Hallmark Channel has probably seen the success that other streaming services are experiencing. It, therefore, does not want to be left behind in getting its piece of the pie. Through Hallmark Movies Now, it is now making steps towards providing its audience with a variety of films. For a company that was founded in 2007, it has never shown any television series and has stuck with short films, movies and documentaries. That history has come to an end with the introduction of “When Hope Calls” which premiered on 30 August 2019. The service had to ensure that its inaugural original series captured the viewer’s attention and there is no better way than having a competent cast. The series has lots of recurring cast and three guest stars, so for today, let’s meet the main cast of “When Hope Calls” (WHC).
Jocelyn Hudon
Jocelyn always wanted to be a ballerina and started dancing at three years old. She went to the National Ballet School until she was 17 and decided to switch gears from dancing to acting. Jocelyn did have a rough start before becoming a star and had to sweep the sidewalks to earn some money. However, now, she is an accomplished actress who has traveled all over the world to shoot films. Jocelyn has been to Paris when filming “Love Locks” while “ICE” allowed her to go to Cape Town. Besides, since her boyfriend is an actor too, Jocelyn has been fortunate enough to work alongside him in “The Order.” She plays the role of Grace, the character whom Jocelyn connected to when auditioning. Grace is an optimist who loves to make everyone happy; hence, she enjoys working with the kids. Jocelyn liked the crew and cast so much that she has made friends with Kelly and Ryan with whom she has kept in touch since.
Morgan Kohan
Morgan Kohan comes from a small family comprising her parents, a younger sister and herself. She was raised in the Okanagan Valley, and her love for dance led her to participate in various competitions while in school. Morgan had been watching “So You Think You Can Dance” but the acting idea never crossed her mind despite attending a singing, acting and dancing academy in Toronto. In her last year of high school. Morgan went to New York and watched her first Broadway show that got her thinking about attending Randolph College for the Performing Arts. She auditioned and was accepted, resulting in Morgan turning her attention away from dancing and focusing on acting. Morgan got to be a cast member of “When Hope Calls” after auditioning for the role in Toronto and booked it three days later. She plays Lilian, Grace’s older sister, who is more cautious as well as responsible than Grace. Morgan prepares for a role by thoroughly reading a script and trying to find a connection between the character and herself. Since she had already made an appearance in “When Calls The Heart,” getting into the role of Lilian was much more comfortable. Further, Morgan had learned to assume the right posture from the way the coats and skirts are made.
Ryan James Hatanaka
Ryan comes from a close-knit diverse family. The fact that shooting of this series was a few minutes away from his home presented an excellent opportunity to visit them every other weekend. His love for acting has been since his childhood days when in grade 5 he was cast as Mr Meat in a play titled ” Food for Thought” to teach on healthy eating habits. He is a multi-talented guy who teaches stage combat at Tisch Graduate Acting Program and holds a black belt in karate. He realized that his passion could be his career while at the University of Toronto. Ryan, therefore, studied a double major in Sociology and Drama before enrolling at The National Theatre School of Canada. In the show, he plays Constable Gabriel Kinslow, the Mountie of Brookfield. Gabriel is tasked with unfolding mysteries, and the character has enabled Ryan to learn more about those who risk their lives every day to help others. According to Moments with Mercy he loves the cast of WHC so much that given a chance to choose his dream cast, Ryan would pick them.
Greg Hovanessian
Greg hails from rural southern Ontario and is a gifted athlete with many awards from his participation in organized and extreme sports. Greg also earned scholarships from his competence in games. Besides sports and being a fitness addict who spends almost all his time in the gym, he engages in other creative activities, including dancing and song-writing. He also has a knack for martial arts and spends his free time in dojos too. His acting career began with a role on “Nikita.” Since he is a huge fan of Sci-fi, being on “Another Life” led to him becoming one of the best actors in the season. In WHC, Greg takes on the role of Jack Steward, a veterinarian and cattle rancher. Grace has her eyes on Jack, and for Greg, it is the first time he is playing a Romeo character.
Wendy Crewson
Wendy knew that she wanted to be an actress as proven by her education. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and then enrolled in London’s Webber Douglass Academy. Wendy also attended American Repertory Theatre, and as an actress, she hates women being portrayed as strong but vulnerable. So much has it become a cliché that Wendy told NUVO if she saw that in a film one more time, she would puke. Wendy was referring to her previous works in “Air Force One” and “The 6th Day” where she felt she was supporting the male leads. In WHC, Wendy must be glad to play Tess, Chuck’s mother, because she does not subscribe to society’s rules on femininity. The showrunner, Alfonso Moreno, was not sure if Wendy would like shooting in North bay. He, therefore, had to ask other producers that she had worked with to see how Wendy would handle the environment. She, however, had fun getting into character and got addicted to the hat.
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