As the longest-running TV show in Canadian history, Heartland has a special place in our hearts. Despite having 14 long seasons, the series has managed to produce regular high-quality work every time. The series’ consistency in fulfilling the audience’s expectations has earned them cult status, making it a living legend.
Recently, Season 14 has premiered on our favorite streaming platform, Netflix. Once again, it is heart-warming, rustic, genuine, and full of horses. In achieving such a standard, the Heartland cast had the utmost importance since, although the scenario was superb for sure, they were the ones who successfully delivered.
The cast of Heartland Season 1 especially shines out in that sense, as it was the season that laid the foundations for the next ones. In this article, we provide you with a massive throwback as we remember the Heartland Season 1 cast. We have three big questions to answer: Who were they? What did they provide to the series? And, last but not least, where are they now?
Are you ready to dive into Heartland history? Then keep on reading!
Heartland Actors
Heartland actors are usually a selection of talented individuals who are no strangers to TV shows. Despite their young ages, especially during the beginning of the series, most of the cast was already experienced as they participated in at least one show. Besides, they also stand out for being particularly loyal to their projects since many of them stayed in the show for more than 10 years. Some of the regulars in the show over the years were Graham Wardle, Amber Marshall, Michelle Morgan, Shaun Johnston, Chris Potter, and Jessica Steen.
Graham Wardle
Born in 1986, in British Columbia, Wardle started to work as an actor when he was a child. His actorship gained momentum in his teenage years as he appeared on shows such as The Outer Limits, Life As We Know It, and Supernatural. During this period, he studied at Capilano University, majoring in the Motion Picture and Production Program. 2007 has become a critical year in Wardle’s career as he not only graduated from the university but also joined the Heartland Season 1 cast as “Ty Borden”.
The part of “Ty”, who was an orphan boy that later turns into the protagonist, Amy’s love interest, has become the game-changer for Wardle as he quickly became a household name for millions. His fans were not only from Canada but from all over the world. Despite achieving major success in Heartland, Wardle recently announced that he decided to leave the show, as his character, Ty, was killed at the end of Season 13. Now, Wardle is expected to discover his options outside of Heartland, as he already started to produce a podcast. He is married to Allison Wardle and lives a happy life.
Amber Marshall
Marshall is the backbone of the Heartland cast. She was born and raised in Ontario and studied at Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts. After a brief period of being an assistant at a Vet clinic, she played in various TV shows, proving that she got the talent to do this work her job. In 2007, she was cast in Heartland Season 1 for the part of Amy, who is the young daughter of the Heartland ranch who lost her mom and has unsolved issues with her father.
Despite her young age, Marshall managed to deliver the part with great success, becoming the face of the show. To this day, she managed to embrace the character of Amy and evolved with her through times. Today, she welcomed Heartland Season 14, despite the leaving of her colleague and on-screen partner Wardle. She is happily married and living on a ranch near Heartland. She loves animals, has dozens of them and occasionally works at a local vet clinic. She also has a magazine named Amber Marshall Life & Style and her line of jewelry, named Amber Marshall Jewellery Collection.
Michelle Morgan
Born into a Chilean-Canadian family, 39-years-old Morgan was raised in Toronto and Vancouver. She studies Theatre and Classical Literature at the University of Toronto and then decided to become an actress. She joined the cast of Heartland Season 1 and embraced the role of Lou Fleming, Amy’s older sister who was living in New York until her mother’s death. She is one of the protagonists of the show, together with Amy.
Today, Morgan is still perfecting her character, Lou, while exploring other parts of the entertainment sector. She is especially interested in directing and writing. Morgan has an awarded short film “Mi Madre, My Father” and another one titled “Save Yourself”. She also directed three episodes of the TV series “Hudson.”
Shaun Johnston
Johnston was born in 1958 in Alberta. He has been active in the entertainment sector for decades, as both an actor and director. In Heartland, he plays the role of Jack Bartlett, who is the grandfather of the Fleming sisters. His character portrays a typical ranch owner with endless enthusiasm for horses.
Although his character had a heart attack at the end of Season 6, which caused many to speculate his death, Jack managed to survive this critical threshold. Today, Johnston still portrays Jack in Heartland, as he did in Heartland Season 1, thirteen years ago. He is married to Sue Johnston and has one child.
Chris Potter
60-years-old Potter is from Toronto. He is a household name in Canada as he is often referred to as a “veteran of TV”. He has taken part in 8 TV shows and 10 movies while directing some others. In 2007, he joined the Heartland Season 1 as Tim Fleming, the father of the Fleming sisters. Tim’s relationship with his daughters is complicated as he left them years ago, only to return after their mother’s death. Today, Potter still effectively delivers the role of Tim in heartland while spending his free time with his wife and four children.
Jessica Steen
Steen is a 55-years-old actress from Toronto. Although she is a well-known face in Canadian TV, Steen is no stranger to American television as she appeared in the U.S. series Homefront and Earth 2. She also appeared in the cult blockbuster Armageddon. In Heartland, she plays the part of Lisa Stillman. Stillman is an important side character who is the owner of Fairfield Stables, a famous, thoroughbred breeding facility. Today, Steen can still be seen on Heartland occasionally.
Are Heartland Actors Canadian?
Well, to this question, our answer is a big, old “yes”. Most of the Heartland cast are Canadian. Since Heartland Season 1, the majority of the cast has remained the same. The cast was already selected among the Canadian actors and actresses in the first place. Although some actors are mixed race, such as Morgan, most of them are Canadians who are born and raised in Canada as well.
Where is the Cast of Heartland Now?
The majority of the Heartland cast, especially the main actors, are still a part of the show. From Marshall to Potter, they still swimmingly deliver their parts in the Heartland ranch, since day one of Heartland Season 1. However, some others, such as Wardle, decided to part ways with the series after more than a decade of working.
Are the Cast of Heartland Friends?
Although the individual relationships differ from one person to another, Heartland is generally known for having a cast that is working in harmony with well-established ties. In fact, for many, the key to the show’s success is the good relations between its actors since Heartland Season 1.
Especially the main cast, such as Wardle and Marshall, have been open about their good relationship, praising their friendship off-screen. Marshall is particularly known for being popular among others in the cast as many of her colleagues were participants in her wedding back in 2013.
Why did Mallory leave Heartland?
Mallory Wells, who was played by Jessica Amlee, was a popular side character as a family friend young girl. However, in Season 7, she left Heartland with her boyfriend and moved to Paris. The decision came following Amlee’s choice to leave the show to “challenge” herself “in other ways”.
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