Amber Marshall Opens Up About ‘Heartland’, Loss and New Love

Viewers of the beloved drama Heartland have grown up with Amber Marshall. The actress, 35, has portrayed Amy Fleming for more than 15 years and over 250 episodes. With season 17 now in production, the series shows no signs of slowing down.

Based on the bestselling books, Heartland follows the Bartlett-Fleming family and is set against the picturesque backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in the fictional town of Hudson, Alberta.

Amy enjoys the ranch life surrounded by horses and open space. However, the rural setting has been anything but easy living.

Much like her character, Marshall and the rest of the cast have dealt with their own share of loss. One of the show’s stars, Robert Cormier, who played Amy's love interest Finn Cotter, died last September after a fall.

A Close-Knit Family

The tragedy brought the cast and crew even closer together. "We really have become quite a family because we have been together for so many years," Marshall shared. "The funny connection between it is we are actually playing a family on TV. We genuinely care about each other."

Marshall believes that the show’s longevity has contributed to its realism and depth. "I just absolutely love the longevity of the show because it makes the character have so much more realism and history with other characters," she explained.

The actress also appreciates the opportunity to grow alongside her character. "It’s a rare opportunity that an actor gets to play a character for this long," she said. "To be able to grow as a person simultaneously with my character’s growth has been cool."

Moving Forward After Loss

Cormier's death was a devastating blow to the Heartland family. "When we found out the news, it was devastating," Marshall recalled. "It was one of those moments that served as a reminder that you never know when you’re going to lose someone around you. We all took a step back and used it as a moment to look at our lives and who we love and care about and make sure they know that. You never know. There is no certainty in life. That was kind of an eye-opener for everyone on set. In a way, I do believe it did bring us all closer together because you can’t take anything for granted."

Fans were eager to see Amy find love again after the death of her husband, Ty Borden (Graham Wardle). The blossoming romance between Amy and Finn was cut short by Cormier's passing, leaving viewers to wonder about the future of Amy's love life.

A New Love Interest?

Season 16 saw the introduction of a potential new love interest for Amy in the form of Sam Langstone (Shawn Roberts). While Marshall remained tight-lipped about the future of their relationship, she acknowledged the importance of keeping viewers guessing. "I think it’s always important when you have a female character who has been through love and loss to have characters that are always kind of there," she said. "When there is always that potential of asking, “Is there going to be something that happens?” You never know. That’s what keeps stories interesting when you don’t know the exact path the character is going to take. Sometimes there are certain things, even our own lives that we are just neighbours or friends or whatever we might see them as. Then a life situation might turn the corner where might actually view them differently."

The Enduring Appeal of Heartland

Marshall attributes the show's success and longevity to its wholesome, family-friendly nature. "I think fans are really looking for a nice, wholesome, family show that they can sit down together and watch and not be worried about the content," she said. "Not have to explain things to their kids. That’s one of the biggest things I hear as far as feedback that people. That Heartland has actually brought their family closer together. The more I hear about it and hear kids will watch the show and call their grandparents to talk about it. That is their common thread. It’s something we can all enjoy and sit and talk about. In such a fast-paced world, where so many people are separated by devices and technology. Everybody is very disconnected, but they can still get together to sit and watch our show together."

As for how much longer she sees herself playing Amy, Marshall is happy to continue riding the Heartland horse for as long as it lasts. "I love this character. Not even the character, but this lifestyle," she said. "Heartland has one of the nicest environments that I have been in when it comes to a film set. We primarily film outdoors in beautiful locations. Every day I show up to work it’s breathtaking....I don’t know if I could ever find a better job than this. It fits my life so perfectly. I live in Alberta. I love Alberta. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I will ride this horse as long as it’s here."