Exclusive Interview: Erin Cahill Talks Hallmark’s Hearts in the Game, the Film’s Timely Message, and More

Erin Cahill is a dynamic storyteller whose versatility and talents have shined in over one hundred film and television projects. From her leading roles in thrillers to comedies to dramas, Erin has always brought an unparalleled emotional depth to her characters. Previous credits include Power Rangers Time Force, General Hospital, Saving Grace, and Every Time a Bell Rings.

This April, she stars opposite Marco Grazzini in Hallmark’s Hearts in the Game. The must-see rom-com follows Hazel Miller (Cahill), a top publicist in New York City, who is looking to build her empire. Diego Vasquez (Grazzini) is a top MLB pitcher who froze during Game 7 of the World Series. He also happens to be the guy who shattered Hazel’s heart in high school. When Hazel is tasked with spinning Diego’s image, it might be her biggest challenge professionally, and personally, as she takes him back to their hometown in Ohio to deal with what they’ve both left behind.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Erin about Hearts in the Game, the film’s timely message, the women in her life who inspired the storyteller she is today, and more.

PC: Tell us about Hearts in the Game and what drew you to this project.
Erin: This movie was such a gift in so many ways. First, I had just finished another project for Hallmark, which is coming out later in the year, that I can’t talk about since it hasn’t been announced, but it’s with the same director, Stacey Harding. So I was so excited to work with her again. Plus, this amazing cast has been such a gift.

Hearts in the Game deals with important themes like being who you are, believing in yourself, mental health, grief, and friendship. It covers these important topics in a way that’s so profound, authentic, and driven by the heart. It hit me on so many levels.

PC: You’ve played so many powerful female characters throughout your career. Who were the women in your own life who shaped the storyteller that you are today?
Erin: Oh my gosh. Nobody’s asked me that yet. I love that so much. It’s such a huge part of who I am. My mom and my grandma have shaped so much of who I am as a person. Actually, my grandma is about to turn 91. I’m flying her out to come see our house for the first time. I’m so excited. But anyway, they shaped who I am as a person, which ultimately informs who you are as a storyteller in a myriad of ways. My mom was a theater director and an actress before she moved into directing. She’s definitely had the biggest influence on me and who I am as a storyteller today.

PC: I love how you’ve used your platform to champion other female storytellers as well. So much of your character’s journey in the film is about breaking down the walls that she’s created, which you’ve brought so much nuance to. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to dive into that arc?
Erin: Thank you so much for that beautiful compliment. I love Hazel. I’ve been saying in all the press that I’ve done for the film that she’s so different from who I am. Obviously, I drew from a lot of pieces of myself for my character, but she’s definitely more the girl who walks into the room and owns it. She knows exactly what she wants to say. It was really fun preparing for that.

I actually haven’t had a chance to tell anyone this yet, but one of my favorite moments on set was when Stacey would look at me and give me a look. I’d go, “Oh, oh, that was Erin. I have to do that as Hazel.” [laughs] It’s because I noticed that the two of us had this shorthand. I was constantly fine-tuning her during the filming process.

As far as that emotional arc, it was there on the page. I cried when I read it. I felt like as long as I serviced the story then I’d be happy.

PC: You and Marco have such fantastic chemistry. Was there a moment when you were filming when you realized that you both had the connection needed to tackle the journey between your two characters?
Erin: I’ve been saying this a lot but it was so wonderful working with Marco. He’s everything you want him to be if you’re a fan of his work. He’s so wonderful, kind, and professional. He’s so fun and loving. He’s just a wonderful human and an incredible actor to work with. It’s funny because we’re so different. I think that served us in our characters. I’m like, “Hello, good morning everybody. Yay!” He’s so laid back and like, “Hey.” We really complimented each other well, and we brought a lot of that to the energy on set. He was such a gift to work with.

We had the luxury of rehearsal, which Stacey made sure we had. We got to rehearse a bit, and that’s such a luxury. Sometimes when you get on set, you get to meet your scene partner before you’re about to do a kissing scene. But on this one, we actually had time to rehearse and off days to get to talk and connect.

PC: There are so many universal themes that this film tackles like grief, self-discovery, loss, and mental health. Was there one in particular that hit home for you?
Erin: Yeah, like you were saying, there are so many universal themes like grief, loss, and self-discovery. For me, the mental health aspect hit home. There are two organizations that I really champion. One is buildOn, and they build schools. I believe education is a fundamental human right. The other is the Kindness Campaign, which deals with mental health. I started working with them less than a year before I filmed this. When this movie came along, I was like, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” It’s such an important topic, especially given everything that we’ve all been through in the last couple of years. There’s not a human on this planet who wasn’t affected in either a small way or in a really profound, life-changing way—and everything in between. So that was a huge thing that resonated with me.

Also playing a strong female character who empowers other females—and not just females, but also other human beings. She’s like, “This is what you deserve. This is how it should be seen because it’s your truth.”

PC: Another theme that resonated with me is the idea of second chances. If you could pick a moment in your own life to do over, which would it be and why?
Erin: Let’s see. I’m a big believer in not having regrets and that everything is a learning opportunity. The only thing that comes to mind is that we had a very small wedding. We only had twenty friends there, and two of our best friends couldn’t make it. They were in a tough position. We were in a tough position, bootstrapping it. We were paying for our wedding. We were like, “We’ll figure it out. We’ll eat a lot of cup noodles. We’ll be fine.” But I wish that I had stuck their flights on a credit card and dealt with it because I really missed them at our wedding.

PC: When the film comes out, what do you hope audiences take away?
Erin: I love your questions. I hope they take a few things away. I hope that they take away that it’s not only okay to talk about not being okay, but it’s stronger to talk about it and it’s so important to talk about it. I hope people take that away and seek help or do whatever will help them personally. That can be a myriad of things. I hope they also take away that nothing is done forever. Through conversations, all things can be solved. Getting in communication with people can really make all the difference.

To keep up with Erin, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Hearts in the Game on the Hallmark Channel on April 29th at 8/7c.

Photo Credit: 2023 Hallmark Media