Aahana Swrup
Hallmark’s ‘When Calls the Heart’ has said hello and goodbye to several fascinating characters over the years. Each new season seems to bring at least one or two new faces into Hope Valley that promise to shake things up in intriguing ways. Season 12, episode 5, ‘Mom’s the Word,’ continues this tradition through the character of Ava, a new face in town who instantly becomes a face to look out for. Ava’s arrival in town—going hand-in-hand with Fiona Miller’s momentary return—instantly establishes her as a new point of interest not only for the viewers but the townsfolk as well. From Elizabeth and Rosemary to even young Wyatt takes notice of the former heiress’ out-of-place presence. As such, one is bound to grow curious about her role this season. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Ava is an Heiress who is Looking for a New Start
Ava’s first appearance finds her walking the pathway to Hope Valley in a state of distress, which makes it clear she can use some help while also maintaining her put-together persona. Fortunately for her, she comes across an automobile driven by Fiona Miller—the suffragette who left town to make a difference in San Fransico. Naturally, once she learns that Ava has lost her belongings on the train ride over, she swiftly offers her a ride since they have the same destination. Once in town, Fiona further helps her get acquainted with the locals—including Mike Hickam, who runs the cafe/hotel Queen of Hearts.
Similarly, Ava meets Elizabeth Thorton, an apparent idol of hers. As it turns out, she has read Elizabeth’s novel “Single Mother and Frontier,” which chronicles her own journey into the town when she arrived as an heiress-turned-aspiring-teacher. In fact, her story inspired Ava—also an heiