Cindy Busby is beloved by millions of fans for her portrayal of Ashley on Heartland for the past seventeen years. The actress is bringing her talents to the new PureFlix/GAC When Calls the Heart spinoff series When Hope Calls. Read on to find out her thoughts about the new series and being reunited with Christopher Russell.
Hope
Bryan: When did you first decide to pursue a career in acting, and how was the news received by your family and friends?
Cindy: I feel like it’s always been a part of me. When I was a kid, I would play dress up, write stories, and memorize the actor’s lines in the movies I’d watch. I’ve always had an affinity with performance and playing characters. When I started doing theatre in elementary school that’s when I fell in love with the entire process and never looked back. My parents and family have always been supportive, although I don’t think any of them quite knew how serious I was about it at first. As long as I’m happy with what I’m doing, my family always roots for me.
Bryan: Since you were a theater major in college, was that an area you wanted to focus on, or were you open to pursuing film and television as well? Would you like to return to the stage?
Cindy: I graduated from the 3-year professional theatre program at Dawson College in Montreal, which primarily focused on the performance along with lots of behind-the-scenes crew work. I always knew that theatre was my gateway to TV and movies, but I didn’t know how I was gonna get there. I didn’t know anyone in the industry growing up, so I had to figure it out on my own. I’m grateful for my tenacity because it’s taught me so much about myself and given me strength. I would love to do a play on stage again at some point. Theatre requires a lot more commitment for a longer period of time, and TV and film is usually more unpredictable, so it would have to be the right project at the right time.
Bryan: Your longest role to date has been on Heartland, where you starred as Ashley from 2007-2023. What did you like the most about your experience on the show and your character?
Cindy: I’m one of the founding characters of Heartland and was grateful to get to be on the show for over 50 episodes, throughout the years. Ashley is a character I had a really great feeling about when I initially auditioned for the show. I felt like I had what it took to take the journey with her. Ashley has so many layers, flaws, and a strong character arc. She changed a lot, and in many ways, I grew along with her. It was a lot of fun to get to play an antagonist character, who audiences love to hate but hate to love. Ashley grew on people. Being on a show for a long time is the best “acting school” you can go t,o and what you learn is truly valuable. The cast and crew became like a second family to me.
Bryan: Your most recent project, When Hope Calls, debuts April 3rd on PureFlix and April 6th on Great American Family. What can you tell us about Nora?
Cindy: Nora is a lawyer who recently left her practice in San Francisco and finds out she has 2 nieces in Brookfield that she never knew existed, so she goes on a journey there in hopes of finding a connection now that the rest of her family has passed away. In Brookfield, Nora finds community, something she has been longing for. She decides to help out at ‘New Hope’ Orphanage and grows quite fond of the children there. She doesn’t have a family of her own yet, so when she bumps into Mountie Fletcher, sparks fly between them and seemingly have found their match. Nora is strong, smart, independent, loving, and loyal. This new beginning is exactly what she needed.
Bryan: How has it been doing a period piece, and what were some of the things you had to learn in order to play someone in the 1920s?
Cindy: We’ve certainly come a long way in the last 100 years. The 1920s doesn’t seem that long ago, and yet so much has changed. I had to learn how to ‘drive’ a horse and wagon for the show, which was surprisingly more challenging than you would think. I made sure to do my research about manners and etiquette. Simple things like how to sit, speak, and hold my hands. In Brookfield, Nora physically runs into Mountie Fletcher many times, so I kept in mind what it would have been like for men and women to be in close proximity like that back then. The costume, hair, and makeup certainly helped me feel like Nora, and the set felt like I’d traveled back in time, and that made it easier to feel like I was really there.
Bryan: You have worked with your leading man, Christopher Russell, before. How did this role come about and what is it like reestablishing chemistry while playing entirely new characters?
Cindy: Christopher Russell and I have worked together 4 times before When Hope Calls. We both had no idea that either of us was auditioning to work alongside one another, so when Chris texted me out of the blue, and told me that he knew that I was up for the part, I just about fell down. I was thrilled! Getting to work with a friend, someone who is not only talented, but kind, prepared and fun, is a dream come true. As an actor every story and character is going to be different. It’s important to do your work and research before you get to set and hope that it fits with your costars. In this case, it did! The costumes, the story, the set, and the time period all helped fabricate something between us that we’d never done before. I know audiences have loved us together in previous projects, and I have no doubt that When Hope Calls will be no different.
Bryan: I know each character is special, but is there one that you played that sticks closest to your heart?
Cindy: Getting to play Elizabeth in Unleashing Mr Darcy [which also starred GH alum Ryan Paevey (Nathan)] was a life-changing experience because it was my first lead in a movie. It paved the way for me in so many ways and has continued to open doors. It was one of those moments that I look back on, and I’m thankful for every single day.
Bryan: We met and had our first interview at Christmas Con this past December, which is a weekend of wonderful fan interactions. What has their support meant to you?
Cindy: The Christmas Con experience is truly like no other, and the people who go are one of a kind. It’s a weekend filled with so much love, laughter, and sometimes tears, because the stories I get to be a part of really touches people’s lives. That’s my biggest takeaway. Growing up in the theatre, there’s a certain immediate gratification you get from the audition’s reactions while being on set is far removed, so getting to meet everyone at Christmas Con is a reminder of what the work I’m a part of means to so many. I’m so grateful that we get to chat and create special in-person memories together.
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