Exclusive Interview
McKenzie Westmore Dishes on First Hallmark Movie ‘Love in the Clouds’ & ‘Passions’ Reunion Hopes
McKenzie Westmore is on cloud nine about joining the Hallmark family. The Passions alum stars in her first-ever Hallmark movie, Love in the Clouds. She plays Brooklyn, a reporter who travels to the Balloon Fiesta to meet hot air balloon pilot Jared (Paul Greene). As Brooklyn steps outside her comfort zone, sparks start flying—and we’re not just talking about the ones from the hot air balloon’s burner.
Westmore told Swooon that she’s been wanting to do a Hallmark movie “for a decade.” After her work in soaps and on QVC, Hallmark was “a natural crossover in my mind.”
The actress, who played the beloved Sheridan Crane on Passions, identified with her Love in the Clouds character on many levels. “I love that Brooklyn is a very strong woman, as all Hallmark women are,” Westmore said. “But what I really appreciated is more how she maintains that strength. Even though she’s very fearful, she doesn’t give up on the chance of trying to fight through it. She pushes through her fears, which is very close to me.”
Hallmark Media / Desert Reign Films
Speaking of fears, Westmore noted that “Brooklyn is afraid of everything except love. Jared is afraid of nothing except love. They find that commonality. There’s obviously an attraction, but they grow into this beautiful chemistry of, hey, I’m going to help you get over your fear of love. And hey, I’m going to help you get over your fear of heights and spiders and snakes and everything in life.”
Working alongside Greene, a Hallmark veteran, was a “dream come true” for Westmore. “He initially was not the first Jared that was cast,” the actress revealed. “A bunch of people were looked at, and I was so grateful that it ended up being Paul because he’s such an amazing actor and amazing human being. He just made every day so easy, every scene so fun, and we just clicked.”
Just like their characters, the founder and creative director of Westmore Beauty got the When Calls the Heart alum to try something new. “Paul does not wear makeup at all on camera. He doesn’t like to,” Westmore recalled. “And I said, ‘Could you please just try my Red Zone Edit just to see if it takes some of the redness down?’ He’s like, ‘Alright, fine.’ So he did it, and I actually have the video of my Tiktok. He’s like, ‘I love this.'”
She continued, “With Love in the Clouds, we used Westmore Beauty on everybody. And that’s what I love about Westmore Beauty as well is that it works for everybody: men, women, different skin tones, different ages. I was so grateful that Westmore Beauty stepped in and brought even more love to Love in the Clouds.” Her favorite products include the the Supreme Creme, Red Carpet Mascara, and 24k Gold In-the-Core Lipstick.
Paul Drinkwater / NBC / Everett Collection
Westmore is hopeful that Love in the Clouds is the first of many Hallmark movies to come. “I would do a Christmas movie in a heartbreak,” she gushed.
The actress would love the opportunity to work alongside Galen Gering, who played Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald on Passions, again. “Because Passions didn’t end well for the fans, I would love to see Luis and Sheridan come back in some sort of way, so we have a little Shuis connection,” Westmore told Swooon. “Obviously, it’s different characters, but I would love to give back to the fans and have a Sheridan-Luis reunion.” Let’s make it happen, Passions fans!
Love in the Clouds, Movie Premiere, May 10, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel
