I absolutely treasured the show Date My Dad that premiered on UP TV this past summer, and when I interviewed one of the stars of the show, Cindy Busby, she divulged the news to my viewers and me that a special character would be appearing later in the season, portrayed by the indomitable Victor Zinck Jr. Upon further research, I discovered that I had seen him on Hallmark and elsewhere at various times without my realization. After the premiere of The Sweetest Heart (Alex Perkins) in the month of February on the Hallmark Channel, I knew the time had come to interview this fascinating artist, and he eagerly agreed. What I did not anticipate was the engaging, witty responses to my questions, and I am thrilled to present my recent interview with this entertaining personage.

RH: How did you get started in acting and what kind of training have you had?

VZ: So My last year of high school, I had three options for my career: firefighter, something in computers, or sell my body–no idea what I wanted…

A friend of mine stopped me in the hallway and said I should audition for the play after school! I literally laughed and said,  “Ah, no thanks, man! Not really my thing!” Turned around walked away and never saw him again.

Next question?

Haha! No, I saw him twenty minutes later at the audition.. hadn’t thought about acting since I was young and as soon as I turned around and walked away, I immediately remembered how much I loved it and how I forgot about it for a long time! Even though I had only done a small one-week summer program at the age of ten, and a musical in grade six, it was a strong feeling..

Auditioned for the high school play, landed a lead role and after a week of rehearsal, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. It was a really wonderful and powerful feeling actually.. Especially since I was just awful, so I knew it meant something–haha!

Moved to Toronto at eighteen not knowing anyone, where to go, what to do, how to fold my socks properly…

The day I moved in, my wonderful and flamboyantly gay landlord, after finding out I was an actor, excitedly took me downstairs to the tenant in the basement suite of the house, which looked like the house of a struggling fortune teller.. she tuned out to be an agent who I signed with that day, in blood, and had a real audition two days later…

Absolutely no idea what the heck I was doing, I auditioned… My eye was twitching, I remembered almost none of my lines, shaky voice, just a messssss. Walked out and said to myself, “I made the biggest mistake of my life, if I’m THAT bad off the start, I chose the wronggggg career!” Haha! I remember standing on the corner of the next street eyes wide just staring out at nothing. What the heck do I do with my life now…with my folder of forty-nine new headshots I was never going to use again…when my phone rang and my fortune-teller agent said, “You booked it!!!

…….Eleven years later I’m talking to you and realizing I chose the third option I had in high school.

I’m still constantly training! When I’m not working obviously, I have this OCD need to be great… I do.. haha! I want to work with my heroes and I won’t stop Until I do! I’ve never done full-time courses only scene study and workshops/private coaching type stuff.

What was the first professional job you booked and what are your memories of that job?

That first commercial audition I just told you about was my first paid job, but it didn’t air. So my first job actually on TV, paid and words came out of my mouth was Smallville! A TV show about Superman, which was so exciting because well, it’s Superman! Also, I watched the first season of that show years before and loved it!!!! So seeing the set and meeting the team behind it all was so exciting!!! And so nervous!! First year in the business and first time being on a big budget show with so so many crew and cast and moving parts to make it work was overwhelming for sure. Had one line which was “for luck” and my character description on IMDD is ‘Tess’s assistant,” which I was fine with at the time ’cause I was new and it made me sound a lot more important! I thought anyway…

But the original character name was “Chiseled Co-Worker” Haha! I’m going to get them to switch it back.

I notice you’ve been in The 100. Please tell us about your experience with that show and a little about your character.

The 100! Dirty gritty wild show… Loved that experience for a lot of reasons! I was on an episode in season one (Dax) in which I died, and then a flashback a couple seasons later.

I remember Matt {Barber}, the director of that episode, really wonderful and passionate guy took me for a walk five minutes before shooting the first scene and asked me what I thought about the character, which I had never had happen before. I was so excited and told him what I thought and the character’s arc…blah blah…

“Ah, Vic I love that! But… (uh oh) ..Have you ever heard of Asberger’s?”

Hmm?? What’s that?

Haha–he made it sound pretty badass, even though it was completely left field of all the work I had prepared, not to mention…what a note to give five minutes before shooting…..! Haha!

But being young and not too confident to say, “You know, that sounds awesome–I think–but I’m about to shoot the first scene…” So I lied about knowing what it was, so I’m going to stick with what I worked on!

