There are specific actors whom I’ve had the pleasure of supporting almost from the beginning, and from the moment Preston Vanderslice appeared on Hallmark, I was there. I’ve seen this successful, gifted young man take on more significant roles with Hallmark over the past few years, and I can hardly believe this is our fourth interview! In anticipation of his upcoming Hallmark Movies & Mysteries premiere on December 21st, Christmas On My Mind, it is my distinct privilege to share our most recent virtual chat.
Jill Wagner, Preston Vanderslice Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs
RH: Since we chatted last year, we have seen you in four Mystery 101 films. (Is that true? Wow!) You finally have a recurring role–Bud. What do you enjoy about working on this series? Any special behind-the-scenes moments?
PV: Yes! Mystery 101 has been such a great experience. Having a recurring role kind of feels like having a recurring family with the cast and crew, and I couldn’t think of a better fam to be a part of. Jill {Wagner} and Kris {Polaha} are a joy to work with, and my character, Bud, is a kind of endearing, sometimes comedic, hopefully, a likable guy who is in his element when he’s getting to help solve these crimes.
Kristoffer Polaha, Jill Wagner, Preston Vanderslice, Derek Green Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs
The rapport that I have with Jill’s character “Amy” is one of constant support while with Kris’s character “Travis”, I’m always just trying to hang – like he’s the cool big brother that Bud’s never had but always wanted.
Sarah Dugdale, Preston Vanderslice Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
It would appear Bud is possibly sweet on one of the other characters. Assuming this movie series does continue. how would you like to see this potential relationship grow? Any other hopes for Bud?
Oh yeah, Bud is definitely sweet on Travis’s partner, Claire, played by the lovely Sarah Dugdale. After playing the ill-fitting boyfriend numerous times, it was fun to finally “get the girl.” I’m not totally sure what’s in store for their relationship. I mean, if it’s up to me, I say our characters get a spin-off after a few more episodes, we do fifteen to fifty movies, something like that and go down in the Hallmark Hall of Fame. Joking. Kind of. Ha! In all seriousness, I’ve always thought it would be fun if the four of us (Bud, Claire, Amy, and Travis) found ourselves on a few double dates that were both flirty and sleuthing focused at the same time.
Preston Vanderslice, Marilu Henner Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Farah Nosh
You also made a guest appearance in Aurora Teagarden. What was that experience like for you?
Aurora Teagarden was great. Talk about a well-oiled mystery show. Those folks have been doing it and doing it well for a while now. My character was, um, definitely, shall we say, very self-involved, but he got what was coming for him in the end. And (spoiler alert) while he was by no means perfect, he at least wasn’t a murderer!
Preston Vanderslice, Ashley Greene Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer
I understand you are in an upcoming Christmas film. Please tell us about your role and how this character fits into the overall story. What did you enjoy about filming this movie?
Yes, I shot a really enjoyable Christmas movie back in October with Andrew Walker and Ashley Greene. We had such a good time on set. It was with the same director and a lot of the same crew from Small Town Christmas that I shot last year, so it was fun to reconnect with all of them.
With Andrew
Christmas On My Mind
I play Beau Callahan, Andrew’s character’s younger brother. Beau acts as both a fun-loving, mildly pestering younger sibling as well as a genuine friend to his brother. Andrew and I hit it off right from the start, which made it a breeze to find a good brother connection.
Jill Wagner, Preston Vanderslice, Amanda Wong Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Any other upcoming works you can mention?
Well, I recently got word that we’re back for more Mystery 101’s in the new year, so that’ll be exciting to dig into. I’m also doing a play for most of December up in Vancouver and have spent the better part of November in rehearsals for that.
Since you are doing a play right now, what do you appreciate about doing live theater?
The stage is totally terrifying and, in an odd way, that’s exactly what I enjoy about it. Don’t get me wrong; I love film and TV, but getting back on stage feels like reconnecting with this ancient, primal method of storytelling more than on-camera work does. I love the audience’s reaction right then and there and the reality that the performance is subtlety different every night.
Preston Vanderslice, Desiree Zurowski, Andrew Walker Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer
I think you became a dual citizen recently. Please tell us about that experience and why you decided to take this step.
I did, in fact, become a dual citizen back in the summer. It was an exciting, somewhat surreal day. If you would’ve told me ten years ago that I was going to be a dual US/Canadian citizen one day, I would have looked at you with serious confusion. I never really saw this happening in my life, but work brought me up to Canada and, while I still spend a fair amount of time in LA, work and a great community have kept me up in Vancouver pretty steadily for the last several years. I love the Pacific Northwest, and the city of Vancouver, so when I realized that I’d spent enough days as a permanent resident to apply for citizenship, I jumped on it.
Andrew Walker, Preston Vanderslice, Donna Benedicto, Clayton James Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer
How do you plan to spend the holidays this year?
This year, I’ll be going back to Texas to visit my family. My brother and his wife just had their first child and my sister already has two little boys, so I’ll probably be uncle-ing hard for the bulk of the break. Exactly how I want it.
Christmas On My Mind
behind-the-scenes
In my opinion, you’re a “success” story in terms of working actors–moving from small role to “other guy” to murderer, to recurring role. What is your advice to other young actors who are wanting to follow a similar path to your career?
That’s very kind of you to say, Ruth. Thank you. I suppose, for me, it’s always been a matter of showing up and taking stock of the opportunities that are at hand. Seize every opportunity to get up and exercise your craft. It’s the best way to learn. A lot changed for me too when I shifted my mindset from wanting to be a “good actor”, to thinking life is more interesting when I approach it as a curious human. When you’re constantly trying to be a good actor, you’re always asking yourself if what you’re doing is good or bad, right or wrong, but the truth is that this job doesn’t really work well with those questions rolling around in your head. When you approach a role, a story, as a curious human who wants to play for the sake of playing, however, you get out of your head and into your heart – that’s where the good stuff takes place.
Christmas On My Mind is a particularly special production to me because it was during the filming of this movie that my dream was finally actualized: meeting Andrew Walker in person (it was our third attempt!). And it would seem that I missed meeting many other people who were in the vicinity–Preston included–so I’m hoping that I have the opportunity to meet him in person in 2020. Regardless, I have every intention of being his veritable champion while continuing to declare his unquestionable prowess and generous spirit to as many people as humanly possible. I still long for the day when Preston will have ultimately earned that coveted leading role with Hallmark, but until that time, I will be in his corner, shouting and singing his praises because he is one extraordinary young man with a future of boundless opportunities as more come to recognize his phenomenal skills and dynamic persona.
I hope that everyone tunes in to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries December 21st (premieres on the W Network on December 22nd) for the second Andrew Walker Hallmark Christmas movie of the season (aren’t we blessed??) and the debut Hallmark movie for Ashley Greene–Christmas On My Mind (based on the book written by the amazing author, Denise Hunter and adapted by my friend, Kirsten Hansen). And while next year we anticipate yet another installment in the ongoing mystery saga that is bound to captivate the viewers–Mystery 101–don’t forget to visit Preston’s links below and consider following him on social media (he does a respectable job of keeping the fans updated on Instagram). In my humble opinion, Preston has the distinction of being in that exceptional group of young men who have paid their dues and are patiently awaiting that serendipitous lead role which will demonstrate what his devoted friends, his loving family, and his loyal fans already know: Preston is the complete package. In the time I have known him, I have come to believe and acknowledge that Preston is one of the most versatile of the working actors in existence today who can portray any type of role on the vast spectrum of characters and personalities while eliciting a robust reaction from the viewers, an instance that does not always occur with the supporting cast in these kinds of films. It has been my honor to promote the charming, handsome, talented, benevolent Preston, and I sincerely hope that all of my readers will persist in supporting the career of this man who indubitably embodies everything a quality artist should.
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CHECK OUT MY OTHER INTERVIEWS WITH PRESTON
Interview With Actor Preston Vanderslice, “Destination Wedding”
Interview With Actor Preston Vanderslice, “Mingle All the Way” & “Small Town Christmas”
Christmas On My Mind
Behind-the-scenes
Jill Wagner, Kristoffer Polaha, Preston Vanderslice, Louriza Tronco Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs
