Here are my 5 favourite ‘behind the scenes’ moments from the set:

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1. Victoria Pratt plays a Disney Princess!

It was the first day of working with the soon-to-be one of my favourite people ever, Ms. Pratt, and it was chilly outside. We were shooting at the ranch and headed inside to warm up. The lovely people of the wardrobe department offered us “cool shots” to put in our shoes and pockets. No sooner had they offered, I heard “Yeah baby, here we go!”

I turned around to find Victoria Pratt, face first in the full stance of a Disney Princess, laughing right into the blasting heat. In that moment, I knew we were destined to cause so much trouble together! #sisterfromanothermister

2. Cowboy Dempsey Bryk takes mom out on the range!

The best part about playing a mom on-screen is getting to know some really great kids. Jen’s step son “Wyatt” – played by Dempsey Bryk – is a fabulous 19 year-old young man in real life and we hit it off instantly. So naturally, I agreed when he suggested we head out on our day off to take riding lessons together. After an amazing afternoon at Cowley’s Rafter Six Ranch with our instructor Kateri Cowley, I was very proud of my faux family! It was clear. Wyatt is a pretty darn good cowboy!

3. New Show with an old friend: Andrea meets Peter?

For the past two years, I have loved working on the Murder She Baked movie series for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries with Alison Sweeney, Cameron Mathison and Barbara Niven. But one of my favourite characters on the show has always been Norman, played by the dashing Gabriel Hogan. As the sensible “other man”, my character “Andrea Todd” spent most of her time vehemently opposed to anything he said or did. She’s clearly #TeamMike all the way. Therefore, I was so excited to learn that Jen would be introduced to Peter this season on Heartland! Gabe is one of the funniest people I have every worked with, so it was great to finally get to do a scene together where we could get along. Our first scene was a page and half of me talking, non-stop, with the stage directions ending it off with:

Peter sits thinking to himself, “Now that was chatty woman!”

Gabe’s response to me after reading it? Laughter along with saying, “I read that and thought… yup, that definitely sounds like Durupt.”

4. 6 degrees from Kevin “Bacon” McGarry!

In this case, it was only 1 degree. Back in the day, I played one of the ‘silly girls’ in the musical Beauty and the Beast at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg and became friends with a beautiful dancer named Alex. I was thrilled to learn she is now the real-life leading lady in the life of Kevin McGarry, the man that Heartland fans know as “Mitch”. Sorry ladies, she is a total gem and wonderful friend. I could not be happier for them.

5. Keeping it in the family with “Tim”!

The best part of working on such a great family show is getting to know the cast and seeing how they take care of each other. That was very clear when Chris Potter (“Tim” on the show) stepped behind the camera to direct episode 7. As a performer, he is very passionate about his work so I knew we were in good hands with him as a director.

He was so great about really wanting to establish who “Jen” was in the Heartland world with the first kitchen scene between Peter, Jen and a whole lot of groceries. My favorite Chris Potter moment was when he walked up to me on-set to give me direction. As he was talking – very seriously of course – all I could see was his misbuttoned shirt. Naturally, I listened politely and then kindly blurted out, “What the hell is happening with your clothing today?”

He lightened right up, laughed and adjusted it. Needless to say, I wasn’t fired so I think it is safe to say we are officially family.

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I have had a total blast working on this show and I hope you enjoy the rest of the season!

I was by no means a die-hard Tragically Hip fan, though one of their albums was the neverending soundtrack at work for an entire summer at Dairy Queen. But watching the news today as they recapped his life, his accomplishments and his continued selfless acts of kindness, it was overwhelming. Probably the coolest part was the manner in which the reports kept coming back to one main point: HE LOVED BEING CANADIAN. He was so clear on who he was and how he wanted to live his life – helping people, fighting to make his country even better. This made me start to think…who am I? Talk about an intense question, but here is what I came up with:

I am a bossy sister. I am a great friend and at times a really annoying driver. I am an actress. I am that girl at the Manitoba social who loves to dance and I am a partner to the kindest, most stubborn Italian man alive. I am Métis. I am a Dateline addict.  I am an athlete that grew up playing hockey who is now learning to golf and curl. I am talkative. I am a proud member of the coolest club I never wanted to be part of: ‘Living with Multiple Sclerosis’. I am always looking on the bright side. I am that person that loves their dog more than anyone else on any given day and who visits their grandparents as often as humanly possible.  I am a daughter. I am a lover of all that is stationary and can be bought at Indigo Books. I am a clutz.  I am 100% an animal helper that will pull over to save any animal on the road, even the highway and even if it is not possible. I am a hater of all Mayonnaise. I am the girl sent home from the sleepover in 3^rd grade because she laughed louder then everyone else at 2am. But most importantly, I too am an extremely proud Canadian. Why should any of that matter? Because who knows how many of those opportunities, passions and individual quirks I would have been granted had I not been born in Canada.

The next thing I found so inspiring was his commitment to his artistry.

The Tragically Hip was known as ‘Canada’s Band’ though I bet they were given many opportunities to venture out in to the waters of international success …if only they would not always write about Canada. But Gord Downie and the group never strayed from their style of songwriting. They chose to highlight the good, the bad and the ugly of Canada’s young life as a country, inspiring people through musical storytelling. This is beyond inspiring. This really hits home for me, working in the film and television industry.

Being a Canadian actor is interesting. From the moment you start working, you are taught that you will eventually have to move elsewhere. That’s because the story goes that if you don’t leave Canada, you will probably not succeed. So like almost every actor, when my opportunities came about, I did just that. I got a manager, I got a work visa, I went down to L.A. and what did I learn? I learned that I love being a Canadian actor. I like living in Canada. I like having the opportunities I do. I really enjoy the lifestyle that being a working Canadian actor affords me and I like the Canadian people I work with. I understand that in Canada we may not make the same amount of money as our counterparts might elsewhere or have exactly the same opportunities, but if that’s true, then that is okay. Why? Because at the end of the day, I personally love the art of acting and that does not change based on where I live. I am so proud that our talent pool here is extremely large and undeniably well trained.  I love that actors, filmmakers, and story tellers in this country are beyond creative, passionate and humble.  We do what we do because, like Gord, we truly love the art.

Now as a member of the Heartland family on the CBC, my gratitude for Canada, Canadian art, and thriving in my home country is greater than ever. This Canadian heart is full and it comes back to Gord.

As someone who never fully understood the impact of his artistic voice until now, I thank Gord for teaching me that the true meaning of success is what you believe it to be. For me, that is getting to do what I love in a country I love. Moving forward, I hope we can all be #morelikegord and find our own place in life, wherever that may be.

Here are my top 5!

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#5 ‘Detective Lynnwood’ (Kevin O’Grady)

It was on 2012’s Hitched for the Holidays, starring Emily Hampshire and Joey Lawrence, that I met Mr. O’Grady, a truly hilarious comedian. In that film, he played Huck, the overconfident office associate who could not accept the dismissal of his never-ending amorous gestures.

In the Garage Sale Mystery world, he’s a detective and still one of the funniest people I know. I was thrilled to have our paths cross again!  

#4 ‘The Host’ (Krystle Dos Santos)

WOW! Talk about a blast from the past! Krystle Dos Santos and I spent a year together at the Canadian College of Performing Arts back in Musical Theatre School alongside another classmate named Carly Rae Jepsen.

It’s always great to see friends doing well in this industry – especially when they join the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries family! Fun fact: She and I bonded back in the day when too much laughing around a candle set her hair on fire!

DON’T PANIC!! It was out within seconds and everyone was fine and to this day, it is one of the funniest 10 seconds of my life (and hers, too… I hope)!

#3 ‘Flat Shoes’ (No Heels for Kendahl)

I love the assortment of clothing and accessories that my characters have been decked out with over the years. From spiky heels to funky purses and baby bumps, even a baby on several occasions, I have seen it all.

This time out, I learned that my character Kendahl loves the outdoors (me too!) and wears Timberland Boots. As a result of this, I may have done a full-on happy dance in my wardrobe fitting. 

#2 ‘Cookies’ (Great Value Brand Goodness)

I knew I truly loved the set of A Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder the minute I saw someone bring out my favorite cookies from the local supermarket for Lori Loughlin. Apparently, they are her ultimate favorite on-set treats!

These cookies are not supposed to be decadent, but I love them and have for years! Talk about kindred spirits.

Which brings us to…

#1 ‘Aunt Becky’ (Lori Loughlin)

Like everyone else, I grew up watching her as Aunt Becky on Full House. Of course I didn’t really know her at all, but come on people – we all felt like we did!

Well, friends, I can confirm that she is everything you would hope her to be. Lori Loughlin is sweet, funny, strong, confident and let’s be honest, stunningly beautiful. On one particular occasion, we sat in a tent in the rain all day and not once did she complain about the temperature or the rain. She is a true gem to work with and as Jennifer in the Garage Sale Mystery movies, she has found another endearing character.

Final thoughts? The 2^nd grader inside me was overjoyed. That aside, the woman in me wants to know how she still makes it all look so darn easy. Without a doubt, she rocks.

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Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder premieres Sunday, August 27^th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries at 9/8c!

Use the #GarageSaleMystery to follow along with the conversation on Twitter!

See you on Sunday night!

Date My Dad is about a former baseball player and widower (Barry Watson) whose devoted three daughters (Audrey Smallman, Lilah Fitzgerald, and Zenia Marshall) take it upon themselves to find him a new wife following his 40th birthday. Lots of heartwarming hilarity ensues!

One of the ladies under consideration is yours truly as Katie, and what a joy it was to be involved with this brand new UPtv series! I’ve been a fan of Barry Watson since his time on 7th Heaven and sharing the screen with Raquel Welch (who plays his mother-in-law) was also a dream come true. A special shout-out to Audrey Smallman, Lilah Smallman, and Zenia Marshall for being three equally talented and charming young actresses!

There are also some other familiar faces on Date My Dad like Cindy Busby, Matty Finochio, and Lochlyn Munro to name a few.

You can tune in to Date My Dad on Friday, June 2nd on UPtv at 9/8c followed by episode 2 (where I show up) at 10/9c!

Here’s a sneak peek!

From her inspired beginnings on the printed pages of Joanne Fluke’s original book series (thank you, Joanne!) to her subsequent adventures with an amazing TV family, it’s safe to say that Andrea has learned a lot from her time in Eden Lake. So how would Andrea sum up these experiences?

Well, just ahead of the premiere of Murder She Baked: Just Desserts – tune in March 26^th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries – I’m delighted to share what I feel are… drum roll, please…

Andrea Todd’s 5 Most Important Lessons from Eden Lake!

Here we go!

1. Baking is THE ultimate remedy!

The best part of being in such a small town – where everyone knows your name – is that the number one solution to any problem, illness or ailment is baking. Not just any baking, but Hannah Swensen’s baking! Cookies, crumbles, tarts and pies, soufflés, turnovers, and cakes – OH MY! Regardless of who is sick or over-worked or worried about something, they come to Hannah for a sweet solution. Baking makes everything better.

2. Eden Lake Residents are dedicated fitness fanatics!

For the amount of treats that everyone eats in Eden Lake, I firmly believe that the Eden Lake folks work out a lot to keep those sugar and insulin levels in check. Right? Or maybe there’s something in the water. On that note…

3. Eden Lake Police officers are ridiculously good looking!

Let’s be honest. It takes a very specific set of skills to become an officer of the law, and for that we applaud every single one of them. But can you honestly say you’ve seen such a good looking group of people in one department? After all the fatalities in one small town, it’s easy to see why no one moves.

Eden Lake Dating 101: The average single person has a good chance of meeting a cute police officer, sooner rather than later. The question is whether they will be alive when they do. Here’s hoping!

4. Murders stay close to home!

The coolest – or perhaps the creepiest – part about Eden Lake is that all victims can rest assured that they will never be killed by an outsider! How comforting.

