Hallmark's “Royally Ever After”: The Other Fairy Tale Wedding of the Weekend

Filmed on location at Markree Castle in Ireland, Royally Ever After is glorious in scope and provided the perfect setting for the story.  “[Ireland] really is that beautiful,” Gubelmann explained.  “But it was really cold while we were there.  It was an incredible location and the castle was stunning, so I see why it's a wedding destination.  Not only did we get to film at the castle, we stayed at it!  I got to live like a princess -- that never happens.  My room was beautiful and like my character I would actually go running in the morning, so I got to live what I was filming.”

Gubelmann also adored working with her handsome co-star, Torrance Coombs (The CW’s Reign and The Originals).  “He really is that charming and handsome,” she said.  “Torrance is one of the nicest people I've ever met.  He's a sweetheart and we instantly became good friends.  When you're working with someone you trust and feel comfortable around, you're much more likely to take risks, have fun and be playful.  And yes, he is so handsome, so sweet and silly, we had so much fun cracking each other up.

“Torrance and his wife are perfect -- it's kind of gross,” she joked.  “She showed up on set after traveling for 18 hours with no makeup and was so beautiful.  I was like, ‘Torrance, I really don't like her.  She looks like that after hours of traveling?’  He was like, ‘Yeah.’”

According to Gubelmann (who is also happily married) she didn’t grow up with aspirations of marrying a prince.  However, since making the movie she has a new appreciation of why so many young girls do.  “I did run around dressed as Maid Marion chasing after Robin Hood, who was a fox, like in the Disney version,” she revealed with a laugh.  “I loved The Little Mermaid and Cinderella because I'm a huge Disney fan, but I don't think being a princess was really a dream of mine.  Now it is -- and I'd be Princess Fiona, like in Shrek.”

She also has a new appreciation of what royal bride Meghan Markle is going through.  “I can relate,” she told me.  “Being in the public eye and being an actor gives you some insight.  While there are certain aspects to it that look amazing and incredible, there are things you really have to give up.  I hear about the stuff going on with father and I do feel bad for her.  At the end of the day, she is a person.  Still, there are certain aspects that sound like a fairytale and a dream come true.

“Having people criticize and comment on everything that you do and having to be aware of what you say and your actions, that’s something I'm aware of,” she continued.  “But what I really admire about Meghan, although I've never met her, is she comes across as intelligent, very well spoken and educated about things.  She also has a confidence I find very attractive.  That’s something I would personally love to have as I'm very shy and awkward.  Being in the public eye, you [will have] people that hate you and you kinda just have to say, ‘The haters are going to hate.’”

Thanks to her role as Dr. Morgan Reznick on ABC’s breakout hit The Good Doctor (which resumes production in June), it’ll be a little while before Gubelmann has the opportunity to do anything else for Hallmark.  Still, she hopes her association with them is a long one.  “Hallmark really is the heart of TV,” she declared.  “It's great to be on a network that makes shows the whole family can watch.  No one else is really making shows for women starring women, so they are very forward-thinking in that respect.” In fact, she hopes her next Hallmark project is a sequel to Royally Ever After.  “People are already asking if there’s going to be a sequel without even seeing it,” she smiled.  “I really hope so because I loved every single person I worked with on this and would jump at the chance to be with them again.”

Royally Ever After premieres Saturday at 9 p.m. on Hallmark Channel.

Click the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleagues.

The opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author and/or subject(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillage.com/MyersBizNet, Inc. management or associated writers.