Positive young people and Hallmark are always a winning combination. I sometimes wonder how Hallmark continues to uncover and feature these hidden gems with amazing talent who have remained unspoiled by the brutality and cynicism that habitually permeate this business. In the case of Hallmark, this trend continued last season during the popular show Good Witch when Alanna Bale was added to the cast as Courtney, Grace’s friend. Recently, I had the opportunity to ask this young beauty a few questions about her experience within the entertainment industry. 

RH: Why did you decide to become an actress? What kind of training have you had?

AB: I can’t remember the exact moment I decided to become an actress, but ever since I was a teenager (and had to consider different career paths), I couldn’t envision myself doing anything else. After high school, I decided I wanted more formal training and ended up auditioning and being accepted into the Theatre Performance program at Ryerson University in Toronto. Since graduating from University, I still make sure to take classes around the city. It’s so so so important to keep exploring and learning.

What was the first job you booked and how old were you? What do you remember about working on it?

I was eleven years old when I booked my first role. It was the perfect example of being in the right place at the right time… or more so, being in the right country at the right time! Because of my Dad’s job, we moved to different countries every three years, and when I was eleven years old, we were living in Warsaw, Poland. That summer, an American film company was coming to shoot a movie and they were looking for English-speaking actors. We received notice about the opportunity through the American school I was attending; intrigued, I auditioned and ended up booking the role.

Being on any kind of film set was super new to me, so I just remember quietly taking everything in. I also remember thinking how lucky I was to be doing something I loved … and that people were actually willing to pay me for it!

What can you tell us about your series Cardinal? Please describe your character and role in the series.

Being a part of Cardinal has been so special. I play Kelly Cardinal, the daughter of the detective John Cardinal. Teenagers in film and TV are often written in a clichéd or stereotypical way; you know, like the token angst-y, angry, bratty teen, but that’s not an accurate representation of teenagers. As a breath of fresh air, I think Kelly does represent the teens that are out there. She’s smart, compassionate, intuitive, and brave. She’s also faced with some very adult family issues, which a lot of teenagers have to deal with on a daily basis.

Honestly, if I wasn’t a part of the show, I’d still be watching it and urging everyone I know to follow suit! The writing and execution of the show is stunning… I couldn’t say enough good things about it! It’s an intense drama, so if you’re in the mood for that kind of show it’s definitely binge-worthy.

from Pyotr495

I see that you have done a few short films. Please tell us about one or two that stand out to you and why they stand out.

I was a part of a short film called Pyotr495. This one stands out to me because the content is really relevant and it’s a story that needs to be told. It’s about a young gay man living in Russia who is baited by an ultra nationalist group known for their attacks on the LGBTQ community. It’s told through an ultra gritty, stylized, horror motif. The director and writer, Blake Mawson, does an incredible job combining the tragic truth of what’s happening to people in the LGBTQ community around the world with the fantastic world of horror. He’s been able to bring awareness to this tragic situation through art, and projects like this have been my favorite to work on.

Alanna Bale, Bailee Madison Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Shane Mahood

We saw you on Good Witch this past season (season three). What has that filming experience been like? How well did you get along with the cast?

Filming for Good Witch has been great! It’s always a little nerve-wracking to enter into a series that’s already three seasons in, but everyone was so kind and welcoming! For season three, I mostly worked with Bailee {Madison} and Rhys {Matthew Bond}, although while shooting I got to meet most of the cast and everyone was great. I could definitely see that there was a lot of love and respect on set, which is the best kind of environment to work in.

How do you think Courtney feels about Nick and Grace? What are her thoughts on dating Nick?

First and foremost, Courtney is Grace’s friend, which is why she didn’t even entertain the idea of going out with Nick until she was sure Grace didn’t have any feelings, other than platonic ones, for Nick. She respects and really admires how close Grace and Nick are to each other, and she doesn’t want to cause any drama. Courtney is a no-drama kind of girl! In terms of Courtney and Nick, season three ends on a pretty rough note… so just like the viewers, I’m curious to see if, or how, things between Courtney and Nick are resolved.

Any chance Courtney will be back in season four?

Season four is shooting right now… my lips are sealed!

Any other current/upcoming works you can mention?

I recently finished shooting a film called Stickman for the SyFy network, which should be out this October! And we just wrapped season two of Cardinal, which should be out late 2017/ early 2018. Currently, I’m preparing for season three of Cardinal, which starts filming in September.

As a young person in this business, how have you managed to keep away from negativity and bad influences?

I truly believe that the energy you put out there is the energy you receive in return. I’ve always been a really positive person, which I think attracts positivity. There will always be negativity lurking around the corner, but it’s super important to divert that energy and focus on the good in your life, and the people and situations that make your life brighter!

Now that you’ve had a taste of Hallmark, would you like to do more with the network? What do you like about working for Hallmark?

Living overseas, we didn’t get very many English-speaking channels, but funnily enough, there was one channel that played Hallmark Channel films! So being able to work for the network is pretty sweet. My inner kid is very happy and I’d love for the chance to work for them again in the future.

What is your favorite season of the year and why?

Fall for suuureee: the colours, the weather, the hiking, and, most importantly, the food that comes along with the season… it’s all perfect!

While Alanna is someone who is new to me and her credits might be considered meager by some naysayers, even at her tender age, she has discovered the universal truth that positivity attracts positivity. She has purposed from within to remain optimistic and not associate herself with misanthropes who proclaim doom and gloom and do their best to decimate the worlds, dreams, and hopes of others. Alanna has chosen to take the “high road,” and in so doing, she is already on the path to accomplishing and fulfilling the dreams and passions within her heart, soul, and mind. Furthermore, she is even now aligning herself with projects and people who share her belief system, and her aim is to send that kindness and love into the world through the projects to which she is attached. She is a socially conscious young lady, and as far as I’m concerned, this world is in dire need of more aspirants and hopefuls like her. As long as she remains humble, grounded, and on her current path, there is no doubt in my mind that her innate giftedness will swell as she gains proper experience and valuable guidance.

If you have not seen season three of Good Witch, I invite you to look it up as soon as possible in order to witness the talent of Alanna as a character that created much discussion amongst the fans. While we do not know if she will be a part of season four, we can cross our fingers in anticipation that Hallmark will continue to recognize the gift they have in Alanna and feature her again in either Good Witch or another of their upcoming films or shows. 

In the meantime, please visit her links below and seek out any of her former works as we anticipate her soon-to-be-released ones. If you are so inclined, I would request that you also follow her where applicable on social media and maybe even drop her an encouraging word to let her know how much you appreciate her skill, her dedication, and most of all her refreshing outlook and perspective.

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