That’s right, folks. All murderers are friends, family members, and acquaintances of the victim within the town. In a time when everyone is so disconnected on their devices, it is sort of nice to see such a sense of community …even with those that end up in jail for murder.

5. When one Eden Lake zip code is that lethal… try a new one!

Time and time again, it has been a proven fact that the only way to guarantee your safety is to avoid Hannah Swensen like the plague! Or move. With such a small population and so many murders, one can assume that the only real safe haven would be to move. So why not try a familiar place no one else would think of? Eden Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada! Sounds good, eh?

That’s a wrap!

While you’re tuned in to Murder She Baked: Just Desserts on Sunday, join me, Alison Sweeney, Barbara Niven, Cameron Mathison, and the rest of the gang for some live Tweeting. Please use the hashtag #MurderSheBaked to participate!

Thanks for watching, my friends!

This was – according to a handful of 12-year-old girls – a very serious and very “adult type of show” that they were all racing home to watch. I had no clue what it was, but being the “chubby, funny and addicted-to-joining-any-and-all-clubs” kid that I was, I thought this might help in keeping up with the cool girls at lunch.

So I too decided that day to race home to watch it. I lived about a block from school, so needless to say I had about 30 minutes to kill, as I made myself comfortable for what was to be my very first soap opera viewing. Or so I thought.

The minute to opening credits started I realized I had watched this show many times in kindergarten with my great grandma. Not by choice, of course. She used to babysit me after school and the only way I would get her attention between 2 and 4 was to sit and watch “her shows” with her. This normally involved her yelling at them while I watched, completely in awe of her feistiness at age 85. So here I was 7 years later with my great grandma somewhere up there – no doubt beaming with pride that I had come to my senses and decided to keep our soap opera ritual alive. I was ready to fill my brain with things to gossip about tomorrow. Like sands through the hourglass, off we went!

To this day, my first memory was the introduction of a new character named Sami Brady. Along with her twin brother – none other than Jensen Ackles of Supernatural – they were ridiculously attractive twins whose dad was a cop while their mom was a doctor that was still in love with someone else and would later be possessed…pretty typical stuff. So maybe things could be a little far-fetched in this type of show, but I was on an important mission. I continued to watch and, sure enough, I was sitting pretty at the cool girls’ table at lunch with a knowing smile and the necessary Days of Our Lives street cred to back it up.

Fast forward 20 years later. I was sitting at my own lunch table when I got a phone call letting me know I had booked a role on Murder, She Baked, a series of mystery movies for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries that were based on the Hannah Swensen mystery novels by Joanne Fluke. Having read the first book, I was curious who had been cast as the leading lady Hannah Swensen. I did my own detective work through the Google agency and there she was… Sami Brady, better-known as Alison Sweeney! Not only was she going to be my sister for the next couple of years on screen, but she was also one of the producers. Suddenly I felt like I was 12 again, giggling with mischievous excitement. How cool would it have been to be able to tell the cool girls at the school lunch table that one day, I would be working with Sami Brady?

From the first day on set, Alison Sweeney was positively fierce. Fierce in the good way that only a true soap opera veteran can be. She has been in the entertainment industry since she was a toddler and it’s clear that she still loves every minute of it. She has not only survived but thrived in a competitive business that changes as quickly as the sands run through the hourglass.

To this day she holds the record for acting in the most scripted pages filmed in 1 day: Over 90! That is insane. Most films aim to shoot 6-10. 12 -14 pages is considered a near impossibility. But spend 5 minutes with Alison Sweeney and you will see why she makes it look easy. She can memorize a scene in no time flat. She can improvise in a pinch so as not to kill a shot. She is always willing to talk it out with her scene partner to find the best possible way to play it.

To sum it up: Alison Sweeney loves to play!

One day at lunch, Alison Sweeney said to me, “I would rather someone come to a scene with a choice completely different than mine, so that we can hash it out together, instead of showing up having not made a choice at all. I hate when people agree because they are worried about disagreeing with me.”

Naturally, I made sure to disagree with all of her choices that day – starting with her lunch order.

Murder She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery – the first movie of the series – aired in May to record-breaking numbers for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

The second movie, Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery aired to record numbers for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in November. It came in second only to the first movie!

Both movies will re-air on Sunday, January 10th, 2016 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in the USA along with the premiere of a brand new one, Murder She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery! I can’t wait!

In Canada, CTV has recently begun airing the series as well. Check local listings!

In my mind, the success of the series is no doubt due to the hard work that Alison Sweeney has put into them. If I have learned anything from working with Alison Sweeney, it is that she is the real deal. She is professional, she stands behind her choices and she makes no apologies for who she is. I have to say that I respect and admire her drive. I look up to her as a female in this business and I am in awe of how she still manages to make her family her first priority.

With the good fortune of calling Alison Sweeney my friend today, I walk a little taller. Twenty years ago, she likely would have told me to ditch the cool crew and just be myself….but then again, I would have missed out on growing up with daytime’s most loveable villain, Sami Brady. There’s no one else I would want to solve Hallmark Movies & Mysteries with.

Every year 250,000 Canadians access homeless emergency services or sleep outside. 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given night. 50,000 people on any given night are considered “hidden homeless”: couch-surfing or sleeping in poor or unaffordable housing. 10% of families do not have enough money to meet their basic needs.

When the organizers of Hockey Helps the Homeless asked me to get involved in their annual Vancouver tournament, I jumped at the chance because I wanted to make a difference.

The event took place on Friday, November 27^th at UBC’s Thunderbird Arena, where hockey players and hockey lovers alike from across the Lower Mainland teamed up to raise money for this great cause.

Originally I had been asked to emcee the dinner following the tournament. I was thrilled! But shortly after the initial invite, Robin Rivers – knowing I had played as a teen – asked if I would be willing to play on one of the ladies’ teams.

Me being me said, “No problem!”

Fun fact #1: Actors will always tell you they can do something then hustle like hell to figure out how to do it in time for the impending deadline!

I hung up the phone, knowing full well I had not played in over 10 years and did what any true professional would do: I called my dad. My dad, being my dad, sent me my old equipment. God I love that man!

The night before, while double-checking my equipment, I noticed that my helmet lacked a mask.

Fun fact #2: Ladies must all wear a full face mask to play. It saves your teeth, your nose and your eyes. Someone should really tell the NHL players that; namely Dan Hamhuis and Sidney Crosby. Ouch.

Upon further inspection I noticed that about 50% of my equipment was not mine.

“Dad?”

He happened to have come in to town that day.

“I may have given your elbow pads to the neighbor and I think a few years back I gave our bank manager’s daughter your pants.”

Fun fact #3: This was at 9pm on a Thursday and I played in less than 12 hours.

Thank goodness Walmart was open late!

The team of ladies I was placed with was a mix of skill levels. I sat down in my cubby at the UBC Thunderbird Arena and began talking to a really nice lady with brown hair beside me. She reminded me of my good friend Lauren Stiver, who I had played hockey with at the University of Winnipeg. She was tall, very fit and extremely kind. She said that she was “okay” at the sport but was just there for the cause. How nice, I thought. I soon realized she was not only the nicest person in the room, but the most humble.

Our coach, the amazing former Vancouver Canucks sniper (and former part-owner of the Coquitlam Express) Darcy Rota came in to meet the team, turned to the brunette beside me and thanked our “pro” for coming out to play with us. Suddenly it dawned on me, “For heaven’s sake, she was none other than Rebecca Johnston from the Canadian Women’s Olympic Gold Medal Team in Sochi!” Turns out she was not only “okay,” she was freaking awesome!

Rebecca Johnston is a humble and talented genius.

The tournament was by far the most fun I had had in quite some time. It took a few shifts to get my legs back but by the end of the day I was right back in it. I can’t lie, I was a little winded compared to my 17 year old self, but kept up just fine.

