I love the Hope Valley kids from the Hallmark Channel show When Calls the Heart. More than likely, if a young actor or actress has been featured on the show, there’s a good chance I have interviewed him or her. Kadence Roach is one such young lady. I interviewed her the first time in 2017, after meeting her in Vancouver, and at the end of last season, I chatted with her yet again. Due to many circumstances beyond my control, I only found the time to share this interview (with a couple of updates) now, and because we are currently in season seven of When Calls the Heart, it is my honor to share my conversation with the young lady who plays Anna in Hope Valley!
RH: Kadence, it’s lovely to get to chat with you again.
KR: Always nice to chat with you, Ruth.
Hearties Family Reunion
You just keep growing up more and more every time I see you. I recently saw you at the Hearties Family Reunion in October, and now season seven of When Calls the Heart is officially here. Every time, I see you, you look more and more like a young lady. And that’s exactly how it should be, I’d say.
Thank you, Ruth.
How old are you now?
I’m fourteen. I’ll be fifteen later this year.
That’s what I was thinking. Except I was figuring you were already sixteen because you actually look older than you are. And more mature for sure. Which is a nice thing at your age.
Thank you so much.
Season 7 behind-the-scenes
It is always great to see you. And I’m so glad you’re still around as we are now in season seven.
I’m glad too. It’s Gracyn {Shinyei} and me who are still around from season one as far as the kids go. We are the originals.
Well, I would venture to say they’re pretty happy with you two since they’ve kept you around all this time. I hope they keep you around for as long as they have the show.
Me too, Ruth, thank you again.
season one with Erin Krakow
So it’s been a while since our last interview. Going back to the end of season five when Jack died and then with last season when another couple of characters were lost partway through the season, things have been crazy those past two seasons. This is the first season we might be drama free.
Yes, we hope so. And thankfully, the ratings have been so good in spite of all that.
Let’s talk a little bit about how your character has changed over the past few years.
Yes, well, my character’s name is Anna, just to remind everyone.
I sometimes forget your character’s name, I admit. I am so busy calling you by your real name that I have to stop and think about your character’s name.
Hearties girls
I understand that. With Anna, she kind of started out as a bit of a mean girl. She was almost like a bully. But thankfully Miss Thatcher, who is now Mrs. Thornton, has worked with Anna to make her a little bit nicer. We can all be glad that Anna seems to respond well to Mrs. Thornton, and I think she has helped her a lot.
I agree with that. How would you describe Anna? And feel free to use as many words as you need to. You don’t just have to say one word to describe her.
I feel like she has grown a lot with her characteristics. I think she found her personality last season and began to discover who she really is. She’s found where she fits in and what her character does.
I remember a very powerful scene with her last season where she was in a debate in school about cars versus horses. What side did she take?
The Great Debate
Anna was fighting for horses. She thought horses were better than cars. She was fighting against Gracyn’s character, Emily, who was fighting for cars to be better than horses.
How much fun was that scene to film?
It was very cool to get to debate with someone who is such an amazing person and actress. Gracyn and I have such a good connection, but getting to have that debate and have a bit of friction between our characters was a really cool experience for us.
Hope Valley Girls
And let me tell you, it came off really well. It was really believable. You both were getting in each other’s faces and if Elizabeth hadn’t stepped in…
Oh, yeah! It could have gotten really intense!
But that scene was so much fun to watch. And it’s something I like about the show. They are always featuring really strong women. In your case, we had two young ladies debating instead of two young guys. It was so cool to see that.
That’s so true, Ruth. I’m glad I was a part of that scene.
I remember the Hearties discussing that scene quite a bit. Was there any other standout scene for Anna last season that you can remember?
“Jailed” by Mrs. Thornton (fun behind-the-scenes)
Well, later in the season, Anna’s mom gets some money with the oil, and Anna gets a new dress. So that was another great scene for her.
That’s right! I’m glad you reminded me about that scene. There were so many fabulous stories last season, and we’re definitely off to a good start with season seven as well.
I love the fact that last season, the town really came together in the finale; that really made sense. I love those scenes when the whole town gets together like that.
I know when it comes to filming the show, you do things a bit differently now. Last season, you filmed the Christmas movie last, and it seems like that was a lot better for the cast.
With Jaiven Natt
Oh, it was. And this season, we filmed about half of season seven and then took a break to film the Christmas movie. Then we went back and filmed the rest of season seven. But the great thing was that we aren’t filming the Christmas movie in the middle of the summer anymore. With that movie, we’re always wearing those big coats and hats, and it was nice to film when it was colder so we didn’t get so hot. It used to be that we would film the Christmas movie in the middle of summer, and in between the takes, we would throw off those big coats. Now we don’t have to do that as much. Of course, we still film some of the summer scenes during the winter, so they have to heaters for us in between takes. But that’s a bit easier.
I think every single actor I’ve asked about that change is in full agreement with you. And now the Hearties Family Reunion happens during the time when the Christmas movie is being filmed. I know the Hearties just love seeing Hope Valley all decked out for Christmas.
Funny pose (behind-the-scenes)
Oh, yes, I just love the Reunion! I love that we get to interact so closely with all the fans. And I also love that they never run out of questions.
So let’s talk about season seven. I know there’s not too much you can say. But what can you tease about the season?
Well, season seven definitely has some spicy stuff coming up that the Hearties are going to love!
Okay, that sounds fun. I won’t ask for specifics. We’ll just have to watch. Now, I’m wondering if you know about the spin-off show called When Hope Calls.
Yeah, I know about it. I know a few actors went up there and guest-starred on it.
With Paul Greene
Yeah, Kevin McGarry, Kavan Smith, and Pascale Hutton. And then Jocelyn Hudon and Morgan Kohan came and visited Hope Valley too.
