Last summer, I happened upon the Vancouver actress Rhonda Dent, and because I had become familiar with her work, I reached out for an interview, to which she quickly agreed. Recently, she shared with me some information about an upcoming role of hers that was essentially a dream come true, and I knew I wanted to feature her again. Thankfully, we were both able to make time for a quick chat, and it was a delight to catch up with the sweet and talented Rhonda yet again!

Photo by Courtesy of Lifetime
Copyright 2019

RH: Rhonda, it is so great to finally get the chance to chat with you again!

RD: Ruth, it’s so nice to talk with you too! Thanks for reaching out.

I think you’ve been in several things since our last interview.

Poinsettias For Christmas

Yes, I was in Pointsettias For Christmas and Memories Of Christmas. And the Victoria Gotti movie was shot last year, but it’s premiering this weekend. And speaking of the Gotti movie, I think it’s gonna be a good one. It’s quite an interesting story. The movie is based on the story of the real Victoria Gotti, who’s the daughter of the crime boss, John Gotti. I understand there were five children, and she’s the second daughter of the family. This story is written from her perspective of what it was like to grow up with a mobster father. It shows how it affected the family and her mom and how it affected her. Victoria actually wrote this screenplay herself along with another writer, who helped her edit it. It’s all based on her real-life experience, which is quite interesting and moving. There are a lot of things you probably wouldn’t think of. From a child’s perspective, everyone thinks their own parents are innocent and wonderful people. I should say, the majority of them; probably not everybody. It was very interesting to see things from her perspective and see what it was like for her to grow up with someone like John Gotti for a dad.

What role do you play in this movie?

Gotti cast

I play her mother, Butch Gotti, John Gotti’s wife. In this film, John Gotti is played by Maurice Bernard, who is from General Hospital. He’s a major soap opera star who has a huge following. So throughout the film, I play Victoria’s mother when Victoria is young all the way through to her becoming an adult. The story starts out in the 1960s, and the movie follows Victoria’s life from birth and on into her twenties and thirties.

One of the things that was interesting about this movie is that a theatrical release came out last year starring John Travolta and Kelly Preston, and it was based on Gotti’s life. John Travolta played John Gotti in that movie, and Kelly Preston played the role that I’m playing. That was really something because I feel like she’s a pretty famous actress with pretty big shoes to fill.  So here I was getting to play the same role that an actress like her had played on the big screen.

Any special moments you would like to share from filming this movie?

Sure. The place where we filmed the first six days was the Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam. It served as many of the locations you will see throughout the movie. We shot the rest of the film in Mission, Maple Ridge, and Langley. So it’s very possible that people familiar with the Vancouver film scene will recognize some of the places where we filmed the movie.

(L to R) Maurice Benard, John Perrotta and Rhonda Dent
Photo by Courtesy of Lifetime
Copyright 2019

Getting to play this prominent role was really like a dream come true. As a working actor in Vancouver for over twenty years, I haven’t always gotten to play significant roles like this, but this was amazing. I didn’t audition for Butch originally. I auditioned for Victoria’s younger sister, and after the audition, I was just crushed and figured there was no way I’d ever get a callback. But then they brought me in to read for Butch, and I felt so good about the audition. And then the waiting began, and I figured it went to another actress. But as luck would have it, I got the call, and I was cast in the role of Butch Gotti!

During the read-through, I met the real Victoria Gotti for the first time. Her story brought me to tears.

And then I learned that I would have thirty to forty wardrobe changes throughout the movie! Talk about a busy time! That made the shooting schedule pretty tight. Fifteen days spread out over four weeks!

(L to R) Ishaan Vasdev, Micaela Nyland, Zoey Siewert and Rhonda Dent
Photo by Courtesy of Lifetime
Copyright 2019

I learned so much from the real Victoria, but one of the big things I learned was where her nickname “Butch” came from. It was a term of endearment that John came up with for his wife when they were dating after they both saw Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He thought of the love of his life as Butch Cassidy and he thought of himself as the Sundance Kid.

Since I am a first-time mother, I could really imagine what it was like to have five young kids and a husband that was gone all the time. I also had a cool thing happen because the film community in Vancouver is so amazing. My own brother played the role of the police officer in the film! I had no idea until I arrived on set one day and realized that my real-life brother was cast as the police officer!

I can’t tell you how proud I am that women are so involved in the production of this film. Victoria Gotti herself along with Holly Carter and Jennifer Watchtell produced it, and it is directed by Catherine Cyran, who is originally from Brooklyn and was born in the same hospital as the Gottis!

Wow, talk about some inside information! I really love these Lifetime films that are based on real-life stories. I know many of the Lifetime movies are inspired by true events, but these kinds of films I think Lifetime does really well. 

