Benjamin Ayres Discusses Romance in Hope Valley with Bethany Joy Lenz
Hallmark is broadening the When Calls the Heart universe with Hope Valley: 1874, featuring a central romance between Benjamin Ayres and Bethany Joy Lenz’s characters, though it won’t be fiery from the start.
“The beauty of it being a TV series is that it needs to be a gradual build,” Ayres, who portrays rancher Tom Moore, exclusively shared with Us Weekly on Wednesday, March 18. “If they shared a kiss at the end of the first episode, then what is next?”
He added, “You need to introduce obstacles and conflicts for them.”
Ayres, 49, explained that both Tom and widowed mother Rebecca Clarke (Lenz) come with “a lot of history and complications” as they navigate their evolving relationship.
These past challenges will draw them closer as they seek to flourish in the community of the Canadian frontier, according to Ayres.
“It begins with a kind of kinship and friendship, which is really enjoyable to explore,” the actor noted to Us, elaborating that viewers will “notice a spark” from the outset, even as Tom and Rebecca are “resistant” to it.
Hope Valley: 1874 is set to premiere on Saturday, March 21, focusing on Rebecca’s journey from Chicago to the Western Canadian frontier with her 11-year-old daughter, Sarah (Mila Morgan).
“When her wagon breaks down, and she discovers the boarding house she bought isn’t as it seemed, Rebecca must reluctantly accept assistance from local rancher and confirmed bachelor, Tom Moore,” reads the logline. “Despite her efforts to remain unattached, Rebecca gradually finds herself drawn to Tom and forges a friendship with tenacious pioneer woman Hattie Quinn (Jill Hennessy).”
Ayres told Us that Tom, similar to Rebecca, will be slow to embrace love as he focuses on maintaining his ranch amidst threats from gold prospectors encroaching on his land.
“He has a bit of an icy heart that’s about to be warmed by Rebecca,” he joked. “It’s not his intention, and we will learn more about his past. He left something behind that he wasn’t ready to face, which is now coming back.”
Ayres noted that while Tom feels an instant attraction to Rebecca, her choice to establish a boarding house will create tension in their relationship.
“He’s okay with the prospectors, just not in this town. He wants them off his land,” Ayres explained to Us, mentioning that the gold miners bring various issues, including crime and water pollution, and Rebecca’s boarding house provides them a place to stay. “The last thing [Tom] wants is for the boarding house to open. So, Rebecca’s arrival to set it up creates the conflict of, ‘Please don’t do that. Anything but that; I’ll find you a job.’”
To Tom’s dismay, Rebecca is “steadfastly committed to opening this boarding house,” Ayres said. “Thus, their conflict begins.”
Throughout season 1, while Tom and Rebecca will clash, Ayres shared that he and Lenz, 44, quickly bonded on set.
“I’m grateful that she works in a similar way to me,” Ayres explained. “We discuss each scene before filming and really dive into the emotional nuances.”
The actor emphasized that focusing on “the authenticity of each moment” is essential for making the chemistry between him and Lenz shine on screen.
Ayres described Lenz as a “wonderful partner” to work alongside, noting her “grounded” acting style.
“Once we immerse ourselves in the scene, all we need to do is look into each other’s eyes, and it flows naturally,” he revealed.
Hope Valley: 1874 is set to debut on Saturday, March 21, exclusively on Hallmark+, with new episodes airing every Thursday starting March 26.