The dinner went off without a hitch.The speakers included:

Ewan French – Chair of the Hockey Helps the Homeless Vancouver Organizing Committee

He has been the head of the committee since the local tournament began seven years ago. His tireless work organizing, planning and rallying has raised more than $1 million for organizations that work with people faced with homelessness in the Lower Mainland.

Reid McGruer – Regional Director of Freedom 55 Financial Vancouver

It was 8 years ago that Great-West Life first invested in Hockey Helps the Homeless and since that time their generous contributions have allowed the fundraiser to expand its reach while supporting the infrastructure requirements necessary to keep up with the rapid growth. They have been and continue to be such a big part of how the event can make a real difference in the lives of Canada’s homeless.

Me and Darcy Rota

The one and only Darcy Rota wrapped it all up with his heartfelt speech about the fundraiser. He had everyone in the palm of his hands. Not only is he a great coach but I can honestly say he is truly a great person.

Thanks to everyone involved the tournament raised a gross revenue of over $425,000. Funds were directed towards the Urban Native Youth Association, Covenant House, Powell’s Place, Rain City Housing, Lookout Society and more!

It was such an honor to be part of this event and I would encourage anyone looking for more information to visit their website at HockeyHelpsTheHomeless.com

Thanks for having me!

Where to start.

The simple thought of me mentioning of her name – in my blog of all places – is going to make her cringe a little. She is very private and modest to a fault. She will tell me that she is an introvert and say she is uncomfortable with any attention but the truth is that even in the most overwhelming of scenarios that an actor can face – like posing with me in the above photo at a dress-up event – she holds court like a pro.

In September of 2009, I was attending my first Vancouver International Film Festival Party. Being new to VIFF and Vancouver, I was just getting my feet wet in the Vancouver film industry. The only person there that I knew pointed to a beautiful blonde actress across the room and said, “Lisa, do you want to work and be respected in the Vancouver film community? Look up to someone like Sonja Bennett.”

I was taken by how elegant she was – pregnant and smiling from ear to ear. I left the party feeling like I had someone to look up to and a goal to work towards; strive to be as good at my craft as Ms. Bennett.

Over the next five years, I would see Sonja at auditions, sometimes in the waiting room… and other times, just her name on call sheets.

During the Seed call backs, I sat next to her while waiting to go in. I was nervous. Not for my call back , but because she was there. I took a little comfort in the idea that she too seemed nervous. Clearly her nerves were for the audition and not because I was there. She smiled and in a moment of  silence, I blurted out, “Don’t be nervous. If you get a call back they already like what you did.”

I instantly wished I had kept my mouth shut as she was very experienced and clearly already knew that. But she was kind and laughed.

In February of 2014, I was in LA for pilot season when I got an audition (to be taped for Vancouver) for a Canadian Independent film: Preggoland. I read it and was very excited at how much it reminded me of Less Than Kind.

Funny, Dark, Honest, Enlightening. It wasn’t until I had finished reading it that I noticed it was written by Sonja Bennett. As most actors tend to do (they are lying if they tell you otherwise), I assumed she wrote the part I was auditioning for with a close friend in mind. She would be the lead and this was just a technicality to appease the union. Audition at least X amount of ladies but the part is already been offered. Ok. No stress. 5 years later, Sonja Bennett and my favorite young Canadian Director Jacob Tierney (Good Neighbors, The Trotsky) were possibly going to watch my tape. This for me was a win.  The phone call from the two of them a week later was a wonderful surprise. I had landed the part!

Over the next month, we filmed Preggoland and the experience of filming with Sonja Bennett turned out to be the easiest and most rewarding experience for me. She was open and present in every scene, every day and gave it 100% for 20 days straight while re-writing on the go and filling bottles for her newborn in her trailer at lunch. She was a machine.

I had assumed after writing for so long, she would have a really strong opinion on each character but in true Sonja style, she graciously gave it over to each actor to find their take on her words. She made it clear from the beginning that she trusted us and that we were free to play. This was echoed by Jacob who gave us all free reign to explore.

