It has been stated many occasions this vacation season: Hallmark is knocking it out of the park with considerate tales filled with coronary heart. One such story brings Good Witch’s Catherine Bell again into the fold.
Christmas on Cherry Lane encompasses a sprawling forged of actors we frequently welcome into our houses, and we get to look inside characters’ houses on Cherry Lane.
Bell can be reunited with the Good Witch costar, James Denton, which provides the brand new story a well-known 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 associates, household, and our higher neighborhood in our lives.
I’ve to inform you, I nonetheless miss Good Witch, so to welcome you again with James Denton at your aspect is such an exquisite Christmas reward.
Thanks. We’re excited as a result of Good Witch ended earlier than we have been all able to say goodbye, so this can be 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.
Effectively, that is good as a result of I at all times think about that when previous costars get collectively, you may think the place your characters is likely to be presently. Have you ever guys achieved that?
Think about what our characters is likely to be like future had they continued?
Sure! What do you suppose they is likely to be doing?
That is so cute. I hadn’t thought of that. Effectively, let’s examine there. We have been going off to Europe. They’re in all probability nonetheless there. The youngsters are grown. They’re simply exploring the world, having fun with one another. That is form of what I think about.
That’s in all probability proper. They left, they usually have been able to discover a very totally different chapter.
Proper, precisely.
Christmas on Cherry Lane is such a gorgeous story. What have been your ideas whenever you first learn the script?
Identical, precisely that. I used to be immediately hooked. It is simply so candy and touching. You’ve got seen the film?
Sure, I did. I watched it this morning. Wow.
Oh, cute. Effectively, as you recognize, we won’t give away an excessive amount of, nevertheless it’s so candy.
Oh, completely.
It is such a candy, touching story, and the best way every little thing comes collectively and the way all of those individuals have a connection and simply households and friendships and all of it. The vacations. It is so touching. I cherished it.
And the way would you describe your character, how she matches within the story?
She’s totally different than different characters I’ve performed. She’s form of at a retirement age, in fact, retiring a little bit bit early, not precise retirement age.
However she’s bought grown children and is beginning a brand new chapter in her life, which is thrilling for her, nevertheless it takes her children a minute to get used to, in fact. And so she’s form of navigating all of that.
How do you navigate this new man you are in love with, after which the children ensuring that they are okay and vacation time and traditions? You’ve got bought new traditions and outdated traditions and tying these collectively.
I actually perceive all of that as the children become older and relationships change, and nonetheless by some means determining learn how to make all of it as magical as Christmas needs to be.
It form of jogs my memory of Good Witch with the interconnectedness of households and the way being part of a neighborhood can actually change their lives.
Completely.
Why do you suppose that message is one thing that we have to hear so typically?
God, sure. I imply, it’s. It is simply pertains to each one in every of us. Wherever you might be on the planet, no matter age or no matter you are doing together with your life, all of us want family and friends and people connections, even the individuals who suppose they do not. I imply, actually, we do. It is human nature.
It’s.
And discovering that it is such a gorgeous idea. I discover the older I get, the extra I notice how a lot I want that: my associates, my household.
It is humorous too, the idea, and we now have that on this movie, is like we now have our household that you just’re born with. You have got the blood household, and that is so necessary to remain linked to and maintain these relationships going. And generally that may be difficult, as one in every of our storylines within the film reveals.
However how do you continue to love these individuals regardless that they may drive you loopy and maintain that alive?
After which additionally you may have these new associates that we make that develop into household. All of us hopefully have that in our lives. You have got a greatest buddy that you’ve got recognized perpetually or perhaps a neighbor who you develop into so shut, after which they develop into household as nicely.
I feel all of these ideas are simply so lovely and necessary.
It is so humorous, I used to be really speaking to any individual about that at present and the way I’ve not recognized this individual for very lengthy in any respect. And I stated, “From the second we first began speaking and, at first, we solely met on-line,” I stated, “I simply felt linked. I simply knew you have been going to be one in every of my associates.”
I like that.
After which I watched this film, and I used to be like, “Oh my gosh, you are going to have to look at this, and you will know why.”
It is so cute. Yeah, precisely. Precisely.
It matches completely.
I’ve a buddy like that. She’s like my sister. We met, we have been going to the identical trip spot. It was really the Millennium New 12 months’s, so it was simply earlier than 2000.
We met in an airport, and she or he and her husband have been there and me and my husband. And we have been identical to, “I really feel like I’ve recognized you.”
We simply began chatting and we’re like, “Wait a minute. We’ll the identical place.” And subsequent factor you recognize, we ended up having associates in frequent and we have been greatest associates ever since, like a sister.
And that is it. That discovered household that you just create is simply so necessary. And I like when tales give attention to that.
Completely.
Type of the mixture, too, and Christmas on Cherry Lane has all of it proper.
Precisely. I am so glad you preferred it. We have been actually having enjoyable taking pictures it and studying it and simply listening to all of the totally different storylines and the way they arrive collectively. I find it irresistible.
And it additionally form of ties along with the Christmas custom of giving Hallmark ornaments.
Completely.
Did you may have a favourite Christmas custom or perhaps a favourite Hallmark decoration everytime you have been rising up?
I did. Truly, in my household, we at all times went to the Hallmark shops within the malls. I nonetheless have some from after I was a little bit woman. I at all times 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. After which, simply being part of the Hallmark household for therefore a few years, when my children have been youthful, Hallmark would at all times ship me the ornaments.
However I even have this one enormous snow globe. It is like an enormous Hallmark decoration, principally. And we convey it out each Christmas, and the children will find it irresistible. We nonetheless need to convey that. They’re all grown. They’re 20, they’re 13, however “The place’s the large snow globe?”
I am like, “Man’s, our home flooded. We’re in storage; we’re renting a spot. Do we actually have to get it?” And so they’re like, “Sure, go get it proper now.” [laughs]
I do. I’ve a little bit Snoopy.
You do? Oh yeah, the Snoopy.
Satirically, I even nonetheless have the little wee Hallmark field that it got here in. I do not even understand how I stored that each one these years.
No approach. That is wonderful.
However that is one thing that is simply by no means left.
Oh my God, that is so cute. And so they have the 12 months on them, and what an awesome little reminiscence, and also you get simply to convey them out yearly and put them again on the tree. It is so cute.
Hallmark can be very intelligent in introducing new concepts for Christmas traditions. And also you guys had a enjoyable scene that included wrapping a present blindfold. And I’ve bought 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 have been doing and making an attempt to avoid wasting the traces and fumble round and fumble appropriately the best way it is scripted. It is at all times a problem and at all times enjoyable. We positively had an excellent snort on that one.
I assumed that may be such a pleasant addition. So many Christmas traditions are extra of the sentimental sort, and that is simply one thing the place you form of get free and simply have an excellent time with the individuals round you.
After all, then there are additionally the people who find themselves going to get indignant as a result of they do not win, however nonetheless. [laughs]
Precisely.
And the way would you describe Christmas on Cherry Lane for individuals who are so keen to look at it?
I feel you are going to have to look at, simply get the complete story and the complete magic of all of it, in fact, as a result of, as we talked about, we won’t give an excessive amount of away.
However I feel it is nearly friendships, households, the chums that develop into households, the households we’re born with, how they have an effect on us and the way all of us interrelate, and simply the magic of Christmas and what all of which means for these households.
And if we will consider anyone in the case of magic, it will be the Good Witch!
Positively, you are proper there.
I need to thanks a lot for chatting with me at present, Catherine, and I can not await individuals to see this film.
I maintain saying that to everyone I speak with, however Hallmark has simply knocked it out of the park this 12 months with so many completely totally different storylines to maintain followers engaged. And I simply really feel such as you’re all so fortunate to be part of this season.
Completely. I actually really feel that approach at all times. It is simply so touching and heartwarming, and so many individuals I run into all over the place are so excited simply to proceed watching. They’re such good household, feel-good, beautiful reveals.
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 Alternative Affiliation, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will hear. Observe her on X and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.
