FOR A MORE UP-TO-DATE INTERVIEW WITH TYLER HYNES PLEASE CLICK HERE!

When it comes to Hallmark, I keep a consistent vigil concerning the various works in progress in order to watch for any new actors who are welcomed into the network family. And in the case of Tyler Hynes, Hallmark fans are about to see him in not just one movie, but two! Just this week, I had the honor of personally chatting with this young man, and I can guarantee that we are in for a treat with this guy! I am thrilled to share our conversation with my readers before the premiere of Falling For You tonight (October 6th). 

RH: Tyler, thank you for making some time to chat with me today.

TH: Ruth, I’m happy to chat with you. Thank you for reaching out and being so flexible with scheduling.

I am very excited that you’re going to be in your first Hallmark movie tonight. And you have another one coming up next month as well!

Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing both of those movies. They were great experiences.

So how did you get started in acting?

I started when I was seven years old. I grew up in Toronto, Canada. I come from humble beginnings. My dad is a mason by trade, and he got a discount the summer I was seven at a theater company called Young People’s Theater. My parents just wanted to get rid of me for the summer. I was a rambunctious little kid bouncing off the walls, and they wanted to send me somewhere cheap to get me out of the house. So that’s what they did.

I ended up doing a play with that theater company. It was a paying job–my first paying job at seven years old. It was a play called  A Christmas Carol. I played five characters or something like that. I enjoyed the whole dynamic of it and getting a reaction out of people. It was fun to see people in the audience react to a role I was playing. So I kept on doing it.

I did another play afterward across Canada. Then I started doing TV movies. Actually, the first audition I did for a movie was called Billy Madison with Adam Sandler. That is one of my favorite movies of all time. I almost booked it. I did seven callbacks, but I didn’t ultimately get it. If I had been able to be a part of that movie, I would have been a legend in my own mind. But that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

Well, I noticed you had started out pretty young. I regularly interview young people in the business, so I recognized some of the awards you’ve gotten like the Young Artist’s Award. 

You know, it’s a funny thing starting out young in this business. My parents were very smart about it, and they handled it very well. They always kept me in school, and I had a very normal upbringing. It wasn’t a bizarre circumstance where they were pushing me into acting.  It was just something that I fell into, and they were very accommodating. We all just fell into doing it because when you’re young, it’s a family affair. My mom was very much along for the ride, and she kept me normal instead of turning me into some kooky young actor. Which is nice.

Then I kept doing it, but at a certain point in my life, I came to a crossroads and really wondered if this was what I wanted to do the rest of my life. I took stock of how I was feeling about this career choice. But here I am at the age of thirty-two still acting and living the dream.

That’s cool! I figured you were still pretty young. Some of your notable works throughout the years…I did actually see you in something recently, although it came out a couple of years ago. Best-Selling Murder. And I really enjoyed that film.

Oh, yeah. I filmed that in Montreal a couple years back. And I had a good time on that film.

Best-Selling Murder

I watch a lot of Lifetime movies, but I really liked this one. I think I watched it because you were in it, and I recognized your name since you were going to be in this upcoming Hallmark movie. And also, Meghan Heffern was in it whom I interviewed a couple of years ago. 

Oh yeah, Meghan’s part was quite a twist. I haven’t had the opportunity to see that movie yet, but it was a great little film. The director, Michel Poulette, was sweet, and all my co-stars were fantastic.

Well, I just want to make sure the Hallmark fans check it out the next time Lifetime runs it because I thought it was well-done and a great murder mystery that is a bit edgier than Hallmark, but still a great movie with a few plot twists along the way. I was certainly surprised by it. Now, you also had a recurring role on Saving Hope, a show I didn’t happen to see.

