Bethany Joy Lenz and Benjamin Ayres Dish on ‘Hope Valley: 1874’ and the Power of the ‘Hearties’ (Exclusive)
The stars reveal why stories about community matter now more than ever—and what fans can expect
In 2014, Hallmark fans were first introduced to the close-knit community of Hope Valley on the now-hit series When Calls the Heart. The show chronicled the journey of Elizabeth Thatcher, a woman who takes on a position as a schoolteacher in the small mining town, still picking up the pieces from a tragic accident that rocked the community. As she becomes further embedded in this quaint society, unexpected friendships, romance and opportunities soon fill her life. With the thirteenth season underway, it’s safe to say the When Calls the Heart love runs deep—which is why fans are itching for the premiere of its upcoming prequel, Hope Valley: 1874, starring Bethany Joy Lenz and Benjamin Ayres. Here, the actors chatted with Woman’s World about the show’s loyal fandom and why we need stories about community now more than ever.
Bethany Joy Lenz and Benjamin Ayres dish on the ‘Hearties’
Both Bethany and Benjamin are no strangers to the world of Hallmark, both actors having shined in various films across the network. And while Hallmark itself has a dedicated fandom of its own, the When Calls the Heart community, affectionately known as Hearties, is an entirely different subset.
“I know all the actors on When Calls the Heart,” explained Ayres, who has appeared in Hallmark movies including The Santa Class and the Chronicle Mysteries series. “I haven’t been on the show, so I haven’t felt the power of the Hearties, and to now sort of be dipping our foot in and feeling their support has been really powerful and exciting, but I really wanted to be able to honor the fandom and be able to create something that they would love as much as When Calls.”
Bethany Joy Lenz echoed this sentiment, though having brought to life the beloved character of Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill, she’s no stranger to intensely loyal fandoms. “I knew that there was a sort of a fandom that existed, but I didn’t understand how similar it was to the One Tree Hill fans that we’ve had for 25 years.”
She continued, “When people lock in on a community, cast, or show—something that they feel connected to, that they’ve been through long journeys with—the way that they continue to show up, I had never experienced anything like that, except for One Tree Hill. So, to be able to see this happening on the other side with this show, and know that they’re welcoming us the way that they’re welcoming us, and the way that they’re excited for what we’re doing, it’s not nerves, but it does make me really excited to enter another community that’s similar.”
‘Hope Valley: 1874’ tells a story of community
Hope Valley: 1874 tells the story of a woman named Rebecca (Lenz) who makes a long, treacherous journey with her young daughter in search of a better life. When she arrives at her destination, she’s surprised to learn that things aren’t as she hoped they’d be, but thanks to the generosity of a few kind townspeople, one of them being a local rancher, Tom (Ayres), her bad luck doesn’t end up being so bad after all.
“We want community, and I think while we’re able to create it on camera or within these worlds, I also hope that it influences people in their real life to reach out and create their own communities,” explained Ayres on the show’s impact.
Lenz elaborated, saying, “I really hope that the simplicity of the world helps people remember all that they have and all that they can be grateful for, and really that the core of community is trust and relationships, connecting with each other, face to face, helping one another. Humanity doesn’t survive without those things. Civilization doesn’t survive without those things. That’s the core of what we need.”
In a world that can sometimes feel disconnected, this new series reminds us of something beautiful: We’re stronger together. And isn’t that a message we all need right now? Hope Valley: 1874 premieres on Hallmark+ on March 21, with new episodes streaming on Thursdays beginning on March 26.
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