It’s been stated many occasions this vacation season: Hallmark is knocking it out of the park with considerate tales stuffed with coronary heart. One such story brings Good Witch’s Catherine Bell again into the fold.
Christmas on Cherry Lane incorporates a sprawling forged of actors we frequently welcome into our properties, and we get to look within characters’ properties on Cherry Lane.
Bell can also be reunited with the Good Witch costar, James Denton, which supplies the brand new story a well-recognized really feel, like wrapping us in a heat, welcoming hug.
Bell took a while to share her ideas on returning to Hallmark together with her costar at her aspect, and the importance of pals, household, and our higher neighborhood in our lives.
I’ve to let you know, I nonetheless miss Good Witch, so to welcome you again with James Denton at your aspect is such an exquisite Christmas present.
Thank you. We’re excited as a result of Good Witch ended earlier than we had been all able to say goodbye, so it is a little nod to that.
Was it good working collectively once more?
Oh my gosh, so good. We love one another. We really keep in contact and ship one another humorous memes and foolish issues and tease one another on a regular basis. That was excellent.
Well, that is good as a result of I all the time think about that when previous costars get collectively, you may think the place your characters could be right now. Have you guys carried out that?
Imagine what our characters could be like future had they continued?
Yes! What do you suppose they could be doing?
That’s so cute. I hadn’t considered that. Well, let’s have a look at there. We had been going off to Europe. They’re most likely nonetheless there. The youngsters are grown. They’re simply exploring the world, having fun with one another. That’s form of what I think about.
That might be proper. They left, and they had been able to discover a very completely different chapter.
Right, precisely.
Christmas on Cherry Lane is such a stupendous story. What had been your ideas once you first learn the script?
Same, precisely that. I used to be immediately hooked. It’s simply so candy and touching. You’ve seen the film?
Yes, I did. I watched it this morning. Wow.
Oh, cute. Well, as you already know, we will not give away an excessive amount of, but it surely’s so candy.
Oh, completely.
It’s such a candy, touching story, and the way in which every little thing comes collectively and how all of those folks have a connection and simply households and friendships and all of it. The holidays. It’s so touching. I cherished it.
And how would you describe your character, how she suits within the story?
She’s completely different than different characters I’ve performed. She’s form of at a retirement age, after all, retiring somewhat bit early, not precise retirement age.
But she’s obtained grown youngsters and is beginning a brand new chapter in her life, which is thrilling for her, but it surely takes her youngsters a minute to get used to, after all. And so she’s form of navigating all of that.
How do you navigate this new man you are in love with, and then the children ensuring that they are okay and vacation time and traditions? You’ve obtained new traditions and outdated traditions and tying these collectively.
I definitely perceive all of that as the children grow old and relationships change, and nonetheless by some means determining the best way to make all of it as magical as Christmas ought to be.
It form of jogs my memory of Good Witch with the interconnectedness of households and how being part of a neighborhood can actually change their lives.
Absolutely.
Why do you suppose that message is one thing that we have to hear so typically?
God, sure. I imply, it’s. It’s simply pertains to each considered one of us. Wherever you’re on this planet, no matter age or no matter you are doing along with your life, all of us want pals and household and these connections, even the individuals who suppose they do not. I imply, actually, we do. It’s human nature.
It is.
And discovering that it is such a stupendous idea. I discover the older I get, the extra I notice how a lot I would like that: my pals, my household.
It’s humorous too, the idea, and we’ve got that on this movie, is like we’ve got our household that you just’re born with. You have the blood household, and that is so essential to remain related to and preserve these relationships going. And typically that may be difficult, as considered one of our storylines within the film exhibits.
But how do you continue to love these folks although they could drive you loopy and preserve that alive?
And then additionally you’ve gotten these new pals that we make that change into household. We all hopefully have that in our lives. You have a finest good friend that you’ve got identified eternally or perhaps a neighbor who you change into so shut, and then they change into household as properly.
I believe all of these ideas are simply so stunning and essential.
It’s so humorous, I used to be really speaking to anyone about that at this time and how I’ve not identified this particular person for very lengthy in any respect. And I stated, “From the moment we first started talking and, at first, we only met online,” I stated, “I just felt connected. I just knew you were going to be one of my friends.”
I really like that.
And then I watched this film, and I used to be like, “Oh my gosh, you’re going to have to watch this, and you’ll know why.”
It’s so cute. Yeah, precisely. Exactly.
It suits completely.
I’ve a good friend like that. She’s like my sister. We met, we had been going to the identical trip spot. It was really the Millennium New Year’s, so it was simply earlier than 2000.
We met in an airport, and she and her husband had been there and me and my husband. And we had been similar to, “I feel like I’ve known you.”
We simply began chatting and we’re like, “Wait a minute. We’re going to the same place.” And subsequent factor you already know, we ended up having pals in widespread and we have been finest pals ever since, like a sister.
And that is it. That discovered household that you just create is simply so essential. And I really like when tales focus on that.
Absolutely.
Kind of the mix, too, and Christmas on Cherry Lane has all of it proper.
Exactly. I’m so glad you appreciated it. We had been actually having enjoyable taking pictures it and studying it and simply listening to all of the completely different storylines and how they arrive collectively. I adore it.
And it additionally form of ties along with the Christmas custom of giving Hallmark ornaments.
Absolutely.
Did you’ve gotten a favourite Christmas custom or perhaps a favourite Hallmark decoration everytime you had been rising up?
I did. Actually, in my household, we all the time went to the Hallmark shops within the malls. I nonetheless have some from after I was somewhat woman. I all the time cherished the little cute ones, the lovable little animals and issues, very a lot into miniature little issues like that.
And so I nonetheless have a few these left. And then, simply being part of the Hallmark household for thus a few years, when my youngsters had been youthful, Hallmark would all the time ship me the ornaments.
But I even have this one enormous snow globe. It’s like a large Hallmark decoration, principally. And we carry it out each Christmas, and the children will adore it. We nonetheless need to carry that. They’re all grown. They’re 20, they’re 13, however “Where’s the big snow globe?”
I’m like, “Guy’s, our house flooded. We’re in storage; we’re renting a place. Do we really need to get it?” And they’re like, “Yes, go get it right now.” [laughs]
I do. I’ve somewhat Snoopy.
You do? Oh yeah, the Snoopy.
Ironically, I even nonetheless have the little wee Hallmark field that it got here in. I do not even understand how I saved that every one these years.
No manner. That’s wonderful.
But that is one thing that is simply by no means left.
Oh my God, that is so cute. And they’ve the yr on them, and what a fantastic little reminiscence, and you get simply to carry them out yearly and put them again on the tree. It’s so cute.
Hallmark can also be very intelligent in introducing new concepts for Christmas traditions. And you guys had a enjoyable scene that included wrapping a present blindfold. And I’ve obtained to know, how a lot of that scene did you actually do with a blindfold on?
We did. [laughs] We really did it, and it was humorous. We did not know what we had been doing and making an attempt to save lots of the traces and fumble round and fumble accurately the way in which it is scripted. It’s all the time a problem and all the time enjoyable. We positively had snicker on that one.
I assumed that might be such a pleasant addition. So many Christmas traditions are extra of the sentimental kind, and that is simply one thing the place you form of get free and simply have time with the folks round you.
Of course, then there are additionally the people who find themselves going to get indignant as a result of they do not win, however nonetheless. [laughs]
Exactly.
And how would you describe Christmas on Cherry Lane for many who are so keen to observe it?
I believe you are going to have to observe, simply get the total story and the total magic of all of it, after all, as a result of, as we talked about, we will not give an excessive amount of away.
But I believe it is nearly friendships, households, the chums that change into households, the households we’re born with, how they have an effect on us and how all of us interrelate, and simply the magic of Christmas and what all of which means for these households.
And if we will imagine anyone in the case of magic, it is going to be the Good Witch!
Definitely, you are proper there.
I need to thanks a lot for chatting with me at this time, Catherine, and I can not look forward to folks to see this film.
I preserve saying that to all people I speak with, however Hallmark has simply knocked it out of the park this yr with so many fully completely different storylines to maintain followers engaged. And I simply really feel such as you’re all so fortunate to be part of this season.
Absolutely. I actually really feel that manner all the time. It’s simply so touching and heartwarming, and so many individuals I run into in all places are so excited simply to proceed watching. They’re such good household, feel-good, beautiful exhibits.
Christmas on Cherry Lane premieres tonight at 8/7c, solely on Hallmark Channel!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a workers author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will pay attention. Follow her on X and electronic mail her right here at TV Fanatic.
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