As a part of my ongoing efforts to highlight those actors whose incredible talents comprise the stellar supporting casts of Hallmark movies and other TV works, I am delighted to share an interview I did recently with the amazing Benita Ha. If her name is unfamiliar to you, no doubt Hallmark viewers have seen some of her more popular Hallmark works, including Unleashing Mr. Darcy and The Mistletoe Inn. And something tells me that we haven’t seen the last of this dynamic young lady!

RH: How did you get interested in pursuing a career in acting?

BH: When I first came to Canada from Hong Kong, I didn’t speak English, so I learned mostly by watching TV.  My favourite shows were Sesame Street, The Brady Bunch and The Carol Burnett Show. These TV shows brought me so much joy as a kid. I decided at that time, I wanted to act on TV too, so I could try to bring joy to others as well.

What was your first professional job in the business? What are your memories of it?

My first professional job was as a TV co-host series regular on the CBC TV show, Street Cents. I was on it for six years and loved it so much. It was a show aimed at teens between the ages of 12-17. We’d test products, and if they didn’t live up to their claims we’d declare them, “Fit for the Pit!” and then blow them up. There was also acting involved as there was always a studio plot, and the storylines were usually quirky and so much fun. I really loved being a part of the show. It won a few Gemini awards and even an International Emmy.

What prompted your move to Vancouver?

I remember coming to Vancouver for a location shoot for Street Cents and sitting on a dock in Deep Cove. I was surrounded by the beautiful mountains and water and thought, “Yes! This is gorgeous! I want to live here!” My intention was to continue my career as an actor and, at the time, it was either Toronto or Vancouver. I loved both so much, and I was more familiar with Toronto since it’s much closer to Halifax, my hometown. However, I was struck by the beauty of the West Coast and its proximity to the ocean won me over.

I believe your first Hallmark experience was on Signed, Sealed, Delivered. What did you know about Hallmark before working on that show? What was that experience like working on your first Hallmark?

I played Melissa’s nurse in my first Hallmark and it was wonderful since I’m also a real nurse outside of acting. It was a gift to be able to do two things that I’m very passionate about at the same time. We don’t have The Hallmark Channel in Canada, but I noticed that when I’d see a TV movie that was feel-good and heart-warming, it would always turn out to be a Hallmark movie. To now be part of that world was a very exciting thing for me.

Since then, you have played several smaller roles in many Hallmark movies. What do consider your first more significant role on Hallmark? What was memorable about that role?

I consider my role of Karen on The Mistletoe Inn as my most significant role on Hallmark to date. I was playing the editor of a big publishing firm and I was able to connect with the other actors and develop my character over several scenes. Karen was teaching a writing workshop and was a mentor to these young aspiring writers, which I found to be very fulfilling and memorable.

The Mistletoe Inn

What was it like working on X-Men? How did working on that compare to working on TV/film?

X-Men was a big-budget movie and was a lot of fun to work on.  Compared to TV, it had a grander and larger feel to it. Everything was just bigger: the budget, the number of actors, the complexity of the costumes and the detailed sets. I’ve found that every production I work on is unique regardless of whether it’s a feature film or TV show. As long as I am connected and committed to the character I am playing, both film and TV are enriching to my spirit and I love to work on them both.

Most recently, viewers saw you in Benchwarmers 2, My Mom’s Letter From Heaven and Supernatural. Please share any special moments from these or any other recent works.

Unleashing Mr. Darcy

I’ve found one of the most memorable and important things on every production I work on are the other actors. In these shows, they were all top-notch, fun and extremely skilled. I recently had a couple of “full circle” moments which is always interesting. After the extreme pleasure of working with my dear pal, Cindy Busby in Hallmark’s Unleashing Mr. Darcy, three years ago, we recently got to work together again in My Mom’s Letter From Heaven. Funnily enough, in Unleashing Mr. Darcy, I also worked alongside another fine actor, Penny — who happens to be a Brussels Griffon dog. Once I got to set for Supernatural, I was overjoyed to be working with this fun and furry scene partner again!

Any other upcoming/recent works you can mention?

Supernatural

I have a couple of upcoming projects I’m really excited about. The first one is The InBetween, a new NBC series that premiered May 29th  starring Harriet Dyer and Paul Blackthorne (Arrow, The Flash).  As it stands now, I will appear in the episode airing on Wednesday, July 10th entitled “While the Song Remains the Same” as Dr. Lucy Argonne.

The second project is a feature film called Good Boys starring Jacob Tremblay (Room, Wonder) and produced by Seth Rogen, Lee Eisenberg (The Office ) and directed by Gene Stupnitsky (The Office). I play one of Jacob Tremblay’s friend’s moms. The movie will be released in August in theatres nationwide.

As an Asian woman in the industry, how have you seen things changing positively in terms of cultural and gender bias?

I’m glad to say, I have seen some positive changes in the acting industry regarding cultural and gender bias, but there is still more work to be done.  Successes like Crazy Rich Asians, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Sandra Oh’s Golden Globe win for Best Actress in a Dramatic Television Series have shed a light on how Asian actors and especially Asian American/Canadian actors can be powerful and inspiring choices for leading roles. I do audition for more major roles than in the past, but they are still few and far between. I see an effort being made and improvement but I’d still love to see more opportunity for Asian actors in larger roles, especially in feature films.

Yet again, Hallmark has selected a versatile, gifted, charming young artist to inject joy and light into the supporting cast of characters featured in their films, and it is an honor to be able to connect with Benita and draw attention to her on my site today. I hope that everyone will visit her links below and follow her where applicable, and if you are so inclined, consider checking out some of her past and upcoming works. (Her episode of The InBetween should air tonight (7/10), but if not, it will air later on this season on NBC.) No matter what the future holds for this enchanting artist, I tend to think that as long as she remains true to the passions and desires within her heart, she will only continue to progress towards even more significant, inspiring characters to portray on-screen, and I hope everyone will join in my enthusiasm by encouraging her every step of the way!

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