I agree with you. I hope a lot of people will tune in.

(L to R) Maurice Benard and Rhonda Dent
Photo by Courtesy of Lifetime
Copyright 2019

I know I have it set to my DVR already, so I’ll be watching. But some Hallmark fans don’t like watching Lifetime, which is understandable. Most of their content is not family-friendly. But I think something like this movie will be well done. 

I understand that. These films are usually darker and a bit more risque. But I hope a lot of people decide to give this movie a try.

Well, I know that at Christmastime, there were some great movies on Lifetime. Poinsettias For Christmas was on Lifetime instead of Hallmark, which surprised me. 

I know what you mean. And Hallmark is quite a force. I understand last year they did eighty-plus productions, and I think they’re planning to do like a hundred this year? Holy smokes, that’s a lot of film! And they are filming these Christmas movies all year ’round. And that was happening with Lifetime too. It was warm when we were shooting Poinsettias For Christmas. I think we shot that back in April, if I remember right. And of course, that one felt like a Hallmark Christmas movie.

I remember your role quite well from Memories Of Christmas. 

Memories Of Christmas

Thank you. And that movie had the same director as Rocky Mountain Christmas, Tibor Takács. And the movie had more of an African-American cast too.

Which I think is cool. Hallmark has really increased the diversity of their casts in recent years. But what I love about the network is that they don’t do diversity just for the sake of diversity. They still keep the quality of their stories and all that. I know it can be tough for networks, and it’s easy to just be diverse for the sake of being diverse. But Hallmark doesn’t do that. But I noticed your role right away in that film.

I’m so glad. I loved being a part of that film.

I am always amazed at the fan crossovers that happen sometimes. So many of these Hallmark fans also watch Supernatural. That always amazes me.

It’s funny. There’s a photographer I met years ago, and it was just like that with her. She would watch all the Hallmark stuff, but then she would Supernatural too. I did an episode of it back a few seasons ago, and I remember she told me that she saw me on there.

(L to R) Rhonda Dent and Maurice Benard
Photo by Courtesy of Lifetime
Copyright 2019

I remember you were also a part of Life Sentence last year, which, unfortunately, got canceled after the first season.

I know what you mean, but my character got cut out so much. I had a much bigger role originally, but they really axed that show quite a bit. The scripts for the show were so incredible, but they kept cutting out many of the other stories and I don’t think they left enough to keep the audience hanging and engaged.

behind-the-scenes Yes, I Do

Which is such a shame. It was a special, unique show, and everyone I talked to loved working on that show. So in addition to the Gotti movie, is there anything else coming up you can mention?

Well, I keep hoping for more, but right now, there’s nothing else I can mention. Fingers crossed I’ll get to be in another Hallmark movie this year. I’ve gone out for some, so we’ll see.

Thank you, Rhonda, I know that the fans and I wish for that too. But no matter what, I hope that everyone will watch Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter. I know I will!

Thank you, Ruth. I hope everyone enjoys it. And here’s to many more this year.

I greatly respect industry professionals like Rhonda, who continue to work at their craft over the span of many, many years without giving up in despair. The life of an actor is one of the most difficult career paths on the planet, and very few seem to understand exactly what kinds of issues actors face on a daily basis. Through all the rejection, auditions, criticisms, disappointments, and even anxieties that come into their lives on a regular basis, they are expected to remain positive, composed, and interactive. Moreover, many fans assume that the lives of actors are like those of the “rich and famous” who are featured in the gossip columns. Instead, the vast majority of industry professionals are working actors like Rhonda, who persevere throughout the decades and often receive little public adulation for their efforts. As a wife and mother, Rhonda continues to have a personal life outside of her career while still managing to create incredible art on the screen that we viewers have the joy and honor of watching and supporting. Oh, and by the way, she is one of the kindest, sweetest, gentlest women with whom I’ve had the honor of speaking in recent days. 

I hope that everyone who is able and willing to do so will tune in to the Lifetime Network tonight (February 9th) for the premiere of Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter in which Rhonda plays a vital role. Additionally, please visit all of Rhonda’s links below and consider following her where applicable. We are all anxiously awaiting her first major Hallmark role in one of their productions (I am believing that will happen sooner rather than later).  Nevertheless, there is no doubt that no matter what role Rhonda portrays, viewers can always expect an exceptional performance due to the way in which she immerses herself in every aspect of the character. Because of this, I am certain this new film will be her greatest triumph thus far, and I can hardly wait to see what this year and following brings her by way of personal and professional successes. Plus, I hope all that all of her fans–Hallmarkies especially–will persist in becoming her cheering section every step of the way!

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