'Heartland' and Hallmark Canadian star Cindy Busby looks back at her career

Yahoo

27-05-2025

Cindy Busby quickly became a beloved actor after playing Ashley Stanton on the Canadian TV show Heartland. She then moved on to starring in a number of Hallmark projects, including Hallmark's very first series Cedar Cove with Andie MacDowell.
But the Montreal-born actor always felt she was "born" to be a performer, taking the risk of pursuing a career in the industry after high school, without a backup plan. Busby spoke to Yahoo Canada about starting her career in Canada, moving to the U.S. and some of her most memorable roles.Heartline was, was a show that just like truly changed my life, but to be able to tell Canadian stories and and show like the most beautiful parts of Canada is truly magnificent.
What made you interested in acting in the first place?
I think from what I was reading, you were just kind of one of those kids that always kind of gravitated towards like performance and and acting and doing that stuff.
But what kind of made you say, like, you know what, let me try to actually do this as like a career and as a paying gig.
Like what you just said, it feels, it truly does feel like I was kind of just born to do this, which I know it kind of sounds weird to say sometimes, because so many people are like, I don't wanna, I don't know what I wanna do with my life, but, uh, performance, uh, you know, which started life for me with, um, theater at first, um, was just something that the moment I did it, it just, it was like a magnet, where I was like, I need more of this.
Like, it was just so, I just felt so good.
And, you know, before that, I think it was just like, You know, making people laugh, uh, like watching performance, watching story, watching human beings like emote, and there was just something about that that I found really fascinating and interesting.
And my, you know, my dad was a huge movie buff and We always watched, that was like something we just really bonded over.
We'd go to the movies all the time and watch shows and over and over.
And so I think just the his love kind of transpired in onto me and, uh, through storytelling, and then I think it was more like I mean, I feel like I was always saying I wanted to be an actor, but then throughout like the high school plays, and I found out about a program at Dawson College in Montreal where there was like an actual professional theater program and Although I probably could have propelled myself into just auditioning and getting an agent and doing that right out of the gates, I just didn't really know any better because I didn't grow up in a family that was in the movie industry.
And so I went to theater school, I got in, I had to audition and do that whole thing.
And I think my love of me knowing I was going to be a professional actor happened like midway sometime.
In high school, and I, I, at the end of my, like my yearbook, my graduating yearbook, I said I was gonna be a professional actor.
And they were like, what are, what's your backup plan?
I was like, Backup plan?
Like, uh, there's no backup plan.
This is it.
And I think a lot of that was a little bit naive, to be honest.
Like I just was like, no, this is it.
And I, and I had just such a focus.
Um, Which, you know, clearly it wasn't always like sunshine and rainbows.
There's certainly a lot of difficulties in the industry to try to make a living and try to even get any work at all and auditions.
So, you know, just by perseverance and keeping at it and, you know, the, the whole 10,000 hour rule, I think kind of just Manifested itself in some way, and I'm, I'm really grateful that it worked out because I kind of, like I said, didn't have a backup.
But you got to do a Life Interrupted with Lea Thompson, who, you know, for anyone who is a fan of like 80s movies is like pinnacle of, of that.
What was it like to be able to step onto that and in particular and work with someone who, you know, does have such a legacy like that.
Back to the Future is my favorite movie of all time.
So you can imagine my surprise.
And actually with that project, I had initially auditioned for another role, and then got A call back.
And then I found out I got a role, but I ended up getting a different role that I, then I had auditioned for.
So that was a surprise to begin with.
And then I, I'll never forget it.
I walked into my costume fitting and usually in a production office, there'll be like the photos of the actors, um, who are like playing what part.
And I just remember looking at the photos and seeing mine and then looking at the woman playing my mom and, and just being like, Like just like my jaw dropping and looking at the costume designer and being like, um, who's, what's happening here?
She's like, oh, Leah Thompson, like she's playing your mom, Debbie, and I was like, Oh, and I was just like playing it cool, and then I just remember going home and calling my mom and being like, Mom, you're never gonna believe this, you know, and that was, she is, she did not disappoint.
First of all, she's like the sweetest human, so talented, cares so much.
And I think it was like on day 3 when I told her that I was a massive Back to the Future fan and she was so welcoming of that, and she was like, oh my God.
Those were the days, like, that, that, that movie like changed my life, my trajectory, and she would give me like anecdotes of her time on set, and I just loved it and held on to it.
And actually, you know, later on when I ended up Getting my visa and my green card, she actually wrote like a letter of recommendation for me and stuff like that.
So she, she, in a lot of ways, she was a very important person for me in my career, but also like just someone I looked up to, and it was really like a full circle moment.
But yeah, it was, it was awesome.
How, how much did you kind of audition and been doing it by the time you got to that role in particular.
I I graduated in 2003, and then I booked, uh, Life Interrupted.
I believe it was 2006.
Um, and after I graduated, I kind of took a bit of a, of a year from like auditioning and things, cause I was trying to figure out my way.
Um, so it was really just like, I think in about like end of 2004 that I really like dove deep.
Um, into my career, so it was like, you know, 23 years after graduating, um, that I booked that and, uh, booked Heartland not long after, etc.
So, yeah, I mean, it, it.
It, it certainly happened for me in a fast way, so to speak, in that like some people put in, you know, 1010 years or whatnot.
But again, it, it went up and then it went down, and then it went up, and then it went down, you know, so there's there's like so many highs and lows, so you never I feel like it's the one of the greater lessons is like never having attachment to that moment you think is gonna be the moment because you just never know.
We have shock by Heartland which you mentioned, which is like I mean, one of probably the most iconic shows, but you had a really interesting experience where you started doing it, but then you're like coming back years later into this world all over again.
What was that process like of just saying like, oh, we're back, and it's and it's this long, and we're just kind of like right back into it.
What was that?
Heartline was, is, was a show that just like truly changed my life in so many ways.
You know, it was the first role getting to play Ashley Stan where I got to work consistently and, you know, for months on end, and it wasn't like a full-time gig, but it was enough for me to like, do that.
And then, you know, if I booked other things, that was great, but it, it wasn't like a necessary thing, um, financially, that is.
And, um, But yeah, it, it, and then it, you know, it came, it, it ended after 44 seasons and, um, you know, I was just kind of ready to do other things or try other opportunities and it because it was such a a commitment, it was difficult for me to do other jobs and and it while I was doing that, um, but it's always been like the most, like my like my baby in a lot of ways, like it's like my Achilles heel, I, I call it, where it's like that show that like, and the fan base is just so loyal and so massive, like, all over the world, on Netflix worldwide, like in the top 10 shows, like it's just massive.
And so I came back for, I believe it was 2 episodes in season 7, so after having a little bit of time away from it and And I was excited to do it.
Like, I was excited to see my friends, and then last summer they asked me to come back after 11 years of not being on the show, and I'm I'm gonna be honest, like I, I really had to think about it because part of me was like, you know, have I outgrown this role?
Have I out, like, can I still show up and do the character justice, which is the most important thing to me, and not just do something because, you know, it comes my way, but do it for the, the right reasons.
And I sat with it and I watched, you know, some of my episodes from the past, and that was kind of nice to go back in time and And then I was like, you know what, I'm gonna do this for the fans.
Like this is, this is what it's for.
They have been asking me, like, anyone who goes on my Instagram will see like the number one question I ever get asked is, are you ever coming back on Heartland?
And it's like an ongoing joke with my friends and and my family because, you know, the fans are so passionate about it, which is like the most incredible feeling because it just shows that You know, I did the character justice and, and, and, you know, people loved her.
She was the character that everyone loved to hate.
So, and, and hated to love and all that that stuff.
