Kat Harlton
Ann Pirvu appears in “The Heiress and the Handyman” a new, original movie premiering Saturday, September 14 (8 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel (US) and on W Network (CAN) as part of the network’s annual “Fall Into Love” movie event. Ann portrays Nina, Bart’s (Corey Sevier) sister.
I had the opportunity to chat with Ann about her role, what she hopes the audience connects with and what’s next.
Kat: You’re in a new Hallmark Channel movie called “The Heiress and The Handyman.” How did you prepare for your role?
Ann: I love getting the chance to chat with you every time I have a new Hallmark adventure, I so appreciate you doing this with me.
It was such a joy, getting to work on this film. When I found out I’d get to play Corey Sevier’s sister—I was genuinely toooo excited! Ha! Corey and I have known each other for a few years and I’ve always had such respect for his approach to the work. We had been looking for a project to do together for some time, and I was just thrilled this was the first! I also got to fan girl on my fave Jodie Sweetin when we first met, and pick her brain about Full House and her incredible career — between the amazing people I got to work with, the stunning natural scenery of our locations, and the distractingly adorable animals the movie features, most of the prep centred around… being present in every moment and truly taking in this beautiful filming experience :)
Kat: Can you share any memorable moments from the set during the filming of this movie?
Ann: “Gillian, Gillian!” You’ll get this fun reference once you see the movie and I promise I won’t give anything away, but there is something incredibly humbling about the star-power of a fabulous show pig! And yes, it was FABULOUS! And yes, Spartacus (it’s real name) stole the show in almost every scene lol sometimes even walking completely out of frame when it decided the scene was done. Absolute diva, in the best sense of the word, I learned a great deal about commanding a room from Spartacus! There were so many laughs :)!
There is also a really lovely scene, early in the film, where my Nina and Jodie’s character, June, first get to know each other over a glass of champagne. I’m wearing this fabulous one-piece and it’s our first take. And it’s all girly fun, and we cheers, and I go to gracefully sip my feaux sparkly wine… and… did I mention blow-dryers are magic?!
It was memorable lol.
Kat: How was your experience working with the director and the rest of the cast?
Ann: Our awesome Director, Marco Deufemia, was a true leader on set, with clear vision as well as the flexibility to trust what each actor is bringing to the role. It was a wonderful, collaborative experience every step of the way, and that was so important because these shoots can move very fast and there is lots to keep track of, and accomplish, in such a concentrated timeframe. Brain Power Studios assembled a truly talented production team of dedicated professionals who prioritized a nurturing and inspiring work culture, both on and off screen. I hope we get to do many more fun projects together, it was just an absolute joy coming to work every day :)
Kat: What was your favourite scene to film in the movie and why?
Ann: Oooo, this is a tough one! It’s a bit of a tie for me. On one hand, I have to say the County Fair because it has a little bit of everything for everyone: adorable animals, physical comedy, country vibes, gorgeous fall colours… it brings all the characters together and was genuinely heart warming and fun to shoot! We survived a torrential downpour mid filming and I have to give major props to our incredible crew for getting everything back up and on its feet again with great efficiency; it was all hands on deck and such a beautiful sense of camaraderie. BUT! On the other hand, I was particularly moved by Nina’s efforts throughout the film to connect June with her family. There are some twists and turns in this story I guarantee you won’t see coming :) In the end, without giving too much away, let’s just say I absolutely love that Nina gets to “Bring it in!” That scene was definitely a highlight.
Kat: Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects you’re excited about?
Ann: I’ve been so lucky this year to be invested in a diverse slate of projects, working on several thrillers and romance movies… but also, comedy! Being a part of an indie comedy series has been on my radar for a very long time and we got to premiere “Poly Is The New Monogamy,” a coming of age new TV Show about three girls exploring modern day relationships in the Big Apple, with our amazing broadcast partner in Canada, Hollywood Suite –and our partners Amazon Prime and Tubi in the US/UK. It’s been amazing to watch it connect with audiences in such a meaningful way, and we are already exploring options for a second season, so I genuinely look forward to new adventures with my free spirited character, Zoe Carijuana, and the rest of our incredible ensemble cast. I have some exciting comedy, and romantic comedies, in the works I look forward to sharing with you more about in the coming months ☺.
I’m also in the process of premiering the first season of a super fun new cable show this fall called “The Pickup,” with the incredible team at Cable 14. It’s been a very inspiring journey co-creating, producing and hosting a series that features people with unique jobs and combines my love of learning, journalism background, and…. has a bit of a “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee” vibe ☺. For example, this first season we got to explore the art of taxidermy, find out what it takes to be a zoo keeper, and learn about modern motherhood with the help of a doula – very excited to do more, it’s been such a rewarding journey so far!
Connect With Ann: https://www.instagram.com/annpirvu