I count myself considerably fortunate to have been one of the first interviewers to feature Jack Turner in anticipation of his initial project with the Hallmark network–My Summer Prince. Since that time I have observed and enjoyed his impeccable talents, his notable success, and his comprehensive reach–all of which continue to swell exponentially. In honor of his fourth Hallmark movie (and his fourth interview with me, NOT fifth as I erroneously claimed), I am thrilled to highlight and share his remarkable skills, his overwhelming magnanimity, and his dynamic professionalism as we anticipate the premiere of Forever In My Heart on the Hallmark Channel this weekend {September 14th}.
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Michael Larsen
RH: You have made three very popular Hallmark films with Taylor Cole. What do you believe is the secret of your incredible on-screen chemistry with each other?
Jack Turner, Taylor Cole Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Fred Hayes
JT: Yes, it’s been great to work with her so much! She’s such a pleasure to work with. That certainly really helps chemistry, to get on with the person off-screen. Also, from an acting perspective, chemistry is really just listening: listening and being in the moment. Taylor has super powers when it comes to listening and being in the moment. So I can be along for the ride! Another thing that might help is she’s always willing to rehearse! Often, the movies are shot in as little as fifteen days. That’s really quick. When you’re heading home at night, or to set in the morning, and you’re both tired, but your co-star is always willing to prepare the upcoming day/week’s scenes, it takes the chemistry and trust to an even higher level.
With Bill Abbott & all
You made two films with her and Rukiya Bernard and Dewshane Williams. It looks like a third one has been announced for next year–One Winter Wedding. What are your hopes for this third installment in this series?
That’s right, One Winter Wedding has been announced. I’m excited about it! It’s funny you mention Rukiya and Dewshane as they feature nicely in my hopes – I hope they get married in the movie! They’ve been awesome and their storyline has developed so nicely. It’d be great to see that pay off! Of course, I hope Taylor and I get married too. If we didn’t, it would be quite a twist.
Very soon, Hallmark fans will see you in your first Hallmark film without Taylor Cole, Forever In My Heart. What initially drew you to this film and your character?
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Steffan Hill
Yeah, I joke that Taylor gave me a Hallmark pass.
Regarding FIMH, one of the producers mentioned it to me last year, so the movie has been in the works for a bit. He said there would be a film shooting in Ireland, and it was convenient because as a UK citizen I’m able to work there without any restrictions (For now at least, but let’s not get into that mess #nobrexit lol!). I was really excited to work in Ireland, and they brought me on board about a month prior to shooting. At that time, I didn’t know much about the film, but when I learned my character was a musician, I got really excited. Music is one of my true loves. It really drew me to the character and the film.
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Deirdre Brennan
Please tell us about your character and how he fits into the overall framework of Forever In My Heart.
So, like I mentioned, my character Charlie is an Irish musician. At the beginning of the film, he’s in a relationship, in Ireland, with Jenna (Merrit Patterson). However, she gets drawn back to the States for work, and Charlie has the opportunity to gig in Europe playing traditional Irish music with his friend Liam. So, they go their separate ways. Cut to five years later: Charlie has come home, and Jenna comes to visit. You’ll have to tune in to find out what happens!
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Deirdre Brennan
What was it like working with Merritt Patterson? Any special behind-the-scenes stories to share?
Merritt was great. I can tell you she’s a trooper for sure! She had crazy allergies when in Ireland – but in the movie, you’d never know it! She was amazing! Speaking of illness, I also had food poisoning, or some kind of brutal bug, and it came on right in the middle of the scene one day, bam! Just like that! Tune in and you’ll have to let me know which scene you think it was when you watch! See if there’s one where I start sweating for no apparent reason–hahaha! Weird BTS stories, but that’s real life for you!
We also got the chance to have some cast drinks one weekend – it was great! It turned into a way larger thing than we expected! Emmet {Byrne}, Róisín {O’Donovan}, and Merritt were there, and also my dialect coach, Chris Newman, who’s a killer actor in his own right and was great to have on set. A bunch of everyone’s friends turned up at Grogan’s in the heart of Dublin. The Guinness was flowing that day!
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Steffan Hill
One of the nice BTS things was Merritt and I both had family visit us on the trip – Merritt’s mum was with her for a while and it was lovely to meet her. And, my sister and her family were able to visit from London one of the weekends. Also, my girlfriend came from Los Angeles for another weekend! Amazing she could come so far for such a small time…I was so grateful. It’s wonderful if you can root yourself with family and loved ones when shooting. Particularly when shooting a love story.
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Steffan Hill
I understand you filmed this movie on location. Please comment on how that made this experience even more memorable.
The location is really a character in itself in this movie, and I personally really found it inspirational to be in Ireland. You can feel the passion and heart of the Irish in their land somehow. It’s hard to describe, but when you’re there, you definitely feel it. It is such a beautiful country, from the coastline, to the country, to the mountains. Wonderful.
Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Steffan Hill
We also got to shoot at the Guinness estates – that was so cool! Look it up and check it out, it’s beautiful. But, mainly the people there were incredible. So much humour and warmth. It was a treat for me, it really reminded me of where I grew up in the South West of England, full of quite rootsy people that can laugh at themselves and everything else too! I really tried to do the Irish proud with the role. It was a source of inspiration I could always tune into, because the local crew and cast around me were such a riot every day.
