Virgin River Season 3 Cast Real Life Partners (2021)

One of the best shows on Netflix, Virgin River finally returns to the platform with its highly-expected Season 3. The romantic drama had caused us, the audience, many emotional ups, and downs in its past two seasons. So, we could not wait to have some more of this heartwarming romance perfectly delivered by the talented Virgin River cast. 

Virgin River is about a young woman with a tragic past, Melinda “Mel” Monroe, who is played by Alexandra Breckenridge. The series starts with Mel moving to the small town of Virgin River from the massive metropole Los Angeles as a nurse practitioner. Seeing this change as an opportunity to move on from her past, Mel aims to discover herself and make amends with her past regrets throughout the series. In the meantime, she gets to make new friends, new enemies, and – most importantly – new lovers (one dreamy lover, to be exact). 

Virgin River’s favorite couple Jack and Mel.

The passionate and yet tender relationship between Mel and the local restaurant owner Jack Sheridan, played by Martin Henderson, captivated millions of fans around the world. The two’s romance is far from perfect, as Mel deals with her husband’s death while Jack already has a complicated affair with a local woman. Still, the two manage to be together against all odds, proving that they are the one for each other. 

Yet, all this romanticism is at risk right now, as Season 2 ended with a big reveal of Mel to Jack, which will blur the waters for sure. We, however, put our trust in the Virgin River cast, as they have the ability and charm to make even the worst seem nice. Now that Season 3 has premiered on Netflix on June 9, let’s have a deep look into the Virgin River cast and remember once again why they were perfect casting in the first place.

Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel in Virgin River.

Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel): Career, age, husband

One of the highlights of the Virgin River cast, Breckenridge is no stranger to Hollywood. The 39-years-old star has been in movies and TV shows for nearly 20 years now. Apart from cult movie classics like 2006’s She’s the Man, she has many unforgettable TV works in her career past such as Walking Dead, American Horror Story and This Is Us. She is also known for her voice acting, particularly in Family Guy where she is the voice of multiple characters.

Alexandra Breckenridge with her husband Casey Hooper.

Her role as Mel, however, has been a fan favorite, putting her into the limelight. For many of us, she is a heartbroken and yet still hopeful nurse that struggles to cope with the changes in her life. Yet, despite her believable performance, in reality, Breckenridge is happily married to the guitarist Casey Hooper, who is known for his works for Katy Perry. The couple met at a Grammy’s after-party and tied the knot in 2015. In 2016, they had a son named Jack and in 2017, their daughter Billie has born. 

Martin Henderson as Jack in Virgin River.

Martin Henderson (Jack): Career, age, wife

Despite being arguable the most good-looking man in the Virgin River cast, Henderson has proved himself over and over again that he has much to offer than just his looks. He is talented, experienced, and capable of undertaking a wide range of characters. 

The 46-years-old actor is from New Zealand. Back at home, he is known for his role at the soap opera named Shortland Street, where he was a teenage heart drop. In the U.S., however, he is known for his parts in TV shows like Off the Map and Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the cult horror movie, Grey’s Anatomy. 

Martin Henderson with his girlfriend Aisha Mendez.

As Jack in Virgin River, Henderson is playing a restaurant owner with an army background. His years in the U.S. Marine have cost him having PTSD, making his character quite versatile and interesting. Although in the show, he falls for Mel almost at the first sight, his complicated relationship with Charmaine Roberts, played by Lauren Hammersley, puts him into a difficult position. He eventually becomes a father in the series as Charmaine gets pregnant with twins. 

In real life, however, Henderson does not have children. The actor has never been married either. Yet, he is known to have a girlfriend named Aisha Mendez. Although the couple has been dating since April of last year, there is not much information on Mendez. Still, thanks to Henderson’s lovely Instagram posts, we know that the couple enjoys romantic trips together. 

Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts in Virgin River.

Lauren Hammersley (Charmaine Roberts): Career, age, husband

Hammersley, despite being one of the gems of the Virgin River cast, takes part in the series as yet another debatable figure: Charmaine. After having an on and off acting career, which includes the series Orphan Black, Hammersley ended up in the Virgin River as Jack’s (sort of) friends with benefits. She is beautiful, she is strong, she can do anything she wants, and yet she is in love with Jack and she is not willing to step back at it.

Unlike her character in the Virgin River, 49-years-old Hammersley is a quite secretive person in her off-screen life. All we know is she enjoys life in Canada’s Nova Scotia province with her dogs. Whether or not she has found her “real” Jack in life, however, is a mystery even though there is no sign of a man in her life online.

Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins in Virgin River.

Tim Matheson (Doc Mullins): Career, age, wife

Matheson is the most seasoned actor in the Virgin River cast. The 74-years-old actor has been a household name for many Americans thanks to his active roles in many TV shows for decades. One of his most popular parts was being the Vice President of John Hoynes in the cult TV series The West Wing. 

In Virgin River, he is the local doctor that recruits Mel. The two’s relationship, however, is not an easygoing one as they have trouble working together in harmony. In the show, Matheson was previously married to one of the most controversial characters in Virgin River, Hope, played by Annette O’Toole.

In real life, Matheson got married three times. His first wife was actress Jennifer Leak. The couple got married back in 1968 and divorced after three years. His second wife was Meghan Murphy Matheson, whom he married back in 1985. After three kids, the couple divorced in 2010. In 2018, Matheson married  Elizabeth Marighetto, with whom he lives happily ever after since. 

Annette O’Toole as Hope McCrea in Virgin River.

Annette O’Toole (Hope McCrea): Career, age, husband

As we welcomed Season 3, one major change in the Virgin River cast took all of us with surprise: Where was Hope McCrea? Played by 69-years-old O’Toole, the character was sharp, hard to love, and yet quite strong mayor of the town. Still, despite her controversial nature and questionable approach to Mel, she managed to win over the audience’s respect in time.

It is not a surprise to see that an actress as experienced as O’Toole gained our love even with the character of Hope. She has been active in the entertainment sector since the late 1960s, which makes her an instant household name for the audience. Over the years, we watched her in multiple TV series, from Nash Bridges to Smallville. 

Annette O’Toole.

In the Virgin River, her character Hope is the town’s gossip and quite good at causing drama all of a sudden. Hope is also the fiancee of Doc, whom she was once married to.

In reality, O’Toole was married to Bill Geisslinger, from 1983 to 1993. The couple had two children together. In 1999, O’Toole got married to Michael McKean.

Well, since she had a major role in the Virgin River until now, where did she go all of a sudden? Unfortunately, the pandemic had got in the way. Due to the difficult conditions caused by the global pandemic, O’Toole was unable to go to the set during the filming, which led her role to be cut out for a short while. We can definitely expect her return in Season 4 though, with a striking presence.

Jack and Mel together in the local restaurant.

Are the Virgin River actors together in real life?

There is no doubt that Breckenridge and Henderson share outstanding on-screen chemistry, to the point that millions are rooting for their love. Many of us are secretly wishing for the couple to be together in the real life.

Yet, at the expense of being cliche, we have to voice the truth: they are just friends. Still, it is consoling to hear that they are good friends. The two’s friendship exceeds their profession as they like to hang out outside of work as well.

Jack and Mel in Virgin River.

Is Jack from Virgin River married in real life? 

Looking forward to getting married to his true love, Mel, in the TV show, the highlight of the Virgin River cast, Henderson, is still yet to reach that level in his off-screen life. Although he is in a serious relationship for over a year now, he shows no sign of intention to tie the knot. 

Jack in Virgin River.

How old is Jack in real life on the Virgin River? 

Henderson was born on Oct. 8, 1974, making him 46-years-old. Almost all Virgin River cast is over 40. Henderson is slightly older than his on-screen character Jack, who is 40-years-old.  

Mel with her late husband Mark.

What happened to Mel’s husband in Virgin River?

When Mel moved to the Virgin River, it was clear that there was something with her past. Her secretive attitude and the mysterious wedding ring that is on her finger despite the lack of a husband caused the locals to speculate. 

Finally, it was revealed that Mel lost her husband, Mark, in a tragic car accident during they were arguing whether or not they should continue to try to have a baby. 

The incident caused Mel, who previously suffered from depression due to a stillborn child, to have multiple problems from heartbreak to regret and guilt. 

Jack and Mel in Virgin River.

Does Mel get pregnant in Virgin River? 

After years of trying to have a baby with multiple fails, Mel finally revealed to Jack that she got pregnant at the end of Season 2. However, there was a shocking twist: the child might not be from Jack. 

Keeping her late husband’s embryos, Mel revealed to be applied to IVF in an attempt to get pregnant. At the time, she and Jack had a brief break-up because they fought over Mel’s desire to have a baby with him. 

Despite her pure intentions and ultimate achievement in reaching her dream, the incident caused a bittersweet moment for not only the couple but also for us, the audience. 

Also Read: Virgin River Season 4 Release Date On Netflix