Back in season three of When Calls the Heart, two truly special young people joined the cast, and they were amongst my very first interviewees. Furthermore, I have met both of them more than once, and their mother is one of the most amazing women on this planet who brings proficiency and scheduling to a whole new level (their dad is pretty awesome too, by the way!). I am speaking of none other than Ava Grace Cooper {Opal} and Christian Michael Cooper {Timmy}. Because they have the singular distinction of being the only sibling pair on the set of When Calls the Heart, I decided to try a different tactic regarding their interview this year, and I am thrilled to share my joint chat with these two incredible professionals!
Photo Credit: Ian Redd
RH: I am so glad to chat with both of you today, Ava and Christian.
CMC: Thank you so much, Ruth.
AGC: We love chatting with you.
Since we have just finished season five of When Calls the Heart, did you have a favorite scene to film this past season?
AGC: Probably Elizabeth and Jack’s wedding because Elizabeth makes a beautiful bride. It was so fun for me to be there. I’ve gotten to be a flower girl two times in When Calls the Heart and once on The Perfect Bride.
The Perfect Bride
CMC: Probably my favorite scene was when I was playing the piano at the wedding. That was a lot of fun and kind of exciting.
Did you actually play the piano for that scene?
CMC: Yes, I did. I couldn’t play the whole song, so I played the first part, and they got the rest of the song from the internet and filled in with that track for the rest of the wedding march.
We were so glad that Opal got rescued from the burning church. I think the Hearties were concerned about Opal when that scene happened. So that was good that Jack rescued you.
AGC: I was glad too!
I know you both were in the finale of season five. What are your feelings about how season five ended?
CMC: We knew about it beforehand, and it was a very sad episode for the finale. We are going to miss Daniel {Lissing} as Jack, but we are going to continue to support him and all his new adventures ahead in whatever he chooses to do.
AGC: But we’re also very excited about season six and all the new stories ahead!
Ava, you had some very special parts in the finale with Elizabeth, didn’t you?
AGC: Yes, I did.
What did you do to prepare for that very emotional scene you did with Erin {Krakow}?
AGC: When me and Erin are on set and we’re in between scenes, we always practice our lines together. It’s still really emotional because Jack is gone, so it was still hard. But Erin makes it much easier to act in those scenes.
I can imagine how hard that would be. I think it was hard for the adults to do, but I can imagine it’s even harder for the kids.
CMC: It was hard to film, and of course, we’re all going to miss Daniel on set, but we have such a strong team, and they’re going to have so many more great stories to tell. We’re so excited to film season six!
I think we all loved that the kids had that sign made that said “Jack Thornton School.”
CMC: Yeah, that was really nice.
It’s like even though Jack’s not a part of the series anymore, he’s still going to be there.
AGC: Like my brother said, we support Daniel and will miss him, but we are excited for season six.
So now that Elizabeth’s pregnant, are you guys excited about having a baby on set?
CMC/AGC: Yes!
CMC: Yes, I’ve worked with a couple of babies now. I was on an episode of Beyond where I was the Young Holden and my brother was just coming back from the hospital after being born. I remember I was so excited to see the baby. They had the stunt baby, which was a doll that looked really real. But then they had the real baby for the close-ups. But I was just so excited to see the baby, and I can’t wait to see the new one on When Calls the Heart.
AGC: I want to help out with the baby and have some more scenes with Erin.
I think you’ll get more scenes with Erin. I know Erin loves all the kids, but there’s some kind of really special connection between you two. I know she’s always great with all the kids. I always say my favorite scenes are when she is with the kids. But I think part of the reason that you two have that special connection is that…you’re still the youngest on set, right Ava?
AGC: Yeah, I am.
I have a feeling that’s part of it. I think the writers know that if they put Elizabeth and Opal together, the Hearties are just gonna love it. So we’ve got the baby coming for season six. What else are you both hoping for your characters in When Calls the Heart for season six?
CMC: I’m hoping to have a scene with some of my buddies where we might get into mischief. Or maybe one of us has a crush on someone. Both of those would be a lot of fun to film. You never really know what your characters will get to do in any season. I don’t know what they’d do for the mischief part. But maybe something like a boy’s camping trip like they had back in season three. I don’t know who would go with us.
Well, maybe Lee.
CMC: Oh, yeah, Lee. that would be a good one.
