Upamanyu Biswas
Hallmark’s ‘A Royal Runaway Romance’ tells the story of Amelia Bell, the Princess of Bundbury, who is expected to take the throne of her kingdom with her mother, Queen Ava, soon to step down. Amelia is unhappy with the lack of freedom in her life and wishes to explore a potential romance with Chicago-based artist Wes Riverton. The protagonist plans to reunite with him under the guise of her uncle’s birthday. However, it soon turns into a complicated affair as her uncle finds out about the runaway mission, assigning a reluctant Grady Beck as her bodyguard. Subsequently, she embarks on a road trip across the state with Grady guiding her. Directed by David Weaver, the romantic movie embraces a charming tone as it sweeps past bustling urban and rural neighborhoods in Amelia’s royal quest to find a suitable partner of her choice.
Where Was A Royal Runaway Romance Filmed?
Although set in the Chicago area, ‘A Royal Runaway Romance’ was actually filmed in a popular Hallmark destination—the British Columbia province. Shooting took place in two areas within the region, the city of Vancouver and Mission. Principal photography on the project began on January 31, 2022, and was wrapped up on February 18. British Columbia is known for its geodiversity and its blend of vibrant cityscapes and eye-catching natural sites. It is situated between two defining formations—the Pacific coastline and the Rocky Mountains range. The area has garnered a reputation as a stunning filmmaking destination because of its versatility and dynamic locales. In the David Weaver directorial, the spot serves as a stand-in for Chicago’s brilliance as Amelia undertakes her romantic journey.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Filming for ‘A Royal Runaway Romance’ took place in the seaport city of Vancouver, British Columbia. The city boasts a diverse population and serves as an important cultural center, which is exemplified by its thriving art, theatre, and music scenes. Situated on the west coast, Vancouver is resplendent with dazzling ocean views that add a sense of charm to the whole region. It is also home to several parks, gardens, and leisure spots that break up the monotony of everyday city life. Some of the city’s landmark attractions include Stanley Park, VanDusen Botanical Garden, Science World, Museum of Anthropology at UBC, and Vancouver Seawall. Vancouver has hosted productions of popular films and shows like ‘Supernatural,’ ‘House,” HBO’s ‘The Last of Us,’ and ‘She’s the Man.’
Mission, British Columbia
Another important filming spot for ‘A Royal Runaway Romance’ was Mission, a city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. The production team recorded some key scenes at Rocko’s 24 Hour Diner at 32786 Lougheed Highway. The establishment doubles up as Nevada Jane’s Diner in the film. Mission has a moderately sized population of around 42,000 people, which has grown over the years. It is located on the southern side of the Coast Mountains range and overlooks the Central Fraser Valley. It is also situated close to the Fraser River, which is a popular fishing site and a regular haunt for outdoor enthusiasts. The region also brings in travelers from across the country. Tourist activities often include hiking, biking, and fishing.
A Royal Runaway Romance Cast Details
‘A Royal Runaway Romance’ is splendidly realized through the compelling performances of Philippa Northeast, Brant Daugherty, Sarah-Jane Redmond, and Khamisa Wilsher, who lead the film alongside some notable supporting roles. Northeast is a talented and versatile actress who has shown her range through a variety of challenging roles. Daugherty is a familiar Hallmark face, having appeared in several movies by the network. Redmond is a veteran actress with over 100 acting credits to her name. She has also shared the screen with the likes of Katie Holmes, Blake Lively, Reneé Zellwegger, Gillian Anderson, and David Duchovny. Wilsher has made a name for herself through some notable roles in popular shows, showcasing her ability through every character she plays.
Philippa Northeast as Amelia Bell
Philippa Northeast stars as Amelia Bell, the Princess of Bundbury. Northeast is most noted for her appearances as Kay Walters in ‘The Newreader,’ Evelyn MacGuire in ‘Home and Away,’ Susie Lawson in ‘Territory,’ and Sunny in ‘Standing Up For Sunny.’ Her other credits include ‘Paper Dolls,’ ‘Bondi Slayer,’ ‘Drop Dead Weird,’ and ‘In Limbo.’
Brant Daugherty as Grady Beck
Starring opposite Northeast is Brant Daugherty as Amelia’s bodyguard, Grady Beck. He is best known for playing Noel Kahn in ‘Pretty Little Liars,’ Luke Sawyer in ‘Fifty Shades Freed,’ Thane Lockwood in ‘Dear White People,’ and Brian in NBC’s ‘Days of Our Lives.’ He also features in ‘Just for the Summer,’ ‘The Baker’s Son,’ ‘Timeless Love,’ ‘Relationship Status,’ ‘Freakish,’ ‘Army Wives,’ and ‘A Christmas Movie Christmas.’
Sarah-Jane Redmond as Ava Bell
Sarah-Jane Redmond plays Ava Bell, the Queen of Bundbury. She received widespread recognition and acclaim for her roles as Lucy Butler in ‘Millennium,’ Elaine Pownall in ‘Siren,’ Jackie in ‘iZombie,’ and Nell Potter in ‘Smallville.’ She also features in a host of sci-fi projects like ‘The X-Files,’ ‘Harsh Realm,’ ‘Andromeda,’ ‘Dark Angel,’ and ‘The Outer Limits.’ Other acting credits include Netflix’s ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,’ ‘The 100,’ ‘Bad Genius,’ ‘Cedar Cove,’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’
Khamisa Wilsher as Camille
Khamisa Wilsher stars as Camille. Wilsher’s best work includes her part as Lonni Byrne in ‘Funhouse,’ Lucretia in ‘Van Helsing,’ Lilly in ‘Dating the Delaneys,’ and Isla in ‘When Mom Becomes a Murderer.’ She is also present in ‘The Flash,’ ‘Charmed,’ ‘The Twilight Zone,’ ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Polaris,’ and ‘Lost Lake Confessions.’
Other cast members include Vincent Gale as Andreas Bell, Andre Anthony as Wes Riverton, Catherine Barroll as Paula Beck, Robert Wisden as Pat Beck, BJ Harrison as Rosemary, Terence Kelly as Arnie, and Raine Mateo as Becca. Meanwhile, Nicole Major, Monique Helbig, Marc Gaudet, TJ Oberholzer, and Sabrina Prada appear in minor roles.
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