Saving Hope

Yes, that was a big show that aired in the U.S. in some form, but I know it was easier to access in Canada. But I was on a total of seven shows, I think, over the course of the series. I had my part in the show, and then my character was dying the show. There was a lot of fan uproar because some people didn’t want me to die. But our showrunner was insistent that I was going to die in this scene and that was all there was to it. And I was like, “God bless you. This is my job.” So I was fine with them letting me die, but they did keep me around as a ghost. They brought me back as a vision or something like that. They were funny and creative about. They were just super sweet and a great group of people to work with.

Well, that is a show I definitely need to look up. I know I’ve talked with several people who have been on that show, but I haven’t seen it as of yet. I will put it on my list for sure. Before we discuss your Hallmark movies, I notice that you are in season three of UnREAL which was on Lifetime earlier this year and can now be seen on Hulu.

UnREAL

Yes, I am. Such a great show, good time, good group of guys. It was one of the seasons where they had a bachelorette and a bunch of dudes.

I know that show well, and I happened to see the season you were in. Because of Brennan Elliott, I am a fan of that show. In fact, he’s the reason I started watching the show.

Oh yeah, Brennan! The Hallmark King! And UnREAL is definitely an interesting show and an interesting dynamic. Brennan Elliott is a legend amongst us guys. All of the dudes on that show…we still talk about him. We have photos of Brennan in his different costumes. His wizard outfit! We love Brennan like you would not understand.

When I saw him at the Hallmark TCA’s this summer…it’s all new to me. This whole Hallmark thing. I just became aware of this world because of the LeAnn Rimes movie. I think I sort of snuck in because LeAnn picked me, and I don’t think I’m nearly handsome enough. My jaw is not sharp enough to be battling with the likes of Brennan Elliott and Andrew Walker, who is my cousin’s husband.

So this has been a new thing for me. I got the call about the LeAnn Rimes movie, and they brought me in to do that. I had a really great experience. I really had no idea what to expect, but LeAnn was fantastic. The producers were fantastic. Everyone involved with the project was very, very sweet. They are so accommodating. It’s like taking a Hallmark card and turning it into a production that feels warm and fuzzy. So when I started to do these movies, I realized, “Oh, Brennan, you’re the king of this network!” And then I was like, “Andrew, you’re another king of this network!” So I had both of them sort of explain things to me so I could understand the network and the programming and all a little bit better. And when I saw Brennan at the TCA’s, I was so happy to see the guy.

Andrew and Brennan are pretty good friends of mine, and I have interviewed both of them multiple times. And I keep Andrew aware of what is going on with the fans since social media is not his biggest strength. 

Oh, yeah, my girlfriend opened up my Twitter the other day, and I haven’t been on there in so long. She told me I had so many followers on this Twitter account. I don’t know if I had looked at it since I was on Saving Hope.

Well, I do hope you’re planning on live tweeting with the fans and maybe coming on Facebook and Instagram to interact with the fans. I tell you, the Hallmark fans are some of the best fans out there, and they love getting to interact with the actors.

Ruth, that sounds great! I recently joined the Hallmark fan Facebook group, and I am planning on trying my hand at live tweeting tonight. We’ll see how it goes.

I tell you, Tyler, you’re going to be a big hit with the fans if you’re able to do that. You’re getting right into the Hallmark community, and I tend to think we’re going to have a new favorite leading man in you. Speaking of Falling For You, which premieres tonight in the U.S. on the Hallmark Channel, this is your first Hallmark movie. Or at least the first one we’ll see you in.

Yes, I actually was cast in It’s Christmas, Eve first, and Falling For You was my second one.

Oh, so we’ll be seeing them out of order.

Taylor Cole, Tyler Hynes Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

Yes, I realized that at some point. The Christmas one would come after the fall one. But let me tell you, this Hallmark world is such a friendly environment. I just love the whole thing. Even though I’m new to this world, everyone involved couldn’t be sweeter, and it’s like jumping into a warm, fuzzy blanket. And the least I can do is try my best to interact with the fans. So I plan to interact and tweet as much as my little fingers can!

I love that attitude, Tyler! So please tell us about your role in Falling For You.

