Actress Isabella Ward chatted about starring in her new vertical drama “Did You Have to Be a Hockey Star?” where she worked opposite Tyler Scherer.
She also opened up about being a part of the digital age.
How was your experience in “Did You Have to be a Hockey Star?”
“Did You Have to Be a Hockey Star?” was my third production with CandyJar, and by now their sets genuinely feel like home.
They cultivate such a supportive, collaborative community, and everyone involved is incredibly skilled and passionate about elevating this new digital space.
I had worked with almost the entire team before, so it felt like getting to spend the day with friends while doing what I love.
This vertical in particular had that fun early-2000s rom-com energy, and I was excited to dive into something grounded and real while still leaning into the playful tropes that make the vertical genre so entertaining.
What did you like most about your character?
Ohhh, Kate the Great. I absolutely loved playing her — partly because she and I share so many qualities.
She is fiercely independent and unapologetically ambitious, with a really clear sense of who she is and where she’s going. But what fascinates me most is the emotional architecture underneath that strength.
There’s a softness there, but it’s protected, and you have to genuinely earn access to it.
She doesn’t trust easily — she’s been underestimated, dismissed, and burned before — and yet she continues to show up, push forward, and assert herself in spaces that weren’t built for her. To me, she’s the definition of “doing it despite.”
What I enjoyed most was exploring her evolution. Watching that carefully constructed ice-queen exterior begin to melt away revealing a playful, tender ‘lover-girl’ side was so satisfying.
It gave me the chance to balance strength with vulnerability, which is always the most exciting space to play in as an actor.
What was it like working with Tyler Scherer as your leading man?
Tyler and I first met on my very first CandyJar project, Chasing Kiarra, and the chemistry and mutual respect were immediate. He showed up with the same energy I value — ‘Let’s make this the best we possibly can. Let’s ground it in something real.’
I’ve worked with actors who treat verticals as if they don’t require the same level of craft, but Tyler is the opposite.
He approaches the work with intention, depth, and a real sense of play. He creates such a safe, collaborative environment, and that allows us both to take risks and really explore the material.
He has become one of my favorite scene partners — and honestly, a dear friend. I know we’ll be working together for a long time.
How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age?
This is such an interesting question for me, because my career has taken so many shapes, colors, and pivots.
I started as a classically trained ballerina, then moved into musical theatre, studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Right out of college I moved to New York, booked my very first audition, and spent two years on the Broadway National Tour of Cinderella.
It was during that time I realized I didn’t want to dance anymore — I wanted to transition into TV and film, even though I had no idea how to do it.
Booking Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, felt like the perfect bridge between my theatre background and the film world.
I spent eight months on that set and genuinely believed it would change everything. Then the pandemic hit, the strikes hit, and suddenly the doors I thought would open simply weren’t appearing.
When verticals first entered the conversation, I’ll be honest — I resisted. Coming from such strong classical training, I didn’t know how to reconcile that world with this new format.
I’ve come to understand that the digital age gives actors something incredibly rare: access. Visibility. A platform where your work can actually be seen when you’re starting out.
I truly believe that if you bring real craft and intention to the table, it shines through in any genre or format. Actors get to be part of elevating the medium instead of looking down on it.
This new digital landscape also allows you to organically build a fan base that already responds to the work you’re creating. And whether we like to admit it or not… it matters.
Talent is not enough — there are so many talented, beautiful people out there. But having an audience already invested in you helps you stand out, and actors can use that to their advantage.
It is democratized in a way that traditional media never was. You can reach people instantly, and that changes the game.
What do you love most about vertical dramas?
Bear with me on this, but I actually think vertical dramas today have a lot in common with commedia dell’arte.
They’re fast, accessible, archetype-driven stories that some people dismiss as ‘less serious,’ when in reality — when done well — they require precision, clarity, and real craft.
Commedia was considered lowbrow in its time, yet it became foundational to theater. I think verticals have a similar potential to evolve and be taken seriously, and honestly, we’re already starting to see that happen.
What I love most is that verticals let you escape into a heightened world that feels inconsequential in the best way. The World is so heavy right now — everything we read, everything we carry.
Having even an hour of pure escape, where you can just feel entertained and connected, is necessary. And if we can bring real artistry to that space, even better.
What do your plans for the future include?
I honestly try not to plan too rigidly. My dad always told me, ‘Life happens when you’re busy making plans,’ and I’ve lived much of my life by that advice.
Usually, what unfolds ends up being greater than anything I could have imagined. I trust that what’s meant for me will come, as long as I stay open and prepared.
Of course, I have dreams — I want to keep expanding my craft, reaching more audiences, and taking on projects that challenge me both as an artist and as a person.
I truly believe my bigger break is coming and want to get to the place where people are excited to see my work on the Big Screen.
Until then, my ‘plan,’ if you want to call it that, is really about finding peace in the present while actively building the future I hope for.
What is your advice for young and emerging actors?
Never stop learning. Go to acting class (a good one). Be cringy. Explore boredom. Have a full life outside of the industry, so you have something real to offer it.
If an opportunity comes your way, no matter how small it seems, take it — and make it big.
What does the word success mean to you? (My favorite question)
Success to me is, how at peace you are with your life today. Not the life you had yesterday or potentially, will have to tomorrow. Success is being proud of who you are in the now.
What would you like to say to your fans?
Thank you all for watching and supporting me — it truly means everything. No matter how old I get, I’m still just a little girl chasing her dream, and the fact that you’re already along for the ride makes it even more exciting. It’s just the start!
To learn more about Isabella Ward, follow her on Instagram.