Looking back on it now, the thing that I have come love the most about Sonja is her dedication. She did what most people only talk about. She created her own work and continues to do so. She wrote, and still writes, diligently day after day, all the while raising 2 young kids, acting and taking on the world with her husband, fellow thespian Stephen Lobo.

Sonja remains very much her own person. She is private and focused. She is not a fan of social media, (so I was very surprised and kinda flattered that she asked me to help her enter the world of twitter last year). But even then, she is careful about how she uses it. She proudly walks to the beat of her own drum and that is why she is so loved.

Whether it is drinking wine and dancing with you or just having you over for toast and cheese with her kids, Sonja is always the same fun loving, compassionate person. She is what every girl needs in their life; a real girlfriend. Had someone told me 6 years ago that I would be so blessed to call her that, I would have laughed. I still look up to her but now I take joy in being able to tell her that – over laughs and toast and cheese in her kitchen.

So here it is…..

Working with James Caan was like working with most veteran actors who are damn good at their jobs: They have been there for years, they often know much more than you and they do not really like change. So rather than poke the bear, learn from him. Watch him, listen to him and – most of all – respect him.

Now that that is out of the way…  let’s get into the nitty-gritty, because that is what people really want to hear.

Jimmy, as he liked to be called, was exactly what you would expect him to be.

He loves the ladies – in the most sincere way possible – and will be the first to tell you that. On Day 1 of shooting, before Sonja Bennett or I could begin to feel nervous, he jumped in the car, set his steely blue eyes on us and beamed, “Aaah. I’ve got good looking daughters!”

In the next breath, he told Sonja Bennett, “I ain’t wearing that other shirt! I had them get me this. This is more me, that other one? That was not happening.”

That was Jimmy. Big heart. Big voice. Big opinion. No apologies. But the amazing part about working with people like James Caan is that you really can just sit and listen to them talk all day. So that is what I did.

Jimmy reminded me of my grandpa. He was rough around the edges but had a soft spot for anyone who matched him. Early on, he got grumpy with me and I gave it right back to him. I tend to hold my own in those settings. From that point on, we had a great connection! From there, every day was story time with Jimmy.

Over the shoot, he told me the whole story of how ended up living at the Playboy Mansion early on in his career.

“I was second in command after Hugh Hefner”, he joked.

He spoke so highly of the ladies at the Playboy Mansion and how he really looked out for them when he was there. He realized that many of them were so young and new to Los Angeles and how at the end of the day, they were someone’s sister, daughter, even mom. I could tell he looked back on it with nothing but joy and admiration for them all. It was really sweet to hear.

On another occasion, he told me all about filming The Godfather trilogy. He referred to Robert Duvall as ‘Bobby’ – they are still close friends – and joked about the pros and cons of working with both him and Marlon Brando. He taught me how to have your lines in a scene without anyone catching it on camera and he even shared a secret about a fellow actor who once broke a crew guy’s nose for disagreeing with him. Yikes. He truly had some juicy intel, to which I shall keep to myself.

But my favourite James Caan stories were those he told about his family.

For a man who has been married 4 times, he constantly told me to “never take the plunge, it is costs too damn much!”

He talked about his kids, his mothers-in-law, the ones that got away, the ones that would not stay away and so on. However, thanks to his beloved son Scott Caan (Hawaii 5-0) this “tough ladies’ man” could not contain his excitement for the arrival of his first grandchild. He talked about it daily and you really could see that ‘Grandpa Caan’ was going to be his best role yet.

In random places like a kitchen in Maple Ridge or an SUV in Pitt Meadows, sitting between takes with the legend I learned to love from the time my first boyfriend made me watch The Godfather trilogy in 24 hours, left me in awe.

Many people you meet in the business are nothing like you would expect them to be. But Jimmy is exactly as advertised. He comes from a time when being an actor was about working hard at your craft, not your social media presence. If you could not act, you did not work. So he expects everyone else around him to play at his level, to come prepared and to make no excuses. He challenges you to do your best work. That is what makes him a legend!

So all in all, how was working with James Caan? Everything I could have hoped for and more. Thank you Jimmy!!

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