Maybe Lee and Bill together could take you. That would be interesting.
CMC: Uh-huh, that would be fun. But no matter what, we have the best writers, and I know it will be a fun season.
So what about you, Ava?
AGC: Well, maybe Opal could carry the baby. Maybe when she’s old enough, I can feed her with a bottle.
It sounds like you would really like some scenes with the baby. Not that the boys don’t want to help with the baby, but I think a lot of the girls have said they especially want to help with the baby. And I think with all the kids in Hope Valley and all the adults too, Elizabeth is going to have an easy time finding a babysitter.
CMC: Absolutely.
AGC: Yes!
When the cast is filming When Calls the Heart, it seems like the Hearties hear a lot about pranks on the set. Do you both think there is a main prankster on set?
CMC: In my opinion, I don’t think there’s anybody that’s much of a prankster. But we do have a lot of fun between takes. Sometimes the boy group and girl group combine and we sometimes do really fun games. When we’re on lunch break, we hide and do a haunted house thing with our trailers. One person will go outside the trailer, and the rest of the kids will stay inside and hide. So then the person who was outside the trailer walks into the trailer, all of us who have hidden try to scare the person while they’re walking in. But I wouldn’t really say that I think there’s anybody that’s much of a prankster.
Ava, do you agree with Christian?
AGC: Well, I think Erin and Daniel are the pranksters. One time, Daniel was touching my hair when I was turned around and he was playing with it. And I thought it was Erin ’cause she always plays with my hair. Then when I turned around, they all started laughing because I thought she was touching my hair when it was actually Daniel.
At least we know that you guys have a lot of fun on set. You guys are really like a family.
CMC: Yes, we really are like a big family.
AGC: And we are looking forward to that continuing.
Now, although it was just announced that there won’t be a season two of The Crossing, we are still finishing the episodes for season one, and you, Christian are a part of that series. Which is awesome, by the way.
CMC: Oh, yeah, it’s great! I love being on The Crossing. Such a great cast and a wonderful role.
My daughter and I watch it together and are thoroughly enjoying it. Recently, your character had a nice little story arc where you were kidnapped and then returned to your dad.
The Crossing
CMC: Yes, that was a great storyline. And while I can’t say when you will see me in the rest of the season, you will see me. So be sure to watch out for my character. They did an awesome job with that show and it came out amazing. I was hoping for a season two because it seems like a show I’d be watching for awhile even if I weren’t in it. It’s really suspenseful and exciting to watch.
For those who haven’t seen it, let me tell you what The Crossing is about. Steve Zahn plays my dad, Jude Ellis, and I play his son, Oliver. Jude is the sheriff of the town. There were like four hundred bodies that washed up on the beach, and it turns out that they are time travelers from a different period of time. But some of the people who wash up are alive. And I don’t want to tell you too much, but I suggest that everyone tunes in to watch The Crossing on ABC on Monday nights. We just have a few more episodes to go in this its first and only season.
The Crossing
I agree that it is very well-written, and it just keeps building every week. It seems like by the time it gets to the end of an episode, you’re like, “No! Now I have to wait till next week to see what happens next!” And your character, Christian, has been just great. And sometimes very suspenseful and we worried about your character. So I know I’m planning on continuing to watch! So Christian, do you have anything else upcoming?
CMC: No, not really. My family and I recently spent some time down in LA, and we have been really busy with that. But there are lots of auditions along with season six of When Calls the Heart coming up, so I’m sure there will be something else that comes up soon.
Now, Ava, you were recently on an episode of iZombie. Your costume was really amazing for that, and it looked like you had a lot of fun. Can you tell us some about your part in that show?
iZombie
AGC: My character’s name is Ragamuffin. She’s a sweet girl, and she’s looking for brains to eat. She asks a guy if there are brains for sale, and the guy says, “That’s not how the good Lord works.” And so he gives out brains for free to her. And she’s really thankful.
All right, so if people missed you on that episode, they should be able to look it up on the CW. I think it was a really cool costume.
AGC: And I’m also in the movie The Miracle Season that should still be in theaters. It’s an emotional movie, but it’s also a true story. Helen Hunt is in that movie too.
The Miracle Season
That is one I’m definitely planning on seeing for sure. I know a lot of people in that film.
