HEARTLAND Star Thinks This is the Secret to Show’s Success
By Movieguide® Contributor
HEARTLAND’s Amber Marshall says the show is “a breath of fresh air” for viewers looking for something different than the usual fare they see on TV.
“It’s amazing being with the project for so long and you kind of — not that my view of the project has changed at all, but I do believe it’s because of the wholesome values that HEARTLAND portrays, as well as, it’s kind of just a breath of fresh air,” Marshall said in an interview with Trailblazher Co.
She continued, “There’s a lot of scripted television shows out there that keep you on the edge of your seat, but sometimes in a way that gives you anxiety…the thing I love about HEARTLAND, and that so many people have shared with me over the years, is that it’s just comfortable…you don’t feel that anxiety.”
Marshall shared that many viewers continue to come back to HEARTLAND because “‘it makes me feel good, and it makes me feel inspired and positive and that I can really get through anything,’ and I think that’s really what the show is about.”
“I believe that watching HEARTLAND, seeing those connections…really helps ground you,” she said. “That’s something that you don’t feel a lot when you’re watching television.”
Movieguide® previously reported on Marshall’s feelings about HEARTLAND’s themes:
The actress said the show’s stunning outdoor sets have “a warmth” in them that matches the themes of the show, adding, “The whole idea of HEARTLAND is this nice, family contentment and it’s found right here.”
She elaborated on HEARTLAND’s longevity and popularity with fans in an interview with TV Insider.
“I think fans are really looking for a nice, wholesome, family show that they can sit down together and watch and not be worried about the content. Not have to explain things to their kids,” Marshall explained. “That is their common thread. It’s something we can all enjoy and sit and talk about. In such a fast-paced world, where so many people are separated by devices and technology. Everybody is very disconnected, but they can still get together to sit and watch our show together.”
Marshall also talked about her acting career and how she came to settle in Alberta, Canada, where HEARTLAND is set and filmed.
“I never really thought of [acting] as a career,” she explained. “I thought I was going to be a veterinarian.”
After scoring her role on HEARTLAND and deciding that she would seriously pursue acting, Marshall decided to move to Alberta.
“In Season 2, I relocated full-time to Alberta and rented an acreage, and it just felt right,” she said. “I had some chickens and a dog and, you know, it just felt like home right away.”
Marshall continued, “I love where I’m living, I love the people that I work with, and fortunately, people love the show. There’s just this neighborly sense of community and family and friendship that’s out there…After being here, I’m like, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
She talked further about her life in Alberta in a post on her blog.
“Feeling completely at home in the west I fully relocated myself in 2009, and purchased a small farm outside of Calgary, Alberta and a year later I met my husband, Shawn,” she wrote. “We were married at our quaint farm property in 2013, surrounded by friends, family and the many animals who we opened our home to. I give thanks to my busy youth and finding the balance of working, having animals and keeping up with my responsibilities.”
HEARTLAND was renewed for an eighteenth season in May 2024.
“No official Season 18 release date has been announced, but based on the show’s history, we have a fairly good idea of when new episodes might debut in the United States,” Decider wrote. “The upcoming season is currently filming and is expected to premiere in Canada this fall. We expect the show to debut in the United States on Up Faith & Family in mid-2025, with our best guess being April or May.”