mini-series this fall called Valley of the Boom. If you haven’t seen the trailer for that, I advise you to look it up. It will give you the idea of the tone of the show. It’s really creative and unlike most TV. It’s really going to be something, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Alison, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. I am so excited that we get to see so much of you on Hallmark this fall, and fingers crossed that a Christmas movie comes your way soon.

Ruth, it is always a true pleasure to chat with you. I hope all the fans watch and enjoy all of the Fall Harvest movies, and I am so honored to be a part of the line-up. Thank you to you and the fans for their loyal support!

In all the time I have known Alison, I have talked with many people who know her and have worked with her more than once in kaleidoscopic situations. I consistently hear about how effortless and fun it is to work with her and how they can hardly wait to work with her again. One thing I have NEVER heard, however, is anything negative about her work ethic nor her professionalism. While I know that people regularly focus on the positive aspects when chatting with me, nevertheless, I’m also perceptive enough and sometimes privy to what really goes on behind the scenes. In the case of Alison, her character is impeachable and her outlook is impeccable. Furthermore, her dynamic talent and wicked sense of humor add to her gregarious personality and temperament, thus making her an absolute dream to have on set. While I have yet to meet her (an oversight I expect to correct next month), I have interacted with her more than some of the people I see on a weekly basis, and she is indeed one of the most authentic and genuinely kind and sweet individuals I have ever known. Additionally, she takes a sincere interest in me as a person (we had a two-hour-plus interview, and she spent at least half of it listening to my updates and engaging with my experiences over the past few months).

I do hope that everyone makes a collective effort to tune in to the Hallmark Channel not only this Saturday, September 22nd for the premiere of Truly, Madly, Sweetly, but I hope you consider tuning in on October 6th to see this phenomenal woman light up the screen in Falling For You as well. Additionally, please consider following Alison below at the various sites listed and maybe even looking up some of her past work. (The Crossing can be streamed on Hulu and elsewhere, and many of her past Hallmark works are regularly shown on the network.) While there is no doubt that Alison is a master at playing the scoundrel in these Hallmark movies, the fact that she regularly demonstrates variegated facets of her character in a rich variety of roles is a testament to who she is as a performer and as an artist. If anyone deserves to be showcased regularly by any network in captivating, compelling roles, it is Alison, and I wish her continued success as she pursues her passions in this industry while creating meaningful, relatable, versatile characters that have the potential to impact viewers on a profound level. Indeed, I felicitously consider myself one of her most adamant fans, and I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for this strikingly gifted woman!

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