Supergirl (Phillip Karnowsky)

Couldn’t say that, so he talked for those four minutes before they said “rolling,” telling me what he knew about Asperger’s, which wasn’t that much really..haha! Thennnn “action!”

He might have had the greatest idea, but I had no idea what the heck I was doing and then–what you see on-screen is what came out of that–haha!

Loved and hated every minute!

That’s the general feeling I have on every set though. Eleven years in.. I know how to focus so my insecurities don’t affect me and I can work. But oooh weee! They are still there–haha!

Hallmark viewers were introduced to you in the Love On the Sidelines (still a very popular film). How did you get involved with this film, and what did you enjoy about working on this film?

Yeah, that was a fun one! Got to suit up again–first time since high school–and throw a few balls around! Loved the nostalgia.

The role (Ron Lucas) was originally offered to an actual NFL player who ended up not being able to do it, so they offered it to me and I’m glad they did! Met a lot of great people I still see and work with all the time.

Hallmarks are so interesting!! It’s a fifteen-day shotgun shoot to shoot an entire movie…!! You have to be as prepared as you can because they don’t have time or money to mess around, so you learn to adapt to that quickly and usually get a couple takes max and they’re onto the next shot! Go go go! It’s crazy.

All the Hallmark stories are incredibly cliché and predictable and that’s why people adore them!!! Love that they make people so happy!

While I didn’t ever see Motive, I know the show by reputation, and I know that you had a recurring role. Please tell us about your character and what you enjoyed about having this recurring role in a well-established series.

Ah, loved Motive!!

Motive was my first crack at a character with an episodic arc! Few episodes to build into something as opposed to being killed like I usually do… moving up! Haha!

The young, cocky, arrogant detective who really believed everything he said.. so much fun!! From the first audition to the screen test with Kristin Lehman to the show finale was such a blast! Worked with a lot of friends–actors and crew from Vancouver and also became close with Louis Ferreira, who played my boss. A wise, big-hearted man who I still keep in touch with and love to learn from, so

I’m grateful for that as well.

I somehow didn’t notice you in Timeless (and I can’t believe that, except I didn’t know who you were at the moment), why do you think the fans were so passionate about this show to the point where they convinced the network to renew the show after it had been canceled?

Haha! I’ll try to wear something more noticeable next time, fluorescent maybe so everyone can’t miss me… 😉

TIMELESS — “The Lost Generation” Episode 113 — Pictured: (l-r) Malcolm Barrett as Rufus Carlin, Abigail Spencer as Lucy Preston, Brandon Barash as Hemingway — (Photo by: Sergei Bachlakov/NBC)

Ah, it’s just a big adventure I loved being a part of!! And you get to learn the world’s history while being incredibly entertained! Abigail Spencer, the lead, really makes you believe in the magic of history, which I think the fans connect to even if they don’t realize it.

I keep telling Shawn {Ryan}, the writer, “You have a time machine… any chance the team could make a quick trip back for me??” Nothing yet… haha!

But they actually said they were chatting about options of what they could do so we’ll see 😉

I first noticed you in Date My Dad this summer, mainly because Cindy Busby pointed you out. What was it like working on that show? While we do not know if the show will be renewed, are you hopeful that “Thor” can come back?

It was great!! I actually haven’t watched it…..😣

But working on it was fun! Barry Watson! Grew up on him, so my three older sisters were so jealous haha! Everyone had a great time on set laughing so much usually from Matty Finochio! So ridiculous and funny!

Not sure! Haven’t heard anything about being renewed either–fingers crossed!! Love to see where Thor could go… maybe he becomes super super smart…. or at least thinks he is. Haha–we’ll see!

Recently Hallmark audiences have seen you in The Christmas Cottage, Frozen in Love, and The Sweetest Heart. Any special memories you want to share about any of these films?

Yeah, Hallmark is loving me for some reason lately!! Thanks, Hallmark;)

Frozen In Love (Chuck Foreman)

Frozen In Love was probably my favorite for a few reasons. Me and Niall Matter, the lead, we were just bros all the way through, so it was just silly jokes constantly that we both knew were awful but appreciated the same… haha!

Frozen In Love

Rachael Leigh Cook was such a wonderful human and actor and writer for this film and made the whole experience so great! Her energy was infectious.

And the first lead I ever did in a Christmas movie about six to seven years before this was produced by Jim Head, who also did Frozen In Love and he’s just a big-hearted, wonderful man, so it was great to be apart of anything he does.

