For anyone who follows the popular Hallmark/Super Channel Heart & Home Show When Calls the Heart, you may recognize the actress who has played Emily since season one, Gracyn Shinyei. This is now the third time I have had the opportunity to interview her, and even though our favorite show is currently on hiatus, I am delighted to share an updated interview with this incredible young artist whose career boasts more credits than some of her adult counterparts (and with good reason!). 

Photo by Pink Monkey/T Shinyei – © Pink Monkey/T Shinyei

RH: Gracyn, I know we’re both busy people, but I’m so glad to be able to chat with you again.

GS: Thank you for reaching out, Ruth. Nice to chat with you again.

And it was really nice to see you at HFR4 {Hearties Family Reunion} this past fall.

It was nice to see you too, Ruth.

With Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, Carter Ryan Evancic

Season five of When Calls the Heart was quite an explosive finale, I would say. 

Yeah, I agree with you.

While we had the wedding episode earlier in the season, which was just gorgeous, we also had a tragic ending with Jack’ death at the end of season five. 

It was great for all of us kids to be involved with Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding.

What was it like filming the finale of season five?

Well, we–or at least I–didn’t know about Jack’s death for a very long time before we filmed the finale. It was so sad when we were filming the finale. For Daniel {Lissing} to not be on set seemed strange and sad. It seemed darker and more gloomy on set than usual because usually the set is very fun and everyone’s happy.

Picture Credit: Jordan Blackstone

I think that’s where some of the fans struggled. You expect it to always be happy, but then this tragic, but very realistic event happened. It was very emotional watching that episode, but I was impressed with everyone in the cast. While I wouldn’t call the season five finale my favorite episode, as far as it being well-acted, there is no doubt this was the best. 

Gracyn Shineyi Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Eike Schroter

Thanks!

When you realized that Elizabeth was going to have a baby on set this season, were you looking forward to that?

Yeah, I was really excited! It was a while before I got to meet the baby, or really, the babies. The twins who play little Jack are amazing. I love babies and little kids anyway.

I know a lot of the kids have told me that they would be willing to babysit Baby Jack.

Oh, yeah, definitely.

filming season six with Jaiven Natt, Carter, and Ava Grace Cooper

I’m so glad you got to come back for season six, Gracyn.

Me too. I’m one of the only Hope Valley kids who has been there since season one. Kadence Roach is the only other one.

It’s been so great to see you two grow up on the show along with all the Hope Valley kids. Now, without giving any season six spoilers, what are your hopes for your character, Emily, in season six?

As always, I hope that Emily has some great dialogue and an interesting story. Thankfully, the writers seem to be granting that wish as you may have seen in the first few episodes that have aired so far.

What about the new cast members this season?

I didn’t start working with them immediately, but you’ll just have to wait to see if I get to share any scenes with them. It was lovely to finally be able to meet them all.

With Kadence Roach, Jaeda Lily Miller and Ava filming season six

Can you tell us about any other new kids that have been added this season?

I can’t say anything, but you will definitely see at least one new kid this season. I know Hearties are looking forward to the show returning, and so are we. And when it does, keep an eye out.

When you were filming this season, what was the atmosphere like on set?

Oh, it was much more hopeful and happy. Everyone was more chipper, happy and outgoing now. Everyone is always like that on set, but they’re back to cracking jokes and having fun on set again. It’s nice to have that back after the tragic season five finale.

As Emily

I think that’s great, and hopefully, that will bring some of the Hearties back this season and even bring us some new Hearties. After all, Jack’s legacy is still there.

Yeah, the school is named after him. And Elizabeth had his baby. His presence is still in Hope Valley and always will be.

I can hardly wait to see more season six episodes! I think it’s gonna be fun to see what happens. I know you’re also a part of The Man In the High Castle.

With Genea on set of The Man In the High Castle

Yes, season three dropped last fall, and we just wrapped on our fourth and final season which is supposed to be out sometime this fall. I think season three was the best season so far, but after shooting season four, I might have to say that’s my favorite season. You’re going to see a lot bigger scenes for me from season three on. And I love the fact that Genea {Charptentier} is on there with me. It is a very dark show, and not all Hearties may like it. But I think it’s very well-done. I would like to invite people to take a chance. You just might like it.

So is there anything else coming up for you that you can mention?

Yes, I am in the middle of a shooting a pilot that will hopefully be a fall series. I can’t talk about it yet, except that it’s an action-filled fantasy show, and I should be in the show for at least a few episodes. I might even become a regular cast member. We’ll see.

I’m also in a cartoon series where I’m doing voiceover. I can’t mention it by name yet, but it should come out internationally this October.

Working on a cartoon with Briana Buckmaster

That’s awesome, Gracyn! Have you done other voice work?

A little bit, but not very much until this current project.

So is it your brother who has been the one who has done so much voice work?

Yes, my brother, Valin {Shinyei}, has done lots!

So since you haven’t done as much voice work, what do you like about doing it?

I like how you can take more breaks and sit down between takes. Sometimes when filming voiceover work, you either go in by yourself or with a bunch of people. When I go in with other people, I’m very excited and happy and we always have lots of fun. You also don’t have to worry about costumes or makeup. You show up in whatever clothes you’d like to wear. And you only record for about four hours at one time which is great.

Was it challenging to try to find the right voice for your character?

With Ava

Well, it depends on the age of the character sometimes. If your character is younger, you have to take your voice up higher like a squeaky kid. It was a little bit hard to change my voice to what the character needed, but it’s doable.

I am glad you’re getting to do this series, Gracyn, whatever it is. I have no doubt it’s going to be fantastic. When you go into film, how many of you are recording together?

When we’re doing the actual recording, there are five or six of us. So that makes it lots of fun. It’s great to be able to do this voiceover work in a group so that you can talk and be together and not just be by yourself. I don’t want to give away anything, but I will say that there is one other boy who is recording with me, and there is also another well-known voiceover actor I’m working with, and that is just so cool.

I want to make sure I tell everyone that I also did my first voice commercial this past year. I think it only aired in Canada, but maybe people got a chance to see it.

With Genea

Now, Gracyn, please remind me of how old you are.

I am twelve years old, soon thirteen.

Really? Oh, I always think of you as older than that! You always seem so mature.

Thank you.

Now, if I remember right, you’re homeschooled, right?

Yes, but it is my last year of home school. I was accepted to my preferred high school for next school year. High school starts in eighth grade here in Canada.

Do you think it will be a challenge to go to a regular high school?

HFR4

I think it will be pretty tough at first because I don’t know a lot of friends since I have been homeschooled. I do have some friends from dance class who will be at the same school I’ll be going to. I think it might be a bit of a hard transition. You have to go to all these classes and keep up with everything yourself. But I’m still very excited.

True, but academically, I bet you’ll be just fine. Homeschoolers are often ahead of those who have gone to traditional schools. 

I’m a year ahead in math and ahead in some other subjects too.

I’m sure once you get past the transition, you’ll be like your character on When Calls the Heart, the updated version of Emily. You still keep up with dance along with everything else?

Dance show at the local fair

Yes, I do. I still do a lot of dancing. In fact, this past summer, I was actually in a dance show at one of our local fairs.

I know you’re only twelve and things might change, but are you thinking that acting/entertainment is going to be your career choice?

Yes, I want to do acting, singing, and dancing–I’m not really sure about everything for a future career, but I want to be in the entertainment business.

I’m so glad, Gracyn. As an unofficial expert in my experience interviewing actors, I can say that I believe you have what it takes to make it in this business. 

Thank you.

With Don McDonald and the other Hope Valley kids

What I see in you, I see in a lot of very successful adult actors that I interview. I’m not surprised that you said that you’re interested in continuing to work in entertainment. I’m glad you’re thinking about continuing to pursue it.

Thank you so much, Ruth.

The last time we saw you in a Hallmark movie not connected with When Calls the Heart was a very long time ago.

Yes, it was. I know I was in A Snow Capped Christmas.

Yes, which was not a Hallmark movie when it first came out. It’s now sometimes available on the Hallmark streaming service known as Hallmark Movies Now. 

That’s interesting. So I guess the last official Hallmark movie I did was A Cookie Cutter Christmas.

With Ava and Erin Krakow

Hard to believe, but yes, I think you’re right. So I’ll say that I really hope that Hallmark does put you in another Hallmark movie again soon. We would love to see you.

I’d love to have that happen too.

“The Kids of Hope Valley”

I know there’s going to be When Hope Calls coming out this summer, a spin-off of When Calls the Heart. But if that one goes well, I think it would be great to have a spin-off that focuses totally on the kids. 

Yeah, that would be really fun!

I’m so grateful the writers give you the parts that they do, but I think it would be amazing to have something like The Kids of Hope Valley. 

That is such a cool idea, Ruth. I would love to see that happen!

Do you take the summer off, or do you keep doing schooling during the summer?

Well, I do math and reading just to stay ahead on that so I’m not forgetting anything. So I do a little during the summer, but I do take the summer almost completely off. Then I go back to school when everyone else goes back to school.

Gracyn, I can’t thank you and your dad enough for letting me chat with you today. 

Ruth, thank you for having me. I hope everyone watches The Man In the High Castle. And here’s hoping When Calls the Heart season six comes back very soon! Thank you to the Hearties for all their support!

With her dad

In truth, Gracyn is one of the most professional young actresses that I have ever had the opportunity to interview. She is mature, thoughtful, humble, and overflowing with fantastic talent. The limitless passion with which she speaks of the entertainment industry is something that is not often seen in a person of her tender age. While her older brother has paved out his own career niche, Gracyn has made it a point to pursue her goals and dreams while having success in her corner of the world as well. One would think that she might lose the poise and decorum that is requisite in keeping up with her busy schedule, but there is no doubt that she has been trained properly and has a very supportive family. Having met her dad a couple of times, I can say that he is definitely a rock in her life, but he has always permitted her to be herself and to chart her own course with only the necessary guidance from him at the most apropos times.

If you have not had the chance to watch The Man In the High Castle, you may wish to look it up on Amazon Prime Video and watch it for yourself (while keeping an eye out for both Gracyn and Genea). Moreover, although When Calls the Heart is temporarily on hiatus, while we await its expected return, be sure to check out Gracyn’s links below and follow her where applicable. As a young lady who has proceeded to pursue her career for all these years with such vivacity and grace, it boggles the imagination to consider what the future may hold for her in this business. No matter the trajectory of her career, however, I can state with assurance that as long as Gracyn remains on her current path without sacrificing her ideals and values, I believe she has the potential to have a long, successful career in the entertainment industry. Indeed, I am honored to be able to support her every step of the way along with the dedicated Hearties!

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