“Virgin River” star hints at new season and why BC is the ideal filming playground

In just a few weeks, Netflix’s most-streamed show, Virgin River, will be launching its sixth season, and fans are already chomping at the bit.

Canadian actor Benjamin Hollingsworth will return to Virgin River as Daniel Brady, probably better known as bad boy Brady in the show. The star spoke with Daily Hive Vancouver about what fans can expect.

Fans are undoubtedly excited for the new season, as the mega-successful show has a very special place in everyone’s hearts, to put that mildly.

“I often say that Virgin River, the town, is actually the star of the show, because it’s what links everyone together. And there’s a lot of characters who come and go, but it’s really the talent that’s the connective tissue. And so I think that’s what really resonates with our audience,” Hollingsworth said.

But this season is especially gripping after the season five finale, which put fans into a frenzy and made them wait impatiently to binge the new season. Will Jack and Mel get married?

“There are a lot of cliffhangers that need to be answered,” he said. “Our show really does a good job of hooking you into watching the next episode or the next season.”

Hollingsworth was able to give us a bit of a hint on what to expect for his character, who will be more prosperous after receiving his insurance money from the lumber yard. In addition, he is volunteering as a firefighter, all in an effort to prove to Bree that he’s the guy she wants him to be.

“He’s stepping up in his relationship with Lark and to kind of be a father figure to Hazel, but there are so many twists and turns this season that you’ll need a seat belt,” he said.

Adding that while fan favourites will be back, there will be some new faces as well.

Netflix

“We’re going back in time to the 70s, where we meet Mel’s parents, who just happen to be in Virgin River. So we get to see the 1970s version of Virgin River, which is really cool. And they shot the whole thing in a very special format. So it gives 70s all the way through,” he said.

While there will be some new elements, the show has long let its locations be among its features, and that’s not set to change anytime soon. Filmed from Burnaby to Squamish, with Jack’s Bar filmed inside the Watershed Grill, Hollingsworth says filming in BC with the talented cast and crew has been a privilege. But there have also been some challenging moments.

Grouse Grind/Facebook

“I actually did the Grouse Grind on my way to work in the snow. It was snowing that day, and I’m a big fan of the Grouse Grind, not necessarily while I’m doing it, because it’s so difficult, but that feeling when you get to the top, and there’s really no better workout, I still am very proud of my quickest time of 44 minutes,” he said.

Hollingsworth has been busy. The father of three filmed two Hallmark shows over the summer months. Christmas With The Singhs premiered last month, bringing a comedic culture clash to the screen. Hollingsworth said he was thrilled to be able to do more physical comedy in a homage to one of his favourite actors, Jim Carrey.

Christmas with the Singhs, starring Hollinsworth and Anuja Joshi, premiered in November. (Hallmark)

Next month, Hallmark’s Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane will premiere just a few weeks before Christmas, and fans will likely spot some BC locations in the background.

Those locations are now very familiar to Hollingsworth for his work and play. The Ontario-born star says that British Columbia has become his home in recent years after he and his wife, designer Nila Myers, sought some stability and fewer trips back and forth from LA for their young family. He said Christmas pastimes and activities, especially in BC’s beautiful outdoors, have become the icing on the cake.

“We love to do the Capilano Christmas walk and we love to do the Christmas Village downtown. There are [also] a couple of lakes that freeze over north of Squamish that we go to,” he explained. “I’ll go up Cypress and do some of the snowshoeing trails back there. I’m just very Canadian, so I love all my snow activities.”

“All the things you see in a Hallmark Christmas movie,” he said, laughing.

What does the future hold? Hollingsworth said for him and his family, they would love to stay in Canada and see Hollywood North continue to shine.

“I really wanted to raise my children in Canada, and this gave me the opportunity to do so. Having grown up in Canada is an absolute privilege, and I don’t know if people really understand how lucky we are to have this country to grow up in. It is a privilege and such a gift that we can breathe fresh air.

“We have one of the best communities to that really are there for one another, and not unlike Virgin River, you know, I think people look out for each other, and they’re friendly, and that counts, that matters, that matters in the day-to-day life.”

“Not to mention hockey. I mean, I’m a big hockey fan, so the hockey programs in Canada are a lot better for my boys.”

Virgin River premieres on December 19 on Netflix.

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