Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker. Lindsay Siu/Hallmark Media
Conserving it actual! Curious Caterer costars Nikki DeLoach and Andrew Walker are nonetheless staff Hallmark after a few of the community’s stars moved in 2021 and 2022 to Nice American Media.
“Let’s begin with the household that’s Hallmark,” DeLoach, 43, completely advised Us Weekly on Wednesday, February 1, whereas selling her and Walker’s second thriller movie collectively, Curious Caterer: Grilling Season. “I’ve been lucky sufficient to work on a number of completely different networks … that is the one community I’ve ever labored at in my 30-something years of being on this trade the place you actually are household from the highest all over.”
The Cranberry Christmas actress added: “I don’t know many networks the place you possibly can choose up the cellphone and name the top of the community or attain out to any and all executives.”
Andrew Walker and Nikki DeLoach. Allister Foster/Hallmark Media
Hallmark Media made headlines in January 2020 when its former CEO Invoice Abbott left the corporate following a controversial selection to tug a same-sex business from the community. He launched Nice American Media — which incorporates Nice American Household — one 12 months later and lots of of Hallmark’s massive stars adopted him, together with Candace Cameron Bure and Danica McKellar.
DeLoach, nevertheless, signed an unique, multi-picture total take care of Hallmark Media in December 2022. Walker, in the meantime, introduced his unique multi-picture contract with the community in April 2022.
“I feel on this trade, you both evolve otherwise you die otherwise you simply, like, get left behind. And I feel that’s what Hallmark has been doing they usually’re leaders on this [industry], particularly with these unimaginable girls that are actually operating this firm,” the Three Smart Males and a Child actor, 43, advised Us on Wednesday. “There [are] some actually fascinating issues that they’re taking over. We’ve identical intercourse marriage [stories]. We’ve biracial relationships. It’s what our world [looks like].”
Walker famous that “these are actual tales” being portrayed by equally as advanced actors.
“I feel that’s one thing that Hallmark has actually put ahead is that they wish to inform actual tales about actual individuals with that very same, like, coronary heart and heat and familiarity that you simply get in a Hallmark film,” the Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum defined. “I feel that’s the great thing about working for this community. It’s simply in unimaginable what they’ve accomplished thus far. Really feel honored.”
DeLoach agreed together with her longtime good friend — who she has starred alongside in 4 rom-coms along with the Curious Caterer franchise.
“There may be this true household unit that exists within all of us. We’re such cheerleaders for the opposite individuals. We help one another’s motion pictures. We wish the perfect for everyone,” the Awkward alum advised Us of the Hallmark Media model. “We’re all pals. We hang around collectively. We do life collectively. We work collectively. We mourn collectively. I’ve by no means skilled that at every other community.”
She continued: “It seems like that old style, like, Hollywood studio system the place they’d their actors that simply rotated in all of the completely different motion pictures that they made. I really feel like that’s what Hallmark has created right here.”
DeLoach, who has labored as a producer and author on a number of Hallmark movies, added that the fanbase for these feel-good motion pictures is the cherry on prime.
“Hallmark followers are not like every other followers I’ve ever had the present of interacting with. There’s a lot coronary heart. They’re actually a mirrored image of the content material that we create on this community,” the Taking the Reins actress stated. “They’re so loving and so supportive. I’m so grateful to have the ability to be part of this community. It has been a really one of many biggest presents in my life.”
Walker, alternatively, identified how uncommon Hallmark Media’s success is within the leisure trade — and the way its longevity has helped him department out into changing into a producer as nicely.
“It’s clearly one thing that all of us speak about because the core actors on this community, the present that we’ve been given to have the ability to work on a community that cares a lot so deeply for his or her followers and the content material they’re placing on the market,” the 27-Hour Day actor advised Us. “Everyone feels supported. There’s no competitors amongst us.”
Curious Caterer: Grilling Season premieres on Hallmark Films & Mysteries Sunday, February 5, at 7 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Kat Pettibone
