She is an amazing actress and a wonderful person. I have been thoroughly impressed with her.

Well, she’s also a genius. I’m about as smart as a brick wall. We’re going to get along great.

{laughs} Well, she’ll probably give you some of her math books. 

And I will look for the Cole’s Notes. {As a side note–I had to look up what that means. In the U.S. we have Cliff’s Notes, but in Canada, they have Cole’s Notes. So you see, I learned something!}

Well, she has some kid’s math books she’s written. I wouldn’t be surprised if she gives you one or two to give to your kids. She often does that with her co-stars who have little ones. Then you can read them to your kids.

I think that sounds like a great idea.

So what can you tell us about The Crossword Mystery. 

This is mystery series and they are hoping to do twenty movies over the next four or five years. They are hoping it will be similar in scope to Garage Sale Mysteries. And I think it’s got that potential. It’s very well done. I haven’t seen a rough cut of the film yet. It’s got this “Hart to Hart moonlightingesque” sort of feel to it. The first movie is always the hardest because you have to establish everything. Then after that, I think Lacey and I will start solving a lot of crimes together. The fans of Lacey and I together are gonna obviously see two characters in a different light. I play a very hard-nosed detective who’s extremely serious and very by-the-book. And she plays this cerebral genius kind of crossword editor who is involved in the case, and we kind of work together to solve the case. She has ideas that I’m not accustomed to and we work together in the end to solve it. There’s an attraction there, and there’s a romance that will ensue over the next five years or so. We had a lot of fun. I mean, when Lacey and I work together, it’s not really work. We’re really excited about it and had a lot of fun. We’ll see what the fans think of it.

You know, I talked with Dylan Neal recently, and he already told me this series is gonna be a hit. 

Well, from Dylan’s mouth to God’s ears. I love me some Dylan, and he’s a very good friend. And I’m glad his film last weekend, Truly, Madly, Sweetly was such a big hit for him. He’s a very good man.

You also had a special guest in The Crossword Mystery. I noticed Barbara Niven was a part of this film.

Right. She’s gonna be in all of them, as a matter of fact. Lacey plays Tess Harper, and Barbara plays Tess Harper’s aunt. She is almost a spiritual if not familial guardian and guide. We’ll see how her character plays out, but she’s obviously a very integral part of the story. Barbara and I worked on Cedar Cove and I love her to death. She’s talented and amazing and her addition to the series is fantastic. We’re blessed to have her as a part of the show.

So I understand this film is supposed to premiere in January.

Yes, I think in January it’s going to come out guns blazing the first week or two of January. Middle of January at the latest, I think. Whenever everyone gets back from the holidays. We really hope people are excited about it. And I really hope all of the All Of My Heart fans come over and check it out too. It’s a real fun mystery show. I think the fans are gonna have a really good time.

Well, seeing how it’s you, Lacey, and a mystery film, those are all of my favorite things combined. 

Well, you can be very honest with me and message me and say, “This is amazing and brilliant. It’s a huge hit!” Or you can say, “What are you doing? You need to put your head in a pillow and never come out again.” {laughs}

{laughs} Like I could ever imagine saying that to you! I might say that the first one is always the hardest, which is true. 

The first one to me is like the prologue. It sets it up, but it’s not the show. The show is actually the second one and following when we say, “Oh, now we know what to do.” I think the first one is going to be more of a trial and error. But it’s still gonna be a great show. It’s going to be all of us determining what works and what the audience wants and then you go from there. But when you look at Lacey’s fan base, mine, the network, and the mystery element, it is lots of fun. And we had a lot of great guests that came in from Toronto that were just fantastic. A lot of character on this show. Very different from Flower Shop in almost every facet. And I’m not saying that in a good or bad way. Very different experience. It’s a new channel and a new kind of voice and you learn by continuing to do more and more content. That’s when you see what works and what doesn’t. I’m just praying and hoping and if the Lord blesses us with the opportunity to nail the elements that the brand wants that we can do four or five a year and have a really wonderful, successful series, much like Garage Sale.

That would be great. Garage Sale Mysteries has been so successful and such a phenomenal series. And a fan favorite.

Yeah, they just got it. The understood the simplicity of it and yet the complexity of it. They got it in spades. We’ve got great writers and producers involved with our series and Lacey and I are giving it all we’ve got to try to find these scenes and make them come to life. And we’ll see how the first one turns out.

Photo: Brennan Elliott Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

I’m sure I’ve told you this before, but one great thing about Hallmark, which is why I love working with them and put them as a high priority, is that they give people a chance. They give it a voice. They give you a chance to define the voice and find out what’s gonna work. And if it doesn’t, we make changes. You often fly on the fly. And if we find that it doesn’t work, they’re not the kind of network that’s gonna pull the plug in two minutes and go, “This doesn’t work!” They’re gonna go, “We like this. We like this. We don’t like this. Let’s make this happen. Let’s make that happen.” And oftentimes, if we change things here and there, we end up with something successful. The Hallmark audience is very forgiving, very accepting, and very patient. So I think with Lacey and I together and the network and all the fans that are there, I think we have a recipe that could be successful and be very entertaining for years to come.

I like to refer to you and Lacey as Hallmark’s on-screen “power couple.” It reminds me of how they used to pair certain actors together for movies back in old Hollywood. 

Interesting that you bring that up. This gentleman from Australia who recently interviewed me compared me to Spencer Tracy but said I was much better-looking than him. So he referred to Lacey and me as the Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn of the Hallmark Channel. My response was, “I don’t care if I’m better-looking or not. I’ll tell you right now. Spencer Tracy is my jam.” I mean, he’s one of the greatest actors of all time. We are talking pre-method acting and all that. He was just a very good actor, and to be in that ilk or category, is amazing. I mean, this interviewers was thinking of comparing me to Cary Grant or Clark Gable as well, but hey, the point is made. When you work together, there’s something special that happens and we don’t know what it is, but we’re very thankful that it has happened. We thank God for it, and we thank the network for it that we have the opportunity to work together. If the fans like it, then we’re going to continue to do it. If her and I work together and do seven/eight/nine movies a year for the next thirty years and the fans love it, what do we care? We’re very good friends. Our families know each other. We enjoy working together. We have very similar ideas on how to come to the work and what we care about. We both love the network. It’s very easy and effortless for us. And the crews have a good time with us, and we’re very proud to be a part of it.

And honestly, that translates so well on screen. I realize I’m very biased when I say that because I like you both anyway. 

Yeah, but, Ruth, you’ve seen probably seventy-five billion Hallmark movies. {laughs}

Yes, but seriously, there’s something special about you two on screen. I know you’ve worked together all this time, and I know that figures into it.

You know, I was just telling my wife this. There is also a level of trust between us. I know Lacey’s husband. I know the mom she is, and I know her as the person she is. She knows me and my children and the situations I go through in my life with my family and vice versa. We go to work, and we try to do the best scenes that we can for the network and for the fans. We don’t do it for ego or selfishly. It’s not about whether she has more lines or I have more lines. And it has nothing to do with who is better in the scene. We just do the work to make it the best that it can be because we care about Hallmark, the fans, and doing what the brand wants. But there’s a real level of trust between us. We’re not guarded or protected. We just go into the scene open, and it really makes those scenes come alive when you’re working with people like that. Three or four years ago is when I met Lacey for the first time. This kind of on-screen chemistry doesn’t happen often. I’ve worked with many leading ladies who are friends that I know and we’re still good friends, but I don’t know exactly what it is that has made this unique connection between Lacey and me. But we’re very blessed to have it.

Well, I’m still very glad the network is pairing you both up so much. And I look forward to seeing you guys doing this for years to come. So we’ve talked about many things here, and the only other thing I can think of is the fourth season of UnREAL. I know that’s streaming on Hulu. I have not had the opportunity to see it as of yet. I’ve just been swamped.

I would expect nothing less from you. If you have time and you want to watch it, it is a hoot. I’m not gonna lie.

UnREAL

That’s what I’ve heard, and I do plan on taking the time to watch it.

I will tell you that Graham will be in his full glory in this season.

Well, it’s on my list to watch for sure. So do you have anything else upcoming that you want to mention?

I pitched a show to the network that I’m very passionate about that I would love to explore. It’s called Towne & Country. It’s a series idea, and I won’t get into the semantics of it right now. But I will say that it’s something that I think is absolutely fantastic. I obviously think it’s a great idea to make All Of My Heart a series as well.

There other things with other networks, including Netflix that I’m being pulled towards. I will admit that much like yourself, I’m so busy right now that I think there was a time recently where I forgot my wife’s name for a moment! It’s insane how busy I am now and how I can actually function with the work and with the amount of projects and offers that are coming forward. And it’s all great. I just have to prioritize and find out the best thing to do for my career and the next step. Sometimes I have to be selective and prioritize because I really do love Hallmark and I have kids and I’m a family man. But I definitely want to keep Hallmark as a priority in terms of projects. But busy is not a word I use lightly. Right now I am. I feel like one of those dolls that is pinned to the wall, and every new pin is a new series, a new movie, a new idea. You’re pinned, but sometimes you want to get off and go, “Okay, what pin do I pull out?” But no matter what, Hallmark is a priority.

We fans are very blessed that you have made Hallmark a priority because everything that you have done with them automatically goes on my favorites list. And I’m not just making that up. 

Aw, you’re very kind. This is a family, and I know it sounds cliche when you hear it from all these actors. But being a man with a wife and kids and you get a chance to do a project with this network, it is an amazing experience.  I’ve had fan mail from people going through cancer in hospitals, and they tell me that their family brings in my movies to watch while they’re going through chemo treatment. It just makes you realize that what you’re doing can really touch someone’s life on a deep level. It’s important for me to keep fighting to do the best work I can, no matter how tired I am. It’s for the fans and for those types of people who are relying on my films to get them through the difficult times. I don’t mean to get long-winded, but it’s a special place and the Lord has really blessed me to be in this position to do work that I’m having fun doing and work with great ladies like Lacey and Danica and all these people and work with a great network that I admire. But also to be able to touch people’s lives and make people feel like there’s something in that entertaining two hours that can make them feel better as they’re going through whatever they’re going through. That’s what we’re doing it for. That’s the blessing that the Lord gives me to give to other people. And that really has been touching me lately.

What an incredible tribute to the network, Brennan. Thanks for sharing that. And thankfully you have an incredible wife that can keep everything running while you’re doing all this. 

with his kids

That’s right. I couldn’t do what I do without her. She’s the bedrock of our family. She is the one who takes care of our children whenever I’m filming, and without her, I don’t know where I’d be. I certainly wouldn’t be bringing this great content to the fans. No matter what may go on professionally or at home or whatever, she is easily the strongest woman I know. And I am so blessed that she is willing to be my support no matter what. She is the ideal partner for me, and God has blessed me in so many ways. You know, we’re a successful family, and we both work very hard in our respective worlds. We are a Christian family who tries to inspire others in whatever way we can, and that is an incredible honor and responsibility. And no matter what, we always support each other.

Photo: Brennan Elliott, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

And one more thing I would like to say. All these fans who have shared so much with me about their struggles and difficulties they face continually, that is something that personally inspires me to keep going sometimes. Every day, I come in contact with people who are going through things I cannot even imagine, and in the past few years, I have begun to realize that no matter what you’re dealing with in your life, it does not have to stop you from doing what you’re meant to do. You can keep working and keep fighting. You have to remain positive, and you keep praying and somehow by the grace of God, you can make it through anything. I see examples of this in so many letters and messages I regularly receive from fans and friends. In fact, there are some days when I wake up in the morning and don’t feel like going to work. But then God reminds me of all the people out there who are not as fortunate as me and they are fighting their personal battles that I may never know anything about. And I remember the fan mail I received and the stories of people fighting through such incredible difficulties, and I realize that what I have to face that day is nothing compared to those things. And that is enough to get me up out of bed on those mornings.

Wow, Brennan, I would say you shared some profound things right there. Thank you for opening up as you have and just being so inspiring. I am quite humbled that you shared that message with us. It is an excellent reminder of God’s grace and the way He has blessed us in so many ways. 

Photo: Brennan Elliott, Lacey Chabert Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

Ruth, it is so true. My wife and I and our family are in a wonderful place. God has blessed me so much. But as we know, all of us have trials and tribulations along the way. And it is true that we often never know what other people we meet every day are going through. It’s a good thing for us to remember that truth, and it is something I believe God has been reminding me of lately. The main thing is that when we face these battles, we can’t stop living our lives. And maybe when we get through those difficulties in our lives, we can inspire others not to give up too. Hopefully, that is something I can do by just continuing to pursue my dream and passions and keep a strong home life no matter what obstacles I may have to overcome. And I think that being aware of this fact has enriched the work I am doing. If I can inspire someone by just being willing to get up at four in the morning, report to set, put in an eighteen-hour day and keep giving it everything I’ve got regardless of how I may feel on any given day, that is an incredible honor. I cannot give it less than my best no matter what. And I only hope that is a message that all of the fans can appreciate as well. Lacey, the network, and the crew and the rest of the cast are depending on me being at my best every single day, so that is what I am committed to doing no matter what.

