Acclaimed actress Barbara Niven (“Chesapeake Shores”) chatted about starring in “Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery.”
Niven stars alongside Alison Sweeney (“Days of Our Lives”) and Cameron Mathison (“General Hospital”). This new original movie will premiere on Friday, May 19 on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Sweeney also serves as an executive producer.
On being a part of this film, she said, “It was so good. This cast, what we do and the characters we play is probably my favorite of all. Ali Sweeney feels like another one of my daughters, and we just have a blast. As I read the scripts, I can hear her saying her lines, and I can hear my character Delores saying hers.”
“We are just very excited to share this movie with the viewers,” she added. “This is my character’s favorite mystery. Delores actually gets to be a part of the process, and she doesn’t have to look out from the sidelines, and I think viewers are going to really love that.”
Pat Williams directed from a script by Salmons. It is based on Joanne Fluke’s novel “Carrot Cake Murder.” Gabriel Hogan (“Heartland”) from the original cast
also returns in this latest installment.
“Gabriel is in the picture there too, so watch out. I think the fans will be surprised and they will laugh a lot. I don’t think they will figure out who did it until the end of the movie,” she said.
The synopsis is: The discovery of a skeleton amid the rubble of a building undergoing renovation reveals that one of Lake Eden’s beloved citizens is not who he claimed to be.
Much to the dismay of her fiancé, Detective Mike Kingston (Cameron Mathison), Hannah (Alison Sweeney) begins to investigate the case on her own. “Cameron is one of the doll babies of all time,” she said. “You would think as handsome and accomplished as he is, he would have an attitude, but he has never had an attitude and I have worked with him many times over the years. Cameron is such a wonderful family guy,” she said.
As she tries to piece together the events that led to the murder and tries to learn the victim’s true identity, Hannah even calls on her mother Delores (Barbara Niven) as she works to bring the killer to justice and uncover the truth.
On playing Delores, Niven said, “Delores says and does things, that I, as Barbara, would never actually do, and I’m a mom.”
Niven had great words about being a part of “Chesapeake Shores” and the Hallmark family. “‘Chesapeake Shores’ was to die for. The fans have been incredibly supportive,” she said. “Hallmark is my dream come true because it fits me so well. I actually am a Hallmark watcher just like the other viewers.”
The digital age
On being an actress in the digital age, at a time when streaming and technology are so prevalent, Niven said, “I love to be able to stream and share the experience better with the viewers. Right before ‘Carrot Cake Mystery’ airs on Friday night, I will do a Facebook Live with Cameron Mathison, Gabriel Hogan, and Alison Sweeney. The fans can live tweet with us as well.”
“Social media gives you more opportunities to connect with your fans. Social media can be good or bad depending on your attitude and how you work it. If you use it in the right way, it’s a great tool for connection,” she said.
Niven opened up about how being on a soap opera veteran, and how that experience has helped her in the Hallmark world. “Being on a soap opera felt like being in a bootcamp. You learn to memorize fast. Sometimes, I had 55 pages of a script in a day, and you repeat that every day of the week, and it’s incredible. You get a little panic mode but you also sharpen up your tools,” she said.
“Being able to do what you love is such a blessing,” she acknowledged.
Advice for hopefuls in acting
For young and aspiring actors, she said, “I really think if acting is your dream you have to try it. Don’t put pressure trying to make a living out of it because that is hard to do. Also, don’t give up five minutes before the miracle because if you do a little of it every single day (as a want to and as a love), you will be happy.”
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Niven said, “A time of reflection and reboot again in a new space and time.” That’s what I am doing right now and I am enjoying this time in my life, it is absolutely delicious. I am living life right now, as well as my grandkids and acting. I just feel so grateful and blessed,” she said.
Success
On her definition of the word success, Niven said, “Success doesn’t mean money… At the end of your life, success means looking back on your legacy, and if you have created it with love, and your children are standing on your shoulders and going farther than you ever did.”
To learn more about veteran actress Barbara Niven, follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