Tyler Hynes Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Brendan Meadows

I play a character named Zak Malone. The movie also stars Taylor Cole, as you mentioned. She is one of the flyest females on the planet. She is just the bee’s knees.  Her character, Lacey, is a radio show host in a small town that is going through some cutbacks and is a little bit in jeopardy. The reason for her jeopardized radio station…my character, Zak Malone, is somewhat responsible for that because he is a programmer that specializes in making a program that organizes and helps financially benefit small towns. He’s all about making small towns more efficient and cutting costs where not necessary. Unfortunately, her radio station show gets cut. So we team up. She has a bachelor bake-off to raise money. And through all this, we get to know each other and get the feel of the town. He gets to see another side of life that he hasn’t experienced in a long time because he grew up in a small town too. And they fall for each other.

Ah, so we’ll get to see if they end up together by the end! 

Tyler Hynes, Taylor Cole Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

Yes, cross your fingers. Hold your breath.

Well, I know the fans are excited about this one. The moment it came out that a bachelor bake-off was in this one, many of the female fans got very excited.

Was it the baking aspect of it or the bachelor aspect?

Well, the combination I think. 

True, I love it. I love food too. There was some fantastic food on set.

I’ve got a few friends in that film too. Alison Wandzura. She’s a really good friend of mine.

Tyler Hynes Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

I love her.

And Lini Evans. 

Lini is the greatest.

Then the two who play bachelor brothers who are feuding. Madison Smith and Matt Visser. 

Yep, two great gentlemen as well.

I remember Alison telling me about a scene in a barn that had a bunch of people and it was very hot. Were you a part of that scene?

Taylor Cole, Tyler Hynes Credit: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss

Oh yeah, I was there. That’s the big finale. It takes place in the barn, and there was a bunch of stuff we shot there. Depending on the day and what we were wearing, it could get pretty toasty in there. I usually managed to find myself a giant tube of air conditioning and pointed it right at my face. I survived pretty well. I don’t know about everybody else. It got a little roasty in there. But it could have been worse. We could have been filming a Christmas movie, and that could have been pretty miserable. Think of the warm clothes we would have had to wear!

It’s Christmas, Eve comes out next month (November). What can you tell us about that one?

With LeAnn Rimes

Well, it was my first Hallmark movie even though it comes out second. LeAnn was great. Everybody was super sweet, and we had a great time. I would say that two takeaways from both movies…LeAnn enjoyed staring into my eyes while singing, which is the biggest fear of my life. I have a phobia of people staring into my eyes while they sing to me. She enjoyed doing that. There was a lot of that in that movie. Then with Falling For You, Taylor enjoyed challenging me to ping-pong. She found a ping-pong table and continued to destroy me on the ping-pong table. She emasculated me in that game in front of some of the behind-the-scenes camera crews, which she enjoyed a lot. I enjoyed it very little. I’m actually a very good ping-pong player myself. I hadn’t met anybody that I haven’t been able to beat, and I got taken to the ropes by Taylor Cole.

Have you done any singing?

With Eden Summer Gilmore Photo by Ryan Plummer © 2018 Crown Media United States LLC

I have sung a little bit. I have recorded some music for myself for my own pleasure, but we did some singing in It’s Christmas, Eve and apparently, it’s not bad. I do the bare minimum though. The girl who plays my daughter, Eden Summer Gilmore, is like a human angel sent from heaven. She has the voice of a goddess and the hair of a queen. She’s like the greatest living human being of all-time and she sings her heart out in the movie. And of course, LeAnn doesn’t have a bad voice either.

{laughs} Well, yeah, I can imagine that.

{laughs} She’s only been doing it for a little bit of time, I think.

Yeah, she’s only been doing it most of her life. 

