Helena Marie chatted with us about acting, her show “My Perfect Landing” and more. Check it out!
upfrontNY: When did you know that you wanted to be an actress and how does it feel to be able to pursue your passion?
Helena Marie: I went to theatre school, but it actually took me several years to make the decision to pursue acting as a career. I was scared, as it seemed like an unattainable profession. I’d heard a lot of stories about people who didn’t succeed, and the thought of being part of such a huge industry was overwhelming. I finally decided to give it my all, and each day I feel more and more committed. It was a big risk to put everything I had into this profession, but it’s a risk I’m so happy I took.
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about “My Perfect Landing”?
Helena Marie: Yes! “My Perfect Landing” is a show centered around a family of gymnasts. The first episode finds me and my two kids moving to Canada to start a gymnastics studio with my dad. You get to see all of our struggles and accomplishments as the kids navigate being in a new school while dealing with complicated family dynamics. It’s the kind of show that’s easy and fun to watch with the whole family.
upfrontNY: You play Whitney Cortez, can you tell us about your character?
Helena Marie: Whitney tries really hard to make a good life for her kids. She’s a widow, but puts on a brave face for the world, and keeps herself busy, so as to not focus on the pain caused by her situation. She’s often strict when it comes to her daughter’s participation in gymnastics, but she’s only trying to protect her. Needless to say, her daughter doesn’t always see it that way.
upfrontNY: Were you interested in gymnastics before the show and had you ever taken gymnastics classes? If not, did you become more interested in gymnastics after filming the show?
Helena Marie: Like a lot of people, I’ve always been fascinated by the incredible things gymnasts can do, but I had no knowledge of what went on behind the scenes, or how much hard work went into it. I now have a deep appreciation for the amount of dedication these kids have. They’re inspiring.
upfrontNY: You can be seen as Claire Marlowe in the thriller His Fatal Fixation. Can you tell us more about the film and what it was like working for Lifetime?
Helena Marie: This was actually my first time playing the jilted wife! It was fun to finally have the chance to explore those emotions and scenarios. It’s not an uncommon theme represented in Lifetime movies, that’s for sure. Lifetime is a network that shows the ups and downs in the lives of everyday people. What I loved about this part was that I had room to express different sides of what it’s like being in my character’s position. Indifference, anger, hurt and sadness are all things a person can feel in these situations, and I was grateful to have room to breathe in the role, and create a character that wasn’t one-dimensional. Because of that, I think audiences will relate to Claire. Plus there’s a wicked car crash that we shot during a very cold winter night. The experience was memorable, to say the least, and it looks fantastic.
upfrontNY: Do you have a dream type of role you hope to play one day?
Helena Marie: I’ve barely scraped the surface of this career, so yes, there’s a ton I want to do! One of my dreams would be to play a timeless character, like James Bond or Ethan Hunt from the Mission Impossible series. How cool would it be to play a character who’s edgy, sarcastic, beautiful, powerful, and deadly?! That’s the dream!
upfrontNY: Can you tell us about Animal Justice and how important it has been for you to be involved with this organization?
Helena Marie: I was introduced to them this past winter, and I’m so thankful for what they do. They are leading the legal fight for animal rights in Canada. They don’t just make noise and raise awareness, they actually affect real change by lobbying various governmental bodies with a reasoned, researched approach. I am blown away by their commitment, and hope to find more ways to help the animals alongside them.
upfrontNY: I saw on your Instagram that you posted a video of you singing Above and Beyond with your husband. Do you have plans to post other videos during this time?
Helena Marie: My husband (Jason Deline, an actor too – your readers would recognize him from Arrow, X-Men and more) and I bonded over our love of music when we first met, and have always enjoyed singing covers and even writing our own songs together. During this pandemic, music has been a key to our sanity and it’s safe to say we’ll be posting more soon.
upfrontNY: Our world is going through a very difficult time right now. How has this experience changed your outlook on life, work, and moving forward when this is over?
Helena Marie: My biggest takeaway is how much we are all connected. Regardless of which side of a border you live on, or the beliefs you have – we are one world. I truly hope that people show more love, compassion, and generosity to their fellow humans.
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