East Toronto’s Lara Amersey takes on key role in Hallmark/W Network’s Mistletoe Murders series

By MATTHEW STEPHENS

Local actress and screenwriter Lara Amersey is thrilled be a part of the six-episode Hallmark/W Network TV series Mistletoe Murders which is now airing.

The show, which hit television screens on Nov. 18, is based on the Audible global hit podcast of the same name. The story follows Emily Lane (played by Sarah Drew): a Christmas store owner whose enigmatic past is slowly unveiled as she investigates local murders.

The show blends the compelling elements of a murder mystery with festive undertones in a way that Amersey believes will make for a standout feature in the Hallmark catalogue.

“We all know what to expect from Hallmark Christmas movies and Hallmark romcoms; they have their place, and they bring a lot of joy to a lot of people. And Mistletoe Murders is that, but marrying with true crime and a murder mystery, so I think it just appeals to such a broad audience.” said Amersey.

In the show, Amersey plays June Hubble: a friend of protagonist Emily who comes under fire when she is accused of terrible crimes.

Born in Montreal, Amersey moved to Toronto around the age of seven. She grew up in midtown Toronto, close to the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue. In her early 20s, she moved to East Toronto with her soon-to-be husband, around the intersection of Queen Street East and Woodbine Avenue.

“It was almost 20 years ago that I first moved to the East End, and I loved being so close to the water. I just fell in love with it.” said Amersey.  

After starting a family, Amersey and her husband moved a bit further west to Leslieville.

“We didn’t want to go too far back then.” said Amersey. “There were schools close by and we still had the same feeling of the Beach being able to walk to everything; to walk to good restaurants and coffee shops and independent stores – we felt like we still had the same kind of community that we had in the Beach.”

Amersey mentions how the move to the Beach gave her a “small town” feeling.

“Growing up I could never walk up the street and get a coffee.” said Amersey “It was a really nice change to do that here, and then also be downtown in 15 minutes.”

Sharing some of her favourite East End spots with Beach Metro Community News, Amersey mentions Sauvignon Bistro & Bakery (1862 Queen St. E.) and Gio Rana’s (1220 Queen St. E.) as some of her go-to places for a night out locally.

As an artist living in the area, Amersey also praises the artisan shop Makers (1984 Queen St. E.) for giving local independent artists a place to display and sell their work without the hassle of online marketing.

“The first time I went in there, just to see that a store had gone out of their way to make space for independent artists to showcase their things and to sell them where you didn’t have to buy them online – I loved that,” said Amersey.

Her acting career has spanned more than 20 years. She rose to prominence working in kids’ television, where she starred in 52 episodes of the YTV and Jetix UK television series Monster Warriors, as well as other roles across the Family Channel and Nickelodeon networks.

Amersey believes that her role as Vanka in the Monster Warriors was a momentous experience in her acting career.

“It was almost like film school. We did so many episodes, we were shooting so many pages per day. All those skills I learned from that show, I still use.” she said.

Following her time in kids’ television, Amersey had bigger roles in shows such as Flashpoint, Private Eyes, and Warehouse 13.

However, it was her previous work with legendary director George A. Romero on the 2005 horror/sci-fi film Land of the Dead, where she felt the gravitas of working in the industry.

“I got the distinct pleasure when I was younger of working with George Romero. It was not lost on me that I was working with Hollywood elite.”

After settling down with her husband – celebrated Canadian film and television producer, Alex Jordan (whom she met on the set of Monster Warriors) – Amersey took a five-year break from work to start a family and raise her two children.

“I had taken a bit of a break from acting when I had them, just out of necessity. And then when my son was about two, I went back to work, and it just reminded me how much I love my job and what I do.” said Amersey. “There’s no better feeling for me than being on set and being with other actors and creating.  

She mentions how the break from acting changed her outlook on the roles she took when she returned to the limelight.

“When I came back, I was in a completely different age category” said Amersey. “I had to adapt because I had gotten so used to playing a high schooler as a kid, and this was a chance to play an adult on screen.”

Around the same time she returned to acting, Amersey enrolled in a series of courses in wine education at George Brown College; where she earned several certifications and established herself within the wine industry.

Although she suggests Spanish wine as an overlooked option at dinnertime, when asked about her personal preference, Amersey ultimately believes that “good” wine is a matter of opinion.

“If you like it and when you drink it, it makes you happy and it tastes good – then that’s a good wine.” said Amersey.

In addition to acting and being a certified wine connoisseur, Amersey also works in the film industry as a writer. She said working in the field as an actress over the years has improved her ability to write scripts.

“I don’t know that I would be able to be a writer if I hadn’t been an actress first.” said Amersey. “I’ve read so many scripts over the years and delivered so much dialogue that I’ve been able to take that experience and transcribe it onto paper.”

Amersey continues to work closely with her husband on projects that focus on telling stories reflective of her diverse (South Asian/French Canadian) background. Recently, she can be seen as Sheree in an episode of Prime Original show Cross, and in an upcoming animated show where she’ll be showcasing her voice acting skills.

Of all the roles she’s played in her career, Amersey is particularly excited about playing June in Mistletoe Murders.

“I’m just so so proud of this show, and it’s probably one of the biggest roles I’ve gotten since coming back into the business.” said Amersey.

Mistletoe Murders is now available to stream on fubo TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Hallmark+.