Alexa PenaVega Returns to the City of Lights for A Paris Proposal: "It was just glorious."

For Hallmark’s A Paris Proposal, Alexa PenaVega returned to the metropolis of lights to movie for the first time since she starred in Spy Kids 3.

The film is not filmed in its entirety in Paris, however just sufficient to lend it the genuine taste needed to convey it to life.

Alexa stars as Anna, an promoting govt who travels to Paris together with her coworker Sebastian (Nicholas Bishop) to land an necessary account.

When the shopper, who owns the famed Durant Diamonds, mistakenly believes they’re a contented couple, Anna and Sebastian consider they haven’t any alternative however to go together with it to make the deal.

Alexa was thrilled to return to Paris. “It’s wonderful. Paris is such a particular place. The final time I was there, I was a lot youthful, and I did not actually get to recognize it the means you do if you return as an grownup.

“The architecture is unreal, the food. I understand why it’s the spot that everybody wants to go to for their honeymoon because it is just such a romantic place. Everywhere you turn, it just feels just charming and beautiful.”

Alexa and her husband Carlos not too long ago signed a multi-picture take care of Hallmark Media, however not solely did not he star together with her in A Paris Proposal, the household did not make the journey to Paris, both.

She admitted it was tough to be with out her household and advised Carlos that they had excuse to return for one thing extra intimate, however she actually loved taking slightly time to herself personally and professionally.

Her freedom allowed her to join socially with the solid, and it led to her favourite second of the go to.

“I actually took a stroll by myself and found this little cafe, and I just sat alone, eating a little sandwich outside under an awning while it sprinkled. And this was at night, and the lights were twinkling. It felt like I was in a movie by myself. It was just glorious.”

That’s a a lot completely different expertise than she had as a baby. “When I was youthful, I all the time liked structure. So I was not less than very conscious of and impressed by how beautiful the structure and historical past was of Paris.

“I went to Versailles, and I remember that blew me away, just being so shocked by how incredible Versailles was. Now I didn’t get to go back this time just because of our schedule, which didn’t really allow it. But I do hope to go to Versailles again because I remember as a child that really just was the coolest thing. I mean, it was a castle!”

Navigating a tough filming schedule whereas additionally attending to household could be laborious, Alexa mentioned, however whereas she actually missed her household, she discovered the silver lining.

“It was the first time in a really very long time that I was ready to actually deal with my work and never have to come residence after which out of the blue take care of three children, and also you’re working on no sleep and going to set the subsequent day and dealing these lengthy hours after which going again residence and repeating till the film’s over.

“This was just such a special experience because I was able to really sink into that role, and when we were done filming, the cast would all go out to dinner after, and we would actually go over our lines for the next day together.”

Alexa mentioned it was good to have the opportunity to match into the crew even when she did miss her household, the best pleasure in her life.”The longing for your spouse and your children was always there. But the filming was such a fun process.”

A secret to filming A Paris Proposal comes from the reality that the majority of it was filmed in Bulgaria. She loved the course of a lot that she thought, “we should shoot every movie in Bulgaria.”

“This was just such a good experience. Truly. The cast came from all over Europe,” she mentioned, complementing the crew. Many had come from London, together with her costar, Nick, who she mentioned is just “so lovely.”

“Most of all of them converse three or 4 languages, French being one of them, which made me really feel tremendous foolish. We converse Spanish and English in our family, however my Spanish isn’t the greatest anymore.

“I really need to step up my game, and it just cracks me up that these people in these other countries are speaking so many languages. It was very impressive and just such a good group to work with.”

When I requested how she got here to be flying solo after the multi-picture deal she and Carlos signed, Alexa mentioned, “I do know! That’s just the way it labored out as a result of that they had these offers in place the place every did our solo one, and we received one collectively.

“So they’re still kind of figuring out what project is next. But we do have a couple more coming, and we will get to see you guys a whole lot more with Hallmark movies.”

They’ve received three footage with Hallmark, one exterior of the community, and Carlos is heading to South America to tour earlier than he begins an American tour. They are very busy however “beyond blessed,” Alexa mentioned.

But don’t fret about the couple discovering time for one another or their household. Alexa was knee-deep in the ocean as we chatted on the cellphone, her household just an arm’s size away.

Alexa is worked up for individuals to see A Paris Proposal as a result of it is a recent tackle the conventional rom-com. Instead of American actors, she’s surrounded by European expertise, for instance.

“The solid that we had for this movie was unimaginable, I imply, extremely educated actors, the kindest individuals. Just had a lot enjoyable with them. And I feel it will be enjoyable [for fans] too as a result of, for Hallmark, it offers it a really completely different look.

“I do know they’re used to seeing acquainted faces, which we love a lot as a result of I consider in working with the identical individuals over and over as a result of it creates a very nice household dynamic.

“But what I did like about this was there are some new faces that you’ve never seen on Hallmark before, and it’s going to give it a very cool look and feel. Overall, the quality is just fantastic because they really brought their A-game.”

There is one thing about recent faces in a film that provides surprising layers to the story, Alexa and I agreed.

She mentioned, “Here’s what made it nice, and because of this I actually appreciated it. When we’re working, particularly when I’m working with Carlos, loads of instances, I do know what he is succesful of. I understand how far I can push him.

“So when a scene is over, we preserve taking part in. We do not cease. We preserve working our strains. We preserve ad-libbing and saying extra issues. A lot of instances, these are the picks that we use as a result of it just retains it actually actual and enjoyable.

“When I work with different co-stars, I do not all the time get to do this as a result of they’re like, ‘Wait, this is not a script. What are you doing?’ And you do not actually get to play that a lot. Whereas right here on this set, I was shocked.

“Everybody was down and prepared to play, to ad-lib, to sort of give it greater than what was just on paper. And I feel that is the place loads of the moments that actually shine got here in. Because for occasion, there was just one scene that we have been filming the place I go away, however I’m carrying this very pink outfit.

“And as I stroll off the scene, my costar yelled out, ‘By the means, I liked you in Legally Blonde,’ as a dig. And it was hilarious. And they saved it as a result of it was just so humorous. It was such a ridiculous line that he just randomly threw it on the market.

“And that’s the gem, that’s the gold that you get when you get to film with actors who are comfortable to play and explore.”

As I was prepping for the interview, I noticed how many individuals in the world really feel they’ll weigh in on her life, and I requested her: What’s your favourite factor about residing in the public eye, and what’s your least favourite factor? Alexa did not hesitate earlier than answering.

“My favourite factor can be that you’re given a platform to actually be just love and light-weight on this world, which we’d like so badly, particularly with every part that just goes on.

“It is darkish and heavy at instances, and I really like that I get to make motion pictures that entertain individuals and that convey them loads of pleasure and preserve them entertained regardless of what is going on on of their life.

“They’re ready to escape for an hour and a half to two hours. But then, on prime of that, having a platform to have the opportunity to love individuals and be a lightweight to individuals. And I suppose to be considerably of a job mannequin, if that is sensible.

“So what I do not like, and I’ve to be taught to not care about it, however I suppose there’s going to be loads of criticism.

“But finally, what I’ve realized over these years, particularly as I’ve gotten older, is you are by no means going to have the opportunity to make everyone completely happy, irrespective of how laborious you attempt. And for those who stay your life as a individuals pleaser, you are by no means going to discover pleasure. So I had to be taught to be actually assured.

“I had to be taught to be actually assured and comfy in who I’m, what I consider in, and issues that I would like to take a stand for.

“The second I found that — it sounds crazy, but you almost feel invincible because it’s your superpower. People can say whatever they want, but you know who you are. And when you know who you are, it doesn’t matter.”

Growing up in the leisure enterprise does not all the time lead to happiness and success, however Alexa has discovered each.

For now, she’s keen for you to see A Paris Proposal, and she or he’s received a pitch for your viewership.

“There are some improbable, humorous moments. And then there are some deep, very actual moments that I feel can hit residence with loads of individuals, particularly needing validation out of your dad and mom and actually wanting to really feel accepted by your loved ones.

“I really think that this movie has a lot of heart and has some depth, that Hallmark is allowing us to go deeper in these storylines. And it’s really just wonderful.”

A Paris Proposal premieres tonight at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.