A couple of summers ago, I featured an actor who was making his Hallmark debut in a movie entitled My Summer Prince, and he was starring opposite a beloved network actress, Taylor Cole. I knew virtually nothing about Jack Turner, but I petitioned him immediately for an interview. I was quite impressed when he promptly responded in the affirmative, and in truth, the rest is history. That first interview of his has earned the coveted “Top Ten” spot both in 2017 and 2016 for the respective year, and I can only cite his obvious charm, his dynamic talent, and his delightful persona as reasons for this uncanny popularity. When I discovered that Jack and Taylor were reuniting for a Winterfest movie this month, I again contacted Jack for an update, and he practically leaped at the chance (for which I was and am eternally grateful)!

© Helga Esteb

RH: Since our last chat, your interview has remained in the top ten posts on my site. My Summer Prince continues to be a fan favorite. Why do you think the popularity of the film and your role remain so popular after a year and a half?

JT: Yes, thanks for having me back! To be honest, I don’t know! But, it was such a good script and sweet film that I think people just really enjoyed it. The characters were very relatable, even though they were royalty. That’s not easy to do, unless the writer does excellent work, and Topher Payne really did. Prince Colin, my character, was very well written, and I think the audience could relate to him as he struggled within the confines of his royal duties. Also, the script was full of amazing female roles. The women in the film were really powerful, and super fun to watch.

Legends of Tomorrow

I notice you got to play J.R. R. Tolkien in Legends of Tomorrow. What was it like playing such an iconic character on that show? What did you do to get into character?

I loved it! J.R.R Tolkien is such a legend, and they were some huge shoes to fill! The strange thing was that before I auditioned, I was sent a picture of him as a young man about to go to war, to try to match his look for the audition. He had such a powerful look in his eye – determined, hugely intelligent, resigned, resilient, and afraid, all at once. That look was more informative for me than any other research I did when I took on the role. If I ever felt lost I always came back to that photo.

Fatherly Obsession

You’ve been in a Lifetime Movie called Fatherly Obsession. I have not had the opportunity to see the film yet, but what can we expect from your role in this film? {Update: I am currently watching the film as it is saved on my DVR.}

Yes! I’m really pleased with that film! You should still be able to catch it on Lifetime. Dan Ringey did a fabulous job directing and the production team put together a wonderful cast. Working with Molly McCook and Ted McGinley was just the best experience. They are so talented, so well prepared, and they crushed it. From my end, you can expect a character that you think might be the bad guy, but you’re not sure! It’s a really good thriller that keeps you guessing. It also looks amazing – Andy Strahorn (DP) and his team were exceptional. Check it out!

You’ve done a number of shorts since last appearing in Hallmark as well. You don’t have to name them all, but are there any you’d like to mention specifically?

Actually just one I think, but some of the old shorts I’ve done keep changing to more recent dates on IMDB; I don’t know why! I’ve tried to have that fixed, but to no avail! There was one I did though that I’m very proud of called Cold Comfort. JC Calciano, the writer/director of my film The 10 Year Plan, is a teacher at UCLA. He brought one of his student’s scripts to me, and it was really great. So, I helped cast it with my friend, the hugely talented Hayley Shaw, and called up DP Noel Maitland, and it was a really cool film!

One Winter Weekend

Hallmark viewers get to see you and Taylor Cole team up again in the new Winterfest film One Winter Weekend. What can you tell us about your role in relation to the film without giving anything away?

My character is an entrepreneur who is in need of a bit of a reset. He plans a weekend away with his best friend and finds that he has booked the same chalet as Cara (played by Taylor). They also try to get the same snowboard. Naturally, they don’t take to each other very well….you’ll have to tune in to see if that changes!

What was it like playing opposite Taylor again?

Taylor’s great to work with. She is really great to everyone on set; she brings ideas and is flexible to changes that come up through the course of shooting. You couldn’t want anything else from an actor. It was also easy because we’ve worked together before – we both trust each other to turn up prepared and ready to get to work! We found a really easy rhythm of sorts, prepping upcoming days in the car ride home, and rehearsing on the way to set every day. That was something we fell into really easily because of the trust built on My Summer Prince.

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

Just works I’m developing, and that’s fun, but always takes time! I’m afraid that I’m impatient. I have a movie script finalizing, and a couple others in the editing stage. All good ideas and they’ll be fun to develop!

Do you have any plans to do any writing or directing?

Yes, definitely, and that’s what I’m working on when I’m not acting. Writing is a fun challenge, and I’m getting there with it. I’d love to direct. I find that I can translate pretty well between the result-oriented needs of a picture, into process-oriented needs of actors, and I’m familiar with lots of techniques to help an actor find a role and develop relationship dynamics. So, at some point, I think I’ll make a good director; hopefully, I’ll be able to translate and bring it all to life.

What kind of winter sports do you enjoy watching? Any you enjoy participating in?

I enjoy watching a lot of them; they’re so creative! From snowboarding and skiing through to the craziness of the luge and the strategy of curling – I can get into watching any of them. Personally, I like to ski and snowboard. I got to snowboard a little in the movie too, which was super fun – definitely a highlight of shooting.

If you were to plan a winter’s getaway to anywhere, where would you go? Why?

My girlfriend and I really want to check out Montana; it’s been up there on my list for forever! I remember, as a kid in England, reading books by James Lee Burke that were set in Montana and described so beautifully; it made me desperate to see what he depicted. I still haven’t gone – it’s tough to get to Montana from LA for a weekend. But that would be amazing to visit. Also, being in Canada when we were shooting, and getting so close to Banff but not actually seeing it, made me want to get back ASAP! It’s meant to be so beautiful and have such great skiing.

Thanks for having me!

I don’t know exactly what it is, but there is a certain artlessness and unpretentiousness coupled with a gentle heart and gifted soul that seem to drip from the very essence of Jack. While his responses tend to be brief, his words are always carefully chosen and immensely meaningful. He takes great care in everything he does, and his creative spirit is constantly in motion. Jack is one who enjoys the art of participation rather than merely waiting as a spectator for a lucky break or opportunity. I would venture to say he may be a borderline workaholic in the way he tackles his passions, but it sounds like he also attempts to maintain a healthy balance between work and play. Whenever he appears on screen, there is a particularly charming and suave air about him that is reminiscent of the actors of old Hollywood such as Cary Grant and David Niven. Notwithstanding, he constantly manages to bring in a modern propensity that causes him to remain current and informed without maligning the image of the ultimate gentleman. Jack is of an unusual breed in today’s entertainment universe, and while he may not be a household name as yet, I predict that in time, that will change as fans all over the world continue to recognize and appreciate his phenomenal talent. While his acting appears simply effortless, he’s also one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet.

So please tune in Saturday, January 20th to the Hallmark Channel to watch the premiere of the third of this network’s Winterfest movies, One Winter Weekend. Additionally, I would invite you to check out all of Jack’s links below so that you don’t miss even a moment of his magnificence. I can only hope that as Jack proceeds to remain grounded and true to his “calling” within this industry, networks like Hallmark will ascertain exactly what a gem they have in this wondrous professional. Fingers crossed that this film propels him to the upper echelon of fan favorites and we begin to see him highlighted in movies even more often than once every couple of years. After all, a talent like Jack doesn’t come along every day, and the more opportunities he has to shine, so much the better!

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