Pascale Hutton – The Perfect Bride

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) The most recent project is The Perfect Bride, which airs on June 10^th, 2017. We filmed that in April and it was so much fun! It was pairing me up again with Kavan Smith, who plays my husband on “When Calls the Heart.” Or fans, The Hearties, will recognize us as Rosemary and Leland from “When Calls the Heart,” but in this movie we’re playing entirely different characters in an entirely different setting and time period. In fact, The Perfect Bride takes place in modern times, but I think what people will enjoy seeing is the same light, banter-y rapport that Kavan and I share. We’re going to be starting Season Five of “When Calls the Heart” in summer sometime.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film The Perfect Bride?

A) We pretty much jump at any opportunity to work together. So, when Hallmark called us and said they had this script Kavan and I both said yes and then we just crossed our fingers and hoped it was going to be a good script. [laughs] We were going to do it regardless because we love working together so much. Fortunately for us, we got the script and phoned each other to say, “Can you believe it?! It’s actually really good!” It was just an added bonus that it was a really good script. So, it’s really fun and light. I think it’s really cute and they have a really fun, charming banter back and forth. I think people are really going to fall in love with these two characters.

Q) Please tell us the premise for the movie and about your character.

A) There are two people: one being Molly White, who I play, and Nick played by Kavan. He is a wedding photographer and I am a bridle bootcamp instructor. We end up meeting at a wedding and we are totally hitting it off. He thinks we’re hitting it off professionally and I think maybe there could be something more than just professional. I am really hopeful that maybe something is going to evolve between the two of us. Low and behold, the next day I go to start my next bridle bootcamp and his fiancé shows up. I didn’t even know that he was getting married! The rest of it unfolds as to whether or not these two are meant to be together or not be together and in what capacity.

Q) What is the best part of working with costar Kavan Smith?

A) We really just make each other laugh the whole time. We share the same sense of humor and also, conveniently, find ourselves very amusing. I’ll tell a joke and I’ll laugh at myself. He’ll tell a joke and he really thinks he’s the funniest person in the whole room. So, I think that’s how we initially bonded. We also just really enjoy each other’s company. We’ve been working together so closely now for a number of years. It’s just very easy. Our relationship, our rapport on and off screen, is very easy and effortless. Fortunately, we’re paired up with one of our other all-time favorites director Martin Wood. He has directed a number of “When Calls the Heart” episodes so he has his finger on the pulse of Kavan and I’s relationship and dynamic. He’s very good at adding to the jokes and allowing for a lot of laughter and pranks. Martin is a big prankster on set, but he can also reign us in by saying, “Okay, you guys are getting a little silly; a little out of control. You need to reign it in at this moment since it is a more serious moment in the show.” So, it’s good to have someone reigning in the monkeys.

Q) What was the most challenging part of filming?

A) So, the thing I was honestly terrified about is that throughout the movie my character has to teach a number of bootcamp classes. And I was terrified of doing that. I am an avid work outer. I go to the gym a lot and hike a lot. I’m very active. I’m very physical. I do a lot of bootcamp classes, but it is very different doing the classes as opposed to teaching the classes. I was very nervous about teaching the class, remembering my lines and being inspirational – all the things that go into teaching exercise bootcamp classes. So, I was really terrified of it, but I think they turned out really well. Kavan even came up to me…He’s not in the bootcamp classes, but he was on set watching it. So, he came up to me and said, “I’m never going to compliment you like this ever again, but you’re doing a really good job. The class looks really fun and like a class people would actually want to take. Don’t ever make me repeat that and I’ll never say something like that again.” [laughs] I was like, “That’s okay! That’s okay! I’ll take it!”

Q) What is it about The Perfect Bride that is going to make it a fast fan favorite Hallmark Channel film?

A) We on “When Calls the Heart” have very, very passionate fans. They are so devoted and supportive of our show and not just our show but also the actors. They are very invested. I think that people are really going to see Kavan and I, these two actors they know very well who are in a different environment all together. I think people will really delight in that, but also the movie is really charming. It’s really fun, light and funny. I think it’s just a really enjoyable, fun romantic comedy. I think that’s really. I like watching romantic comedies and I think the audience will as well. This is a good one!

Q) What can you tease is in store this coming season on “When Calls the Heart?”

A) We haven’t even started filming yet so right now there is just a lot of brainstorming and discussion. I would hesitate to tease anything that might be coming up in Season Five because none of it is concrete. The one thing I know for a fact is that we will be doing another “When Calls the Heart” Christmas special, which I think people will be pumped up about. It was a huge hit last year, which was our very first Christmas special. So, we’re going to another one this year.

Q) The Hearties are such a special fanbase. What makes them so unique?

A) I think there was a void in television. There was not a lot of fun family based shows. So, I think that’s where it started. Our show came along and a lot of feedback we get are moms, dads and kids that say, “It’s so nice that there is a show that we can sit down to as a family and watch together.” I think it started as that, but then it branched out. They got connected with each other so it wasn’t just about connecting with the show or even the actors on the shows. The Hearties were interacting with each other so it created this wonderful, supportive fanbase that for a lot of the fans feels almost like family. That’s very powerful. That’s a powerful experience. We hold these “Heartie Family Reunions” every year and it is a chance for Hearties from all over the US, Canada and the rest of the world to come to Vancouver to come to the set and meet the actors. It’s just grown. It’s grown exponentially every year. That’s just also solidified their connection and their bond to each other and to the show itself.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and your work?

A) I would tell you that I’m really excited for you to see me in this very different role and very new role. I hope you all embrace it!