When Calls the Heart is getting a new cast member. Actor Billy Christos Jr. has been posting photos to Instagram from the set of Hallmark’s hit series.
“Hello my name is Toby. I’m on the set of my new TV show. Can you guess the show?” he wrote in a post.
Apart from his character’s name — Toby — Christos didn’t share much information. Some fans have speculated that since he is a child, Christos will be one of the students at Hope Valley’s school.
A new face
Christos has had roles in the TV shows Peacemaker and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He will also appear in the soon-to-be-released series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.
The actor wasted no time sharing photos from the Hope Valley set.
“My very first day on the set of When Calls the Heart and I was sharing a scene with this acting legend,” he wrote in the caption of a photo with Jack Wagner, who plays Bill Avery in the series.
“I loved hanging out with one of the nicest guys in Hope Valley, the Mayor,” he wrote in the caption of a pic with Ben Rosenbaum, who plays Mike Hickam.
He also shared pics of himself with Johanna Newmarch (Molly Sullivan), Amanda Wong (Mei Suo), and Erin Krakow (Elizabeth Thornton).
In one sweet post, he shared a photo of the set with the caption, “Sometimes when I’m on the set of @wcth_tv and I look around, it feels magical with a lot of history and a lot more stories to unfold…”
When Calls the Heart
When Calls the Heart is Hallmark’s longest-running original series. The show, which is based on the novels by Canadian author Janette Oke, follows the small mining community of Hope Valley. It premiered on Hallmark Channel in 2014 and soon developed a loyal following.
In a recent interview, Erin Krakow said she feels so fortunate to be a part of the series.
“People have asked me over the years, do you ever get bored playing the same character on a show that has been around for this many seasons? And the answer is really no,” she told TV Fanatic. “I mean, one because I just have a great time with our cast and crew. But, two, because Hallmark and our writers and showrunners over the years have given me a great gift in that Elizabeth has never become stagnant. It isn’t repetitive. It’s a real honest depiction of a woman going through these various chapters in her life.”
Season 10 of When Calls the Heart will premiere on Hallmark Channel on July 30.
Andie MacDowell as Del Landry
No stranger to Hallmark audiences, MacDowell played Judge Olivia Lockhart on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove from 2013 to 2015. Based on the books by Debbie Macomber, the show followed the residents of a small town on Puget Sound in Washington State. The ensemble cast also included Sarah Smyth, Dylan Neal, Teryl Rothery, Brennan Elliott, Barbara Niven, Cindy Busby, and Jesse Hutch.
A native of Gaffney, South Carolina, MacDowell worked as a model before being cast in the 1984 movie Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. Audiences never got to hear her voice in the movie as the producers decided her South Carolina accent was too pronounced and dubbed her lines using Glenn Close.
She had a small role in St. Elmo’s Fire but her breakout role was in Steven Soderbergh’s 1989 film Sex, Lies, and Videotape. MacDowell’s performance was so impressive she was nominated for a Golden Globe. She went on to star in Green Card with Gerard Depardieu, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, and Four Weddings and a Funeral with Hugh Grant.
Chyler Leigh as Kat Landry
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Chyler Leigh began modeling as a teenager. Her breakout role was in the 2001 comedy Not Another Teen Movie. In 2007, she joined the cast of the hit series Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Lexie Grey, the half-sister of Ellen Pompeo’s character, Dr. Meredith Grey. From 2015 to 2021, Leigh appeared in the DC comics superhero series Supergirl.
Leigh has been an outspoken advocate for people affected by mental illness. At the age of 29, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has used her social media platform to help others struggling with mental health issues.
Soon after Hallmark announced that The Way Home was coming to TV, Leigh shared an Instagram post saying she was excited about the show.
“Took time off to work hard on myself,” she wrote. “It’s not been easy. Letting go of the past can be quick or a lifelong journey. But it’s a journey that is so so worth the climb. My thanks to those who have helped me along the way. I’m standing on a new mountain top and am so excited for what’s on the horizon. @hallmarkchannel #TheWayHome #KatLandry … here we go.”
Sadie Laflamme-Snow as Alice
Newcomer Sadie Laflamme-Snow will portray Alice, a rebellious teen who becomes enthralled by the mystery she finds in her mother’s hometown.
A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s acting program, Laflamme-Snow has appeared in the TV series Game On and the movies Love Triangle Nightmare and Sinister Switch.
Evan Williams as Elliott
Actor Evan Williams will portray the role of Elliott Augustine, Kat’s childhood friend who teaches science at the town’s high school. Though he is not in many of the promotional materials Hallmark has released for the show, Elliott plays a crucial role in helping the Landry women deal with past circumstances.
He also has a major crush on Kat, meaning there’s a potential for romance. (Yay!)
Hallmark audiences might recognize Williams as Corey from the Full House re-boot Fuller House. He also starred in the romantic comedies A Date by Christmas Eve and Christmas Takes Flight.
The Way Home will premiere on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, January 15 at 9/8c.