AGC: And like Christian said, we were in LA for a couple of weeks, so we’ve been busy, but we’ve been doing a lot of auditioning, so I’m sure something else will come up soon. And When Calls the Heart season six filming will happen really soon too.
As far as Hallmark movies, you, Ava, were in The Perfect Bride last year like you mentioned. And Christian, you were in what Hallmark movies?
Cooking With Love
CMC: Cooking With Love and Falling For Vermont. Both great movies to be a part of.
Falling For Vermont
You guys are still keeping up with your schoolwork, right?
CMC: Always. Even though we have busy schedules, we are able to keep up.
Now, Christian, I talked with you last year, but it seems like ages since I’ve talked with Ava, and you are growing into such a beautiful young lady. And Christian, you’re growing into such a nice young man. It’s wonderful to see you both grow up on the show.
AGC/CMC: Thank you.
So what kinds of activities are you both doing now when you’re not acting?
AGC: I do acro jazz ballet and soccer. Probably my favorite is acro.
CMC: I do soccer, volleyball, paddleboarding, hip-hop, and breakdance. We also go boating every year; we got way up north. It’s lots of fun.
You two are the only ones on set who are brother and sister. Is that a good thing?
CMC: Yeah, it’s fun.
AGC: We like being on set together.
I love the fact that you both have such a great relationship. And Christian is always being the gentleman and letting Ava go first. I think that’s really sweet. I know some brothers and sisters don’t like hanging out together, and I’m glad you both do.
AGC: We like doing things together.
CMC: It’s fun to share this experience with each other.
One more question. If you could do a scene with somebody in the show that you don’t normally get to, whom would you choose?
CMC: I know who I want to do a scene with. I really want to do a scene with Lee Coulter {Kavan Smith}. He’s one of my favorite characters. He’s really funny, and it would be awesome to work with him.
AGC: I feel like I wanna have a scene with Faith {Andrea Brooks} because one of the things I would like to do when I grow up is be a postpartum nurse ’cause I love taking care of babies.
Oh, that’s why you’re all about Elizabeth’s baby! It all makes sense now! That’s so sweet, Ava. I didn’t even know that about you, so thanks for sharing. And thanks to both you and Christian for chatting with me today. And your wonderful mom and dad!
CMC: Thanks for interviewing us, Ruth.
AGC: Yes, thank you, Ruth. We are so excited for season six of When Calls the Heart.
CMC: And we hope all the Hearties are excited too!
———————————————————————————————————————-
I honestly don’t think there’s much more I can state concerning these two phenomenal young people. All I can say is that after conversing with these two gifted professionals, I would advise everyone to NOT believe the highly-publicized propaganda that the media attempts to feed us about today’s youth. We are forever hearing about how kids now are disrespectful and regularly engage in dangerous behavior. While it is verifiable that young people like that do exist and are perchance more open about their reckless behavior than in the past, Ava and Christian have furnished me with an incredible hope that quality young people still exist in this wild and wonderful world. All too often, we tend to focus on the negativity that is spewed incessantly about kids and young adults. But with prudent, respectful, committed, brilliant young actors like Ava and Christian in this world of ours, I believe they should motivate us to dream of a better future. Instead of focusing on the disheartening messages of doom and gloom, merely a glance at the smiles of these two lovely young thespians can instill abiding sunshine within our hearts and souls. Christian is a sincere actor with astounding range, but he still finds time to be a typical boy and have fun with his family and friends. And Ava has already chosen to enter a life of service to others as a postpartum nurse in addition to her artistic pursuits while beaming a smile that could soften the hardest of hearts. Honestly, can you stare into the faces of these innocents and seriously believe that this world is “headed to heck in a handbag”?
So please take a moment and visit both Ava’s and Christian’s links below and follow them on all the social media channels that you are able. Moreover, feel free to look up all their current and past works while we await their next featured role (which is certainly on the horizon). I believe that both Ava and Christian are our future, and I cannot praise their parents profoundly enough for raising such gifted, inspirational, extraordinary children who understand and recognize their place in this world while never taking anything for granted. It is such an honor to support two astounding child actors, and I can hardly wait to see what the ensuing years bring for them both!
Photo Credit: Ian Redd
FOLLOW AVA
Photo Credit: Ian Redd
FOLLOW CHRISTIAN
Related Articles
2 Comments
-
I enjoy watching them on the show. They did a great job in the interview.