So, yeah, it was really special to get to go back and I'm just to get to work with my friends and because that show was such a monumental moment for all everyone involved.
Um, you know, it's, it's kind of bonded us for life, where I felt so welcomed, so loved when I was on set.
Everyone was so excited to see me and I was so excited to see them.
It was, it was really special.
Like, I definitely came back home after that experience, like on cloud nine, cause it was just fun.
It was like getting to go to like a high school reunion, you know.
But what do you think it is about the story or the?
So that really kind of spoke to people and made people come back and still feel so passionately about it now.
I think initially it started off by, you know, uh, Canadians telling Canadian story, you know, a show that, like you mentioned earlier, so many American productions come to Canada, which we're all so grateful for because it gives incredible jobs.
Um, but to be able to tell Canadian stories and, and show.
Like, the most beautiful parts of Canada is truly magnificent, and, and again, like, to be able to have family friendly uh content is something that I think at the time when it came out, there wasn't necessarily a lot of, where everybody could just sit down, you know, and and watch together like.
Shows like Touched by an Angel or Road to Avon Lee, and things like that were on, you know, Sunday you sit with your family and you watch the show and and it bonds you and then you talk about it, and I think that that's what Initially brought people together.
And then I think also there is a what I've come to realize is there is a massive love and appreciation for any story that has to do with horses.
Like, horses are just majestic, like powerful beings that, you know, in Europe, In South America, like, people love those stories.
Like, they can't get enough of them and not just, you know, cause a lot of times the stories are done in a period piece, so like in the past, but this one takes place in present time.
So I think that that makes it even more.
Special.
And there is a huge horse culture out there that, you know, whether it's in Alberta, whether it's in Texas, whether it's in Montana, like there's some everywhere, and it's, it's a really beautiful, um, a beautiful thing that brings people together and they bond over that.
And, and I, I just I didn't know cause I didn't grow up personally riding horses, and so the more I got to be exposed to that world, the more I realized like how massive it is and how passionate these people are, and they were just looking for a show where they could feel seen.
And uh and like, who doesn't want to see a show about like mountains and ranches and horses and same reason why Yellowstone has been so popular, you know, and Heartland was kind of at the beginning of of a lot of that, where there wasn't a ton of those kinds of shows that took place on a ranch, and yeah, it's a beautiful, it's a beautiful show that really shows off Canada, which I'm super proud of, like, we actually use like Canadian money in the show, you know, like that's really cool.
We have to talk about hallmark because, you know, the most beloved probably of holiday movies, of other movies, of other series of content.
Um, what was your experience just taking your like first step into that world that then would end up being so many projects for you?
So, I initially, the first project I booked on Hallmark was a show called Cedar Cove, where I got to play a lawyer, and I got, I got to be on that show for 1.5 seasons.
And I, before that, I had auditioned, auditioned, auditioned for Hallmark projects cause in I, I was living in Vancouver at the time and You know, they were just like shooting there nonstop, and I remember thinking like, why have I not booked one of these projects?
Like, come on, like, look, look at my face.
I feel like I'm like.
I'm like, Girl Next door, you know, like rom-com, and for some reason it just wasn't working, and then I ended up booking Cedar Cove, and then I booked a supporting in a movie, and then um Unleashing Mr. Darcy came my way and In a lot of ways that that movie like completely changed the trajectory of my career.
Um, it put me in a lead, uh, perspective, and, uh, you know, it, to this day I think is the one of the most popular movies they've ever created on the network and You know, a lot of that maybe has to do with the fact that we have like so many cute dogs in the movie.
And a lot of us were all fresh faces on the network, you know, there was myself, I've never been a lead on a movie.
There was Ryan Pavey who'd never been a lead on a movie, but was a beloved soap actor.
Um, and then all of the incredible, like co-stars that I had, um, were just, it was just like a fresh movie with a fresh twist on, you know, a beloved book, Pride and Prejudice.
And, and then after that, it just things, movies just kept coming my way and leads, and, you know, I'm forever grateful for those opportunities because it, it just put me, like I said, like it, it leveled me up in my career and in my My craft.
What was it like to do the unwrapping Christmas movies?
Because those are kind of like an interesting format that Homer kind of did in order to kind of, you have your character.
Each one has a different kind of lead for the episode, for the, for the film, but you kind of get to see everybody.
What was it like to work on that in particular?
It was pretty interesting.
Um, so there's 4 movies, uh, unwrapping Christmas, and each leading lady had their own movie, and it was kind of almost like, um, You know, they would have their own story, and then like their 3 and then their 3 girlfriends would like show up and, you know, be at the store, unwrapping store and uh um and then like be on the phone with them.
And it felt, it was kind of, it was really cool because I feel like it gave um it kind of highlighted each person's journey and how everyone kind of fit into each other's journey and It's a really cool take because in life, you know, like I'm in my life, the lead actor of my life, and then I have all my friends, but to be able to see what their experience is like during a very specific time is, is really fun.
And so we each individually shot our movies and then we We did crossover scenes.
So any of the scenes that we had together in our movies, we shot over a period of 6 days.
So intensely, we all like got to work together and I was the first movie that shot.
So I didn't know any of the ladies, like going into it.
So I had to use a lot of my imagination and And as I usually do, I like immediately like messaged all three of them and was like, hey, like, welcome aboard.
Like, so excited to get to know you, you know, and like just trying to create a bond with them before we actually met, so that I had something to work off of as an actor.
And then when we met on set was after the, we'd shot the second movie.
And we immediately were like, whoa, like, we would actually be really good friends in real life, and we were all so different, which is the other thing, right?
Like, you want, you want to be able to show like different women who have different personalities and different things, but they, they come together and they're like, you know, they met in college and And they all brought something different, and we were all we were all like that in real life too, which was like really fascinating that through the casting process they were able to do that.
Um, but yeah, it was really great and to this day we're like so supportive together.
uh Ashley Newbro, like, is like a very good friend of mine now, like because of that project and like, it's really great as well to get to.
Um, work with other leading ladies that I might not necessarily work with in any other circumstance, and to all be so incredibly supportive and loving and like down to earth, you know, is just the icing on the cake, because, you know, there was like no competition or anything like that, and, and that was, that was a really cool aspect of it.
I have to ask because she is such a huge star now and people love her, but you did the wrong Daughter with Sydney Sweeney, who I like forgot this movie existed and then like instantly came back to me, like a shock memory of exactly what this happened.
Um, what is it like, do you have any memories from working on that and now that you've been able to see where like she's gone in particular with her career, what has that been like to just experience?
I mean, when I worked with her, she had just finished um a couple of like really big projects that were undoubtedly gonna propel her to some sort of stardom.
I certainly would never have expected her, not because she wasn't talented or beautiful or all the things, but, you know, you just never know in this industry, and there's so many talented, beautiful people that just don't make it to that.
And um yeah, it's been truly Incredible to see her, you know, I'm, I'll be driving down like Sunset Boulevard here in LA and I'll just see her on a massive building where she's just like on a huge like jewelry or like, you know, a perfume or something ad, and I'm just like How did this happen?
And, and the girl that I knew in that movie, who I'm sure she still is to this day, is just like a down to earth sweetheart, so smart.
She was working her butt off and was going to school full time and, um, Yeah, we got along really well, you know, we'd have conversations.
We, I mean, we had like every scene together, so we had a lot of conversations about life and boys and school and Troubles and the industry and all that kind of thing, and, and it was really great and Yeah, I I, I'm just so excited for her and, and happy that things worked out the way they did.
I hope that she's happy with it and um Yeah, it's amazing how much like things can change, like in a blink of an eye, and uh it's uh yeah, she's certainly one of the bigger now stars that I that I've worked with for sure.