I told Michelle at the TCA’s, “Listen, I just want you to know how I feel about what you guys are doing. No matter what, you guys are touching people’s lives.” I’ve had men, women, and children come to me at airports, restaurants, all over the world come to me and say, “Thank you for helping me get through a couple of hours of this or that.” And I’m like, “What?” They’re watching one of my movies to get them through their time in the hospital or whatever difficulties they face. It’s a very special, gratifying thing.

Photo: Lacey Chabert, Brennan Elliott Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman

Concerning All Of My Heart, I’d like to share one more interesting tidbit as an actor playing Brian. On this third movie specifically, the message is all about saving your home from evil.  That’s really what the movie’s about. This is honestly one of the strongest messages we’ve ever had in one of these films. In fact, I was concerned it might be too strong, but Lacey assured me it wasn’t. Of course, we have our lighter moments on screen, but I do believe you’re going to see some of my heart come out through this film. The most important relationship in the world is that of your family, and I hope that message comes through in this film. For me, my wife and my family are the most important people to me, and I am sure the viewers will be able to relate. No matter what difficulties come into your family, never forget to fight and don’t give up. When the evil threatens to tear you apart, I hope that the fans will remember just how hard Brian fought to save his family and his home. And for me, that was the most powerful part of this film. And the fact that Lacey is such an amazingly supportive human being both on and off the camera made filming this movie even more special. I really hope the fans will appreciate the story we’re telling and that it will make a positive impact on all who watch it.

Brennan, I cannot thank you enough for sharing so much with me today. My respect for you has increased a hundredfold easily, and I can hardly wait to see All Of My Heart: The Wedding tomorrow night!

Thank you, Ruth, for your support and for really listening to me and sharing this message with the fans. I really am excited to share this movie with all of the fans!

Photo: Brennan Elliott Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

From the first time I ever interacted with Brennan back during his Cedar Cove days, I recognized that there was something particularly extraordinary about this man. When I first interviewed him nearly three years ago, I was intensely impressed with him on every level, and over the years, my respect and admiration for him as an actor and as a human being has increased immensely. As a fellow artist in this mesmerizing, rewarding, sometimes confounding world of entertainment, I have found that the most compelling part of my role is to discover the essence of the people I interview and share that with the fans. In the case of Brennan, his transparency, kindness, and devotion to both the fans and the network is something that has always made my task quite simple. I only see myself as a conduit through whom God has chosen to reveal the true heart of these distinctive people like Brennan, and the profound message which has been entrusted to me this time is something I do not take casually. While Brennan has one of the most delightful senses of humor, a charming personality, and is one who consistently puts any interviewer at ease, I recognized his acumen and his spiritual nature during our first conversation, and it particularly gladdens my soul to witness the growth he has experienced in all levels of his life. In fact, as I mentioned to my mother, I believe that Brennan shared a “mini-sermon” that will hopefully resonate with an extensive variety of the fans all over the world. He comprehends the position and the platform which God has entrusted to him, and as he has continued to prove that he faithfully and soberly contributes his best effort in all endeavors, he has been rewarded with even more amazing opportunities and perpetual favor with the network, his co-workers, and his fans.

I hope that every person reading this makes a concerted effort to watch the premiere of All Of My Heart: The Wedding on the Hallmark Channel tomorrow (September 29th) night if at all possible. Additionally, if you would like to personally interact with this phenomenal actor, executive producer, and competent human being, I would invite you to check out all his links below and consider following him where applicable (check out his Instagram as it’s still very new!). When I consider the topmost people in this business with whom I am acquainted and even tend to consider as friends, I have to say that in spite of the fact I have never had the supreme honor of meeting the marvelous and beloved Brennan, he is one for whom I would practically do anything that I could to help him or his family, even at my own expense, because as far as I’m concerned, he is one of those rare human beings who radiates such sincerity, joy, love, and immeasurable excitement. And in case you’re wondering, sure, he’s a good-looking guy, but his heart of gold certainly overshadows that in this case. I hope that everyone will come out in droves and support all his projects from All Of My Heart to Christmas At Grand Valley to The Crossword Mystery and anything else that may come his way. As he pursues his career with integrity, devotion, and prudent stewardship, I have no doubt that his opportunities will decidedly intensify, and the fans whom he has treated with such remarkable generosity will be right by his side all the way!

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©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman