Actor Cindy Busby Returns for the Much-Anticipated Second Installment of "When Hope Calls" Series
Get pumped up, y'all! After a lengthy hiatus, we're diving back into the heartwarming small town of Brookfield with the revival of When Hope Calls, the beloved spin-off from the iconic When Calls the Heart series. This season is sure to bring tears, laughter, and all the feels, airing Sunday nights on its new network, Great American Family.
The latest installment to the world of Janette Oke's novels centers around siblings Lillian (Morgan Kohan) and Grace (Jocelyn Hudon). Years apart due to tragic circumstances, they reunite as adults and open up an orphanage together in Brookfield. While this isn't their first taste of small-screen fame, it's their second chance to captivate our hearts.
First making an appearance on Hallmark's streaming service back in 2019, it unfortunately got canned after just one season. But fear not, friends! Great American Family rescued the show and bestowed upon us a delightful two-part Christmas special, When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas, in 2021.
Now, we're returning to Brookfield in 1916, where Lillian is preparing to aid Grace in England with her pregnancy. Temporarily leaving the orphanage and the man she adores, Mountie Gabriel (who's also been called away on duty), behind, Lillian's dedication to her love and family shines through in their tender letters. With Gabriel away, a new enigmatic figure, Mountie Michael Fletcher, nicely portrayed by Christopher Russell, joins the town's wonderful divergence of characters. Adding more intrigue, a secret-laden lawyer, brilliantly played by Cindy Busby, sets foot in Brookfield. Take a gander at the trailer below:
Busby, whose performances left Hallmark fans swooning in Heartland, eloquently explains what drew her to her character, Nora Anderson. "I was immediately captivated by the chance to embody a woman who was so ahead of her time, strong, smart, and loving. I loved being able to encompass the multi-faceted aspects of her, especially in a simpler era, one that presented its own unique challenges and obstacles," she shared with Southern Living.
As any period drama fan knows, the clothing is as much a character in the story as the actors themselves. "To be technical," Busby laughed, "the shoes were THE ULTIMATE challenge. They were thin and freezing-cold toes were just part of the job!"
Fasten your seatbelts, Hopefuls, because When Hope Calls is back in the saddle for a second season, premiering on Great American Family April 6. And for those of you who can't get enough of your small-screen fix, don't forget to stream it on Great American Pure Flix!
[1] Busby's character, Nora Anderson, is a lawyer, serving as a strong and smart woman for the time period.[2] Nora's personal storyline delves into her earlier life as an orphan, seeking a sense of belonging in Brookfield.[3] The role of Nora allows Busby to explore portraying a character in a simpler yet challenging era, marrying love, strength, and intelligence.
- In the second season of When Hope Calls, Cindy Busby's character, Nora Anderson, brings to life a strong and smart woman for the time period.
- Nora Anderson's personal storyline in When Hope Calls delves into her adoption and her search for belonging in Brookfield.
- Busby's portrayal of Nora Anderson offers an opportunity to explore the depiction of a character who embodies love, strength, and intelligence in a simpler yet challenging era.
- Southern Living spoke with Busby, who shared that the clothing in the show, much like the characters themselves, becomes a significant element in the story.
- Busy revealed that the shoes worn in the show were the biggest challenge, requiring her to endure freezing-cold toes on set.