She’s written a few songs in her day. I was surprised how much I enjoyed watching the singing take place as long as no one was making eye contact with me. I was actually emotionally touched by both Eden’s and LeAnn’s singing songs that had been written for the movie. And these songs that LeAnn and Darrell Brown, her partner in crime, wrote for the movie…Darrell is, of course, her producer, manager and all-around fantastic human being. He and LeAnn composed some really great Christmas music that I think will really stand the test of time. They sound like classics already which is incredible. And the fact that it’s tied to this movie, it couldn’t be more fun. It’s got such emotion, and it’s a really great movie.

That’s good to hear. It’s one I’ve been looking forward to for a while because in addition to LeAnn and all that, one of my really good friend, Giles Panton, is in it.

Oh yeah, I remember Giles. He’s super funny, and he couldn’t have more energy in the world! I love him! He was an absolute gangster.

{laughs} That’s a good way to describe him.

I did have a really cool reunion on that film that my mom reminded me about later. Laurie Murdoch, who plays LeAnn’s stepfather, was actually in my second play that I ever did called Tommy. That was the one I mentioned that I did across Canada. I was ten years old when I did that, and I really hope I can reconnect with him now that I know who he is. I just didn’t realize it at the time we were shooting the film.

Oh, that’s cool, Tyler! I hope you two somehow get connected. That would be fun if you could. 

I hope so too. I tell you, I should have gotten his number or something.

Tyler, I cannot thank you enough for your time today. I have a feeling that the fans are going to love both of your movies, and I can hardly wait till you get in and start live tweeting with us.

Ruth, thank you so much for your time and interest. I am excited to be a part of the Hallmark family now, and I hope everyone comes out and watches the movie tonight!

Whenever I interview an actor who is new to the Hallmark family, I do my best to acquaint them with the Hallmark fan community and even give them pointers about how to earn the long-term respect and support of these loyal and engaging devotees. While many listen to my enthusiastic ramblings and some even promise to attempt to follow a preponderance of my recommendations, I try to contain my potential excitement. After all, I have enough actor friends that I recognize that it may be impossible to expect them to live tweet and respond to fan questions and comments, and I never think ill of them if they do not follow through with what they promised with good intentions. However, Tyler is one of the chosen few who has decided to take my advice, and even though his life is busier than most imagine, he is making the conscious decision to acknowledge and interact with this incredible fanbase, and that assures me that his passion for the Hallmark network is profound, stalwart, and genuine. In short, Tyler Hynes is already “in love” with Hallmark. Not to cast aspersion on any actor who is unable to connect in the way Tyler has, but it is refreshing to see a young man of his generation keep his word in such a marvelous fashion. Moreover, Tyler is interested in creating as many personal connections with the fans as possible, and I believe he is already well on his way to that astronomical goal. (I think he chose the correct actors from whom to seek wisdom, don’t you?)

I hope that if you are in the U.S. and have access to the Hallmark Channel that you will tune in today (October 6th) in just a couple of hours to watch the highly-anticipated Fall Harvest premiere Falling For You. (And then come back next month to watch It’s Christmas, Eve.) Additionally, please visit all his links below and follow him on as many social media platforms as you possibly can (you can even join the Hallmark Facebook fan group as he mentioned in his interview). As far as I’m concerned, I have made the decision to throw my entire support behind Tyler even before his movies premiere because his communications with me have been some of the most rewarding and astounding I’ve seen in quite some time. While I understand that talent is important (and I know Tyler has that in spades since I have seen him in a couple other works previously), I think Tyler has chosen to focus on items that I feel are more vital and enduring in the grand scheme of things. He will always hone his craft and take advantage of every opportunity possible to act in an assortment of artistic works. But because he is committed to being a humble, upstanding, benevolent human being, I believe his association with every network who employs him will be long and fulfilling. Furthermore, there is no doubt that the fans will forever be in his corner as he reaches out to them authentically and personally, and that means that the fans will never grow weary of viewing his handsome face nor witnessing his jovial persona on our screens! And in me, he definitely has a zealous fan for life!!

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