I am thrilled to share with you all today - my
Interview with well known actress, author, and host,
Alison Sweeney! Many of you adore her, as I do, in
Hallmark's "Murder She Baked" Mystery series, as baker Hannah Swensen. This time around, Alison has cooked up something new and brought the book:
The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Cafe by Mary Simses, to Hallmark, where they worked together and turned it into the movie:
"The Irresistible Blueberry Farm"!
Here's a synopsis of "The Irresistible Blueberry Farm", via Hallmark: "
High-powered Manhattan attorney, Ellen Branford (Alison Sweeney), is going to fulfill her grandmother’s (Shirley Jones) dying wish—to find the hometown boy she once loved and give him her last letter. When Ellen leaves her Kennedy-esque fiancé, Hayden Croft (Kavan Smith), to go to Beacon, Maine, she expects to have a quick twenty-four-hour stay. But a near-drowning experience leads her to become a local celebrity and introduces her to a man named Roy (Marc Blucas), a carpenter who saves her life. As Ellen learns more about the past her grandmother has kept hidden and works to bring closure to her quest, she may find that a twenty-four-hour visit to Beacon will never be enough."
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INTERVIEW
ACTRESS
ALISON SWEENEY
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Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: Welcome to ‘It’s a Wonderful Movie’, where we chat about family movies on TV! Please tell us, Alison, about your character, Ellen Branford, in “The Irresistible Blueberry Farm?”
Alison Sweeney: ELLEN IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A WOMAN WHO THINKS SHE’S HAPPY UNTIL SHE FINDS REAL HAPPINESS IN AN UNEXPECTED PLACE THAT CHANGES HER LIFE, HER PRIORIRITES AND SHOWS HER TRUE HAPPINESS.
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: What was it like to work with your co-stars: Marc Blucas (“Operation Christmas”) and the amazing Shirley Jones (“The Music Man,” “The Partridge Family”)?
Alison Sweeney: WHEN WE CAST SHIRLEY JONES TO PLAY MY GRANDMOTHER, I WAS ECSTATIC. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE FAN OF HERS AND, NOW HAVING WORKED TOGETHER, I’M AN EVEN BIGGER FAN. AS FOR MARC, HE WAS A DREAM – WE HAD A BLAST TALKING ABOUT BASKETBALL AND THE ‘80S, LEARNING SWING DANCING AND FINDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR CHARACTERS. THE CAST WAS ALL INCREDIBLE TO WORK WITH AND I MISS SEEING THEM DAILY.
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: Since the title of your movie is “Irresistible Blueberry Farm”, and I know you have shared your love of blueberries (I love ‘em, too!) on Instagram… How important, overall, is healthy eating & exercise to you – with your busy schedule?
Alison Sweeney: I WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN MY BUSY LIFESTYLE WITHOUT BEING HEALTHY. OVER THE YEARS, I’VE LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO EAT RIGHT, WORK OUT AND GET PLENTY OF REST. WITH BLUEBERRIES, I CAN ALWAYS HAVE A FRESH BOWL IN MY REFRIGERATOR AND DRIED ONES IN MY FREEZER AND KNOW THAT I HAVE A HEALTHY GO-TO SNACK READY AT ALL TIMES.
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Cameron Mathison, Alison Sweeney, and Gabriel Hogan in "Murder She Baked"
Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss |
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Actresses Barbara Niven, Alison Sweeney, and Lisa Durupt in "Murder She Baked"
Credit: Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Bettina Strauss |
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: You are, of course, well known from your role on “Days of Our Lives” as Samantha "Sami" Brady, but I must say how much Hallmark fans (including myself!) enjoy watching you in the on-going Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series “Murder She Baked” as baker Hannah Swensen! When I interviewed
Cameron Mathison and
Lisa Durupt for “Murder She Baked,” they both spoke very highly of working with you. Please share what it is like to work with them and Barbara Niven, who portrays your "caring" Mother, plus Gabriel Hogan, Toby Levins, and Juliana Wimbles! Any clues as to when we might be able to see the next “Murder She Baked” on Hallmark?
Alison Sweeney: SO GLAD YOU’RE A FAN TOO! WORKING WITH EVERYONE ON MURDER SHE BAKED HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. I’M SO FORTUNATE TO CONSISTENTLY HAVE PROJECTS WHERE I’VE GOTTEN TO WORK WITH SUPPORTIVE ACTORS THAT BECOME FRIENDS. I’M A FAN OF THEIR WORK AND OF EACH OF THEM PERSONALLY.
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Alison Sweeney in Hallmark Movie SECOND CHANCES
Credit: Copyright 2013 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Tracey Morris |
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: Incredibly, “The Irresistible Blueberry Farm” will be your seventh Hallmark movie! How is this one different than your other projects? Do you plan or hope to do even more Hallmark movies in the future?
Alison Sweeney: WITH THIS PROJECT, AND LOVE ON THE AIR, THEY WERE BOTH PROJECTS THAT I SOLD TO HALLMARK SO THERE WAS AN ADDED LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT PHASE. WITH ALL OF MY PROJECTS, I’VE LOVED BEING A PRODUCER AND STARRING IN THEM BECAUSE OF THE GREAT STORIES, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND FEEDBACK THAT THE FANS GIVE ME. I HOPE TO FIND MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK WITH THE CHANNELS ON ROMCOMS AND CONTINUING TO ENTERTAIN THEIR VIEWERS AND MY FANS.
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: Do you have a favorite scene or memorable filming moment in “The Irresistible Blueberry Farm”?
Alison Sweeney: I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE STUNT OF FALLING IN THE OCEAN WAS SO MUCH FUN. IN SPITE OF THE FREEZING WATER, I COULDN’T HAVE IMAGINED SOMEONE ELSE DOING THAT FOR ME WITH MY BEING DRY (AND WARM) ON THE SIDELINE.
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: What does it mean to you – to create movies that families can watch together on Hallmark?
Alison Sweeney: AS THE MOTHER OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND A FAN OF FAMILY VIEWING, MAKING MOVIES THAT MY KIDS CAN WATCH WITH ME IS VERY IMPORTANT. THESE MOVIES AND MY UPCOMING SPECIALS FOR FOOD NETWORK ARE EVEN MORE SPECIAL BECAUSE I CAN WATCH THEM WITH BEN AND MEGAN.
Net, It's a Wonderful Movie: What do you hope viewers will take away from watching your Hallmark movie “The Irresistible Blueberry Farm?”
Alison Sweeney: WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD, I HOPE VIEWERS ARE GIVEN A CHANCE TO TAKE TIME TO BE ENTERTAINED WITH A FUN ROMCOM. I’LL BE ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK SO I HOPE THEY LET ME KNOW THEIR FAVORITE PARTS!
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Actress Alison Sweeney in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Film
"The Irresistible Blueberry Farm"
Photo Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer |
Alison's SOCIALS:
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/ali_sweeney
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/alisweeney
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alisweeneyofficial
Thank you so much, Alison Sweeney...
for doing this interview with me at “It’s a Wonderful Movie”! It has been such a delight to have this opportunity to chat with you! We look forward to this Hallmark movie project and many more!!!
You were very brave to do your own movie stunt... we'll be certain to keep a look out for it in the movie! I'm totally with you, on keeping active and living a healthy lifestyle. I always feel my best and work my best - when I fuel my body with wholesome, healthy foods... that's why I loved the recipe you shared this week on Hallmark's Home & Family.
Here is the recipe (below), with an extra recipe- for all of you, who love blueberries, too...!
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PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright 2016 Crown Media Family Networks
Photographer: Jeremy Lee |
Alison’s Healthy Blueberry Ice Cream
Ingredients:
2 frozen bananas, chopped. (Make sure to chop them before freezing, freeze for at least 2 hours)
1 cup of frozen blueberries
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise (Be sure to scrape down the sides of the blender to make sure all the ingredients fully blend in for ultimate creaminess)
Directions:
Combine in a powerful blender or food processor.
And, here's a Blueberry recipe from our Kitchen (from Bob's Red Mill!)...
Blueberry Smoothie
1/2 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup Pomegranate Juice
1 cup Blueberries
2 Tbsp.
Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed Meal
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender.
Fix yourself some healthy blueberry ice cream or a smoothie and watch...
Alison Sweeney host and judge on the all new
"Kids Halloween Baking Championship" when it airs Wednesday, October 5 at 8pm ET on Food Network!
And, be certain to watch...
when it airs Sunday, October 2 at 9pm/8c.
on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries!
(1963, Shirley Jones) ... TCM ... 11 PM
(1955, Shirley Jones) ... TCM ... 3 AM
, starring Pat Boone and Shirley Jones. It's a beautiful story about finding redemption, promise, and love... when a young man, (Pat Boone) gets in trouble with the law and is sent on probation to his Aunt and Uncle's Kentucky horse farm, where he meets a sweet local girl (Shirley Jones). 
on DVD, but can be seen on TV (see listings below!). Please, 
. Includes the beautiful theme song, 