Also hockey!! Haha–my nephews are hockey fanatics, both play and are also both #5 so they were so excited when I got their #5 as my character’s number! We didn’t end up using the jersey actually 🙁  but I got to keep and gave it to them afterward!

Little fun fact! The scene on the ice practicing shots, where I list the main character Adam’s past girlfriends who were no good, I switched the names from the script to my sisters’ names! They had a good laugh after they watched it!!! Hahaha!

Your wheelhouse appears to be the “other guy” in Hallmark films. What are your thoughts on playing the other guy? Fans are hopeful that we’ll eventually see you in a lead role. Any requests for your potential leading lady?

Yeah, my mom keeps asking me that too… she lovessss Hallmark movies. She literally nicknamed her house Hallmark because Hallmark memories are created there…… oh Mom…so so sweet. Haha! but you can imagine the pressure I have to be a leading man in a Hallmark movie. It’s just too much sometimes, Ruth…

The Sweetest Heart

No, she’s proud no matter what! Pretty sure my first Hallmark was called Freshman Father {Not Love On the Sidelines…I was wrong!} years ago, and I had–I think–five lines and she bought about thirty copies and gave them to all of her friends and–there’s a pretty solid chance–to complete strangers as well.

Haha–thanks, ma 😉

Any other upcoming works you can mention?

Working on a really lovely film right now in Winnipeg called Breakthrough based on the book The Impossible and true story of John Smith, who drowns in the ice for over fifteen minutes didn’t have a heartbeat for almost an hour and his mother came into the operating room praying so loudly, holding his feet and all of the sudden he got a heart beat! Recovered and he’s one hundred percent healthy and fine today! Incredible story.

Written by Grant Nieporte (Seven Pounds with Will Smith) one of my favourite movies–so excited about that !!

The Sweetest Heart (Alex Perkins)

A few actors, including Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Josh Lucas(Sweet Home Alabama), Mike Coulter (Luke Cage) who plays Tommy Shine, the firefighter who found John in the ice. And I play Joe Morrow, his partner, who rescued John with him.

Produced by the all-star DeVon Franklin (Captain Phillips, Hancock, Heaven Is For Real) and directed by a lovely human being called Roxanne Dawson! (actor, Star Trek, director, House Of Cards…)

So excited to be working with this incredible and passionate team!!

The Christmas Cottage (Roger Whistler)

When you have some quiet time to think or unwind, where do you go and what do you do?

Home to where I grew up in Kingston, Ontario usually, because I don’t see my family enough being across the country. And my three older sisters, who have a few kids each, I miss like crazy and miss way too much! Not really unwinding there–haha! It’s go go go with the kids, but I love it! And one of my sisters lives further out in the country where I sneak off to their cabin by the water and spend a few days on my own when I want a minute. Just a couple, then back to the wonderful chaos!

Thank you so much for your time and willingness to answer, Victor.

Thanks Ruth!! Have a wonderful day 😉

It thoroughly boggles the minds of Hallmark fans when we ponder the enigma, “Why has Victor NOT been cast as a lead in a Hallmark film as of yet?!” The female fans especially seem to agree that he has the appropriate look, the accurate bearing, and most of all, the acting chops to take on such a role. Thus, it is with transcendent hope and spirited anticipation that I venture to dream that 2018 is Victor’s “magical” year. Additionally, he is one of the friendliest, most charming, and generous actors in the business today, not to mention he is one of the funniest actors I have had the honor of interviewing in quite some time. And now that I am aware of the story of his mother’s love affair with Hallmark, consider how extraordinary it would be for her boy to finally earn that coveted male lead role. Of course, it would be necessary to include sharp dialogue with room for ridiculous antics as well as heart-warming romance in order to exhibit Victor’s giftedness in the absolute best and most authentic light. Furthermore, I seriously doubt there is any challenge in the business to which he cannot rise, and considering his sincere desire to be the most qualified that he can be, I would relish seeing Hallmark grant him the opportunity.

In the meantime, while we await Victor’s big break, I invite everyone to visit all of his links below, while investigating his past and current works and following him on social media. Although Vancouver perpetually boasts some of the most phenomenal talents on the planet (though often underrated by the general public), it is in the foremost interest of the viewers to lavish our support on unique artists such as Victor. After all, this inspiring soul practically bared his soul in these responses, and I think it’s high time that we manifest our gratitude and remind him that although he may have been initially reluctant when he chose this career, he’s certainly entertaining the masses by using his God-given capabilities in the most veritable and compelling ways imaginable, while still ensuring that his priorities are in the correct place. 

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