Pop Culture Planet Podcast: Heather Hemmens Talks Hellcats, Roswell New Mexico, and Christmas Under The Lights
In a new episode of the Pop Culture Planet podcast, Heather Hemmens joins Kristen Maldonado to talk about Hellcats, Roswell, New Mexico, and her new movie Christmas Under The Lights, out tonight on Hallmark Channel!
Episode Quotes
Heather Hemmens on her theatre roots: “I am a theatre performer at heart. I've done a few plays here in L.A., but the theater scene here is not much to write home about. I would absolutely love to do Broadway one day and go back to my roots with that. That would be really, really fun and challenging. […] If I was to get back on stage, I think what Nicole Scherzinger is doing right now with Sunset Boulevard is amazing and so fun. […] I would love to do a musical like Chicago. That's always been a dream to do a musical like that or Cabaret or something.”
Hemmens on the first time she felt represented on screen: “I would see Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and I would see Sister Sister. I had the honor of meeting Tamera [Mowry] this weekend and I told her, 'I didn't see anyone else like me on TV except you.’ It was a really nice full circle moment to meet her.”
Hemmens on sharing her Afro Latina background: “All stories can be shared regardless of race or ethnic background. We all have certain things in common and can see through our skin color to the commonalities in it. I like portraying those roles that have nothing to do with the color of my skin, but I would definitely be interested in doing something that had a cultural impact dealing with race. That would be fun.”
Hemmens on her first role: “I was cast as the mean girl in my very first role on Hellcats and that was so fun. I had a couple mean girl auditions after that and then somewhere along the way I got cast as the nice girl, which is way less fun. I'd like to go back to being the nemesis again.”
Hemmens on what she learned on Hellcats: “It was an incredible boot camp for how TV goes because, not only were we filming a full TV show, but we had to do several dance numbers every single episode. We had the normal episodic work as an actor and then we also had to have these […] magnificent shows of athleticism from our stunt performers. Because it's cheerleading stuff — so all the dancing, cart wheeling — I put my body through things that I never knew I was capable of before that show. […] By the very last episode, I was standing three tiers up on the pyramid with my leg in the air and my stunt double wasn't doing that take. I was doing it and they were letting me so it was really, really exciting, the challenges from that show. It'll always remain one of my favorite jobs.”
Hemmens on her martial arts background: “A very big goal of mine is to do an action film and do a lot of my own stunts and fighting.”
Hemmens on what she learned filming Roswell, New Mexico: “That was a labor of love for seasons filming in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. I spent a lot of my time there actually working on my directing for that show. I shadowed behind the scenes on my days off. 5 am, 6 am in the snow. I was out there shadowing so that I could direct on the show. Then finally season 3 I was able to direct an episode and it went very well. Season 4, I actually was offered our 50th episode to direct, so I directed that one as well. Just the growth and the things that I learned on that show I have carried with me into my next projects as well. I actually directed my own pilot and then I executive produced this other project and various projects that I'm working on. My time on Roswell gave me the confidence to do that.”
Hemmens on working with Hallmark Channel: “I started working with Hallmark in 2018 or 2019. [It] just shows that change is happening. Wherever there are efforts being made to bring more awareness or inclusiveness, I'm just so happy to be a part of it. I don't care what the history of it is or whatever. Like if we're moving forward in a positive direction and I can be part of that, then I'm honored. I really feel like right now at Hallmark, the storytelling, the inclusiveness, the love, the good energy that being spread around is at an all-time high. What's happening right now is very ,very beautiful. It's unfolding before our eyes so you're like we don't really know what's going on, but you can just feel it in the air that this is a great moment for Hallmark. I'm really excited to be a part of all of the things that they're doing. They're making so many great strides forward: Hallmark+, a lot of the storylines that haven't been told before you can now see on Hallmark, and I just think it's really beautiful. I'm so proud to be with such an iconic brand and excited to go wherever they're going next.”
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Hosted by TV and film critic Kristen Maldonado, Pop Culture Planet is a video podcast featuring analytical pop culture discussions and interviews with diverse voices in the entertainment space. Watch episodes on youtube.com/kaymaldo or listen on your favorite podcast platforms, from Spotify to Apple Podcasts and beyond.
