Helen Decatur was busy on Candy Magnolias this season. She helped the mayor with the price range and tried to avoid wasting the city she cherished.
Nevertheless, it was greater than that. Helen appeared happier as she chased her desires and realized she nonetheless cherished Erik.
TV Fanatic had the chance to speak with Heather Headley, and it was like catching up with an previous pal. She mentioned filming that rescue scene within the rain with Dion Johnstone and what made the second time round with Erik even higher.
Headley additionally shared some storyline arcs she hopes to see in a possible fifth season and singing on the sequence once more.
Try the interview beneath.
It’s pretty to see you once more, Heather. You all had such completely different roles this season. How did you get pleasure from Helen’s work as city supervisor for the mayor?
She doesn’t prefer it at first, however she’s doing it for the sake of the city. As everyone is aware of, Helen loves Serenity. A number of weeks in the past, once they despatched us the present, I watched some episodes and remembered why Helen remains to be in Serenity and why she loves it a lot that it’s her city.
She and Peggy struggle as a result of the price range constraints pressure them to make exhausting selections. She takes it on as a result of she loves that city a lot and since that city has been there for her up to now.
She is aware of that she could also be the perfect candidate for the short-term city supervisor place. Though she’s not loopy about it, she’s there for the city.
What triggered Helen and the others to chase their desires extra vigorously this season?
Laura, once we get just a little older, there comes some extent in our lives as girls. We strive to determine our ardour and our function. It’s about what we’re working in the direction of.
In your 20s and 30s, you’re constructing a basis of what you could be, and if you hit your 40s, quickly approaching your 50s, you typically really feel your time is proscribed. Time is brief, and you must get these items performed.
In Candy Magnolias Season 4, the ladies are portrayed as understanding their desires, decided to realize them, and understanding they mustn’t procrastinate. You see that with Maddie. You see that with Dana Sue and her kitchen thought.
They hesitate just a little bit: Ought to I do that? Do I’ve the time? Do I’ve the cash? Finally, they understand they need to comply with their desires. This is a wonderful lesson for all of us as girls.
Someone as soon as advised me that procrastination is offensive to God as a result of it implies that you should have tomorrow if you don’t understand it. It’s impolite to some extent. So, they mentioned, go forward and seize your tree and say it’s. So, I believe that’s a part of it.
Completely. And you already know I’m a large Helen and Eric fan. So, we should focus on Eric rescuing Helen from that storm and that passionate rain kiss. What was that prefer to movie?
(laughs) Laura, they provide us the scripts two episodes at a time, so two weeks upfront. We’re sitting round, and I begin studying it. I’m in shock. I had a sense as a result of everyone insisted, we wanted them collectively.
Sheryl Anderson and I had spoken earlier than, and I advised her final season that I felt he wanted to rescue her from one thing. It needed to be like a snowstorm, and one thing needed to fall down.
I bear in mind mentioning that to her. After which she mentioned to me, “There’s going to be a storm, and Erik goes to return to her rescue.”
I forgot about that. So, I acquired the script, learn this factor, and thought this rain scene could be enjoyable. However then I remembered pondering, “Oh, I’ve to try this.” I don’t just like the chilly. I don’t wish to be moist all night time. That is going to be loopy.
It was the primary time we had performed something like that, so it was intricately performed with care and love. I bear in mind it was late at night time, and there was rain. We had been chilly, however they stored us heat.
We had our costumes. Individuals had blankets and heaters and stuff to make it occur. I’m grateful to them as a result of the crew, wardrobe, make-up, and hair went above and past, even with my hair.
I bear in mind speaking about how the water would curly my hair and all these items. Dion Johnstone was soaking moist for 3 hours.
Yeah, he seemed scorching.
He had been soaking moist for 3 hours, and it needed to be about 40 levels. They had been blowing water on us. However we knew, beneath the care of Norman Buckley, our resident director, that it could be a ravishing scene. It was the proper scene and the suitable factor for these two to reunite.
For sure, I didn’t see all of it occur till a lot later, however I’m pleased with it. It appears to be like nice, and I believe the ladies will swoon.
I did. That kiss was scorching.
(laughs) The ladies will swoon. I believe the ladies will all go outdoors, get their chainsaws, attempt to lower down timber over their vehicles, and be like, rescue me. It’s a candy scene. It was robust as a result of it was chilly, wet, moist, and all the pieces else. Nevertheless it was enjoyable. Everyone made it straightforward to do.
Why do you suppose Helen and Eric’s relationship is stronger this time?
That’s a fantastic query. I’ve mentioned it with the writers and defined why this time is their time and if anybody will mess it up.
Individuals disagreed with Helen’s selection of Ryan over Eric final season. They had been sending me messages, and so they had been upset. A few of these individuals had been my mom. Many individuals had been upset concerning the selection.
However I bear in mind telling the writing workforce that Helen doesn’t want to choose Eric but. She must go along with Ryan. I do know that’s controversial. And perhaps you’re not joyful about ready one other season your self, Laura? However right here’s the deal.
We wanted to see that she and Ryan had been over this time. You know the way these issues are generally. You all the time have this thought behind your head about what if we may have been collectively.
Helen wanted to get that slate cleared. Even when she went into it with Ryan, she had all these ideas and doubts.
So, I believe this time that Erik and Helen are stronger. They’ve spent a yr pining after one another and going separate methods. Even Erik wanted to depart, be with any individual else, and determine you’re not the one. It’s nonetheless Helen.
I believe they’ve longevity this time. Hopefully, nobody will mess it up.
If we get a fifth season, will we see a marriage?
If you happen to get a fifth season, you’ll see a marriage. I wouldn’t doubt it. All the opposite women have had weddings. Why shouldn’t Helen?
It ought to be big. I advised them that if Helen had a marriage, she could be on the entrance of the church, and her prepare would nonetheless be within the automotive.
[laughs] I like it.
Maddie and Dana Sue ought to nonetheless be within the automotive attempting to get it out, and she or he ought to be on the entrance of the church with it nonetheless rolling in. So yeah, the opposite two women have had a marriage. I might hope that she would get one, too. We’ll see how the joyful ending goes.
What else do you wish to see for Helen in a possible fifth season?
There’s a lot. It might be attention-grabbing to be taught extra about why Helen stayed and the historical past of Helen’s household.
We have to know just a little about why she stayed, like along with her mother, Bev Decatur (Janet Hubert). Her father’s useless. What made Helen return to Serenity?
If the fifth season showcases the marriage, Will probably be preparing for that, and nothing is ever straightforward for Helen, so there will probably be drama.
If you consider it, Laura, all of Serenity has been ready for Helen to get married. She’s been the only spinster to some extent.
Maddie has had two weddings now. Dana Sue has had a marriage, a breakup, a divorce, and a vow renewal. She is the opposite Magnolia who will do it. It might be an enormous deal that she is getting married and that the city desires to return and have fun, in addition to all of the drama which may convey.
I don’t essentially must see Helen with children. I all the time say that as a result of there are girls in our world who don’t have the present of getting kids. However they’re nice aunties and nice godmothers.
It might be instance of any individual being fulfilled, both adopting or being a godmother to these children.
I don’t suppose she desires to be mayor, however she’ll tackle one thing. She would possibly run some firm or purchase one thing else. It’s time to purchase one thing else. She’ll purchase the Nook Spa and buy one thing else.
It’ll be a fantastic season for her. I really like the drama. That is terrible, however I by no means need Helen settled as a result of, just like the drama, I inform them to not mood that water and shake it up.
So, I counsel giving her one thing to do each time she will get settled. Let her have some issues. Sure, hopefully, she’ll have some happiness with a little bit of drama.
I like it. Earlier than we finish, I wish to say that I cherished listening to you sing once more.
Oh, thanks. It was good singing. Brooke Elliot sang this yr, and she or he sounded lovely. I bear in mind going by means of the script once more, and it was Christmas.
I knew we’d finish with Christmas, and I simply had this sense that any individual would sing, and it wouldn’t be Joanna Garcia Swisher.
We hope it gained’t be Joanna and Brooke who’ve already sung, so I believe I’m up. It was a number of enjoyable.
I really like Christmas, and I wish to report a Christmas album. I’m hoping to do one this yr. It was a pleasure to sing Christmas songs on the present once more.
It was entertaining, and Paster June’s being pregnant, her supply, and the entire place coming collectively made it much more enjoyable.
It’s all the time a pleasure to speak to you, so thanks a lot on your time. I’m certain everyone will love the season, and Workforce Helen and Eric followers will probably be so pleased with me main the cost.
I do know. I’m so joyful for them.
I’m joyful for me.
It’s three or 4 seasons overdue, so I’m glad. It’s going to be enjoyable. We’ll see what the individuals say. As I mentioned, They weren’t pleased with me final season. So, hopefully, this yr, they’ll be just a little happier.
Nicely, thanks on your assist of the present. We all the time respect it.
Candy Magnolias Season 4 is streaming on Netflix. Keep tuned for extra unique interviews with Dion Johnstone and Anneliese Decide.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
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