Any other upcoming works you can mention?
Red Devil
© Saints & Savages
Yes! A movie I did in England last year will release in November. It’s called Red Devil. It should play in UK cinema’s which is cool – I’ve never had a cinematic release before. It’ll be on streaming sites shortly after that, but I don’t know exactly when. It will be an interesting film – quite different than Hallmark, more like “Lock Stock and Two Smoking Tarantinos”!
At this point, we have yet to see you in a Christmas movie with any network. Do you have any dreams or desires concerning a potential Christmas movie you might eventually get to make?
2019 Winter TCA’s
Source: Getty Images North America
I’d love to be involved in one. Hopefully, more and more people will continue to enjoy my acting and I’ll get the chance!
Your interviews have consistently been at the top of my site almost since our first interview (and this one is our fifth fourth I think!). Why do you believe that fans–especially Hallmark fans–have taken such a keen interest in you over the years?
Is it our fifth fourth? Wow! Maybe our fans are gluttons for punishment lol – or maybe they have good taste! Whatever it is, I’m really grateful for it. It’s nice when movies make people feel good, and I’m honoured to be a part of them.
Any updates on your music? I know you’ve been trying to incorporate that into films and shows. And of course, Hallmark fans would love for that to happen!
Well, actually a couple – it was interesting being a musician in this movie. I love playing guitar and piano, and producing music in general, but in this one, I had to also do a bit of singing! I’m not a confident singer, or a particularly strong one, so that was a challenge for me in this! Singing is also probably the one single thing that makes me most nervous – so on one hand it was great to do something that scared me, but I must admit, it really did! I got to be involved in some of the post-production of the music, which was great to be a part of.
The second update is I was able to contribute about half of the soundtrack for an upcoming movie called Steam Room Stories – The Movie. It’s written and directed by a good friend of mine, JC Calciano. He wrote, produced, and directed a movie I was in a few years ago, The 10 Year Plan, and we’ve been very close since then. Being able to get involved in a movie from the other side of the camera is really fun, and I loved being able to contribute to another one of his movies – it’s a really good one! It just released, so go and check it out!
If you could go anywhere in the world on a dream vacation, where would you go, and whom would you take with you?
You know, it’s funny, I just came back from Croatia with my girlfriend, and I can’t imagine anywhere, or anyone, more spectacular. I’m lucky I got a dream vacation in real life! I’d like to go back to Ireland with her though, and have her there for longer than a weekend this time!
with his girlfriend
The sensation known as Jack Turner has been an instant hit with Hallmark viewers worldwide since the auspicious day when Jack graced our screens as Prince Colin opposite the radiant Taylor Cole. To be quite honest, in light of his magnetic on-screen presence, his sultry good looks, and his impeccably sweet persona, I have no earthly idea why Jack is not a more “in demand” industry professional. Notwithstanding, I do believe that Hallmark viewers–especially those of the female persuasion–continue to foster a profound and abiding adoration for this English fellow who continues to captivate our imaginations and our hearts. When I discovered that he was making a Hallmark film WITHOUT Taylor Cole, I was nearly speechless with excitement. Not that I don’t adore Taylor–I mean, who couldn’t love that consummate actress? But to have the opportunity to witness Jack in a role that is different from his other characters and opposite another influential, stunning Hallmark leading lady electrifies me because it means we viewers will be savoring Jack’s on-screen performance in a bit of a different light. I have no doubt he will still be as charming and as engaging as ever (probably even more so–I mean, doesn’t this guy get more handsome every time we see him??). Moreover, watching him in a Hallmark movie filmed on location in Ireland simply makes me want to scream in anticipation!!
I do hope that everyone reading this interview who has access to the Hallmark Channel will make it a priority to tune in Saturday night, September 14th, for the premiere of Forever In My Heart, a movie that will definitely make us fall head-over-heels for Jack Turner…that is, if we haven’t already! Additionally, please visit all of Jack’s links below and consider following him where applicable. I’m sure he’ll do his best to live tweet with us, and who doesn’t want to interact with this debonair, suave gentleman? I greatly anticipate what will be coming for Jack in the near and distant future, and fingers crossed that one of these days we see him emblazoning our screens in a Christmas movie and more!
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4 Comments
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Thanks, Ruth. I look forward to that interview with the composer of “Jenny’s Song.” It continues to linger in my memory. I’ve often thought that Hallmark should create a disk of some of the more memorable or favorite melodies from among its programs. Along with this song, I’d suggest the closing song from Bridal Wave, one that repeats during Love at First Dance, and several from Harvest Moon.
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Thank you, Ruth, for the interview and update on Jack. As for his latest Hallmark production, love him with his Irish brogue. The guitar playing and singing are pluperfect or perhaps pitch-perfect. “Jenny’s Song” is haunting me. Can’t get it out of my mind, but can’t find credits for it. Is it your own composition, Jack, or by someone else? As my British son-in-law would say, “It’s lovely.”
Please, Hallmark, give us more of Jack Turner and especially more with him singing & strumming.-
Author
I have an interview coming soon with the composer. Thank you, Carol, for your comments.
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I do enjoy watching Jack in Hallmark movies. Great interview!