That’s right! I remember that from last season.
I’m hoping for a season two, and maybe they’ll send some of the kids up there from Hope Valley. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Oh, I’d love that! I’d love to guest star on When Hope Calls.
Well, fingers crossed that it happens. Assuming that we have a season eight of When Calls the Heart, what would you like to have happen for your character?
with Ava Grace Cooper
I am always hoping for more scenes with Anna and her mom. I’d like a little bit more of Anna’s family perspective. I think that’d be a cool thing to see.
I think that would be great. I know that Sheri Rabold played your mom last season, and it would be great to see her come back.
She was great. In fact, she has done other work up here in Vancouver as well. She was such a great person to work with. She is so kind. She’s amazing to work with.
Well, let’s hope we see more of her in the future. After all, we still don’t know that much about Anna. In fact, we don’t know much about the kids in general.
I would love to have more scenes with the kids. We’ll see what happens.
Riverdale set
Now, I still remember that you were in that one episode of Riverdale. I really wish they would bring you back.
I would love to come back. I think that would be amazing.
I know they had a flashback scene for Betty this season, but I think they wanted her to be younger than you are now. So maybe they could bring you back as a different person.
I would be so excited if that happened!
We’ll just keep hoping. Now, I notice that Riviera is also in your list of credits. I have not heard of that. Can you tell me about it?
Riviera is a show that mainly comes out in the UK and Europe. It came out in 2019. I got to be in the second season. And they have been renewed for a third season as well which is supposed to be out this year, I think. The series is about a woman named Georgina, whose husband is murdered. During the first season, it shows her discovering things about her husband, and season two goes more into that and discovering things about herself. And that’s where I come in. I play the younger version of Georgina. It was a very cool experience portraying the younger version of Julia Stiles, who played the grown-up Georgina. It was an amazing and very interesting show to do. It’s very different than When Calls the Heart.
Oh, I can imagine. Did you film the show in Vancouver?
No, in April 2018, they filmed the show in Toronto for two weeks. They usually film in Nice, France.
Had you ever filmed anything in Toronto before this show?
No, I had not. This was my first time.
Since it’s a UK show, we probably can’t watch it here yet, right?
I’m not sure. I know they released season one in the United States. Then I think they finally did release season two.
Okay, good to know. It looks like it might be available to purchase through Amazon Video, Google Play, or some other streaming services. It looks like you can also stream it through something called Sundance Now.
That’s good to know. I’m not sure where it’s available to watch in Canada, but it might be available now.
I’m glad, Kadence. I hope people are able to check it out.
Kadence with Gracyn Shinyei, Ava Grace Cooper, Genea Charpentier and some of the others kids keeping warm in between shots.
I remember someone posted something about seeing me in the show. I remember someone asking, “Did I spy you singing in an episode of season two of Riviera?” And I said, “Yes!”
Oh, that’s cool! So you got to sing?
Yes, I got to sing “You Are My Sunshine.”
That’s incredible! Glad to know someone saw it and recognized you.
Just so Hearties know, it is a much darker show than When Calls the Heart. I think it was a really cool experience, but I just want the Hearties to know that it is different from When Calls the Heart.
I figured it was, and that’s fine with me. But always good to know. So thanks for that info. Anything else upcoming for you, Kadence?
Kadence and Me
Besides When Calls the Heart, there is nothing else right now. I’m still auditioning, so I hope something else comes up for me.
Fingers crossed for you, Kadence. Because over the past couple of years, you have really blossomed, grown, and matured, so here’s hoping more great bookings come your way.
Thank you, Ruth.
In addition to acting, what else do you like to do?
Oh, I love photography. It’s something I hope I get to do more of in the future.
Well, that’s good to know. That means as you get older, you never know. You could be an on-set photographer and one day even be a cinematographer. So in addition to being an actress, you could do that, and that’s great. Are you involved in sports at all?
season 7 Hope Valley Kids behind-the-scenes
I used to be involved with rhythmic gymnastics for several years, but it got to be a little too much with school and acting. So I had to let it go, and I don’t do sports anymore.
What about choir?
My school doesn’t have a choir.
Oh, my goodness, that makes me sad! I used to be a music teacher. But I understand that happens sometimes. Well, Kadence, I think we discussed so much, and it was a blast to talk with you. So thank you for your time.
Ruth, thank you for the interview. It means a lot to have all this support from you and all the Hearties.
Oh, and thank your parents for sharing their daughter with me.
I will. And I hope everyone enjoys the rest of season seven of When Calls the Heart.
The vast majority of the Hope Valley kids are approaching an age when it’s often more difficult to get a booking in this business, and I am immensely gratified that When Calls the Heart has continued to employ them and utilize their marvelous talents. Kadence is one who has been there faithfully from the show’s inception, and even though we still don’t know a whole lot about her character, Anna, along with her background and family, we can rest assured that she is an integral part of the show who continuously injects a bit of spice and heart into every storyline in which she is blessed to be a part. As Hearties have watched her evolve over the course of the past seven years, we are the ones who are the benefactors of her astounding gifts and dedicated spirit. I cannot imagine Hope Valley without her electrifying presence, and it thrills me to no end to witness the way in which she has been featured and has grown in prominence over the past seasons.
I sincerely hope that everyone makes it a point to tune into the Hallmark Channel or Super Channel Heart & Home every Sunday night for season seven of the worldwide phenomenon known as When Calls the Heart. Furthermore, please consider visiting all of Kandace’s links below and following her via social media. I have no idea what the future ultimately holds for this budding starlet, but I tend to think that as long as she remains grounded and humble, greater opportunities are in store for this young lady in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. And I, for one, can hardly wait to support her in all her current and future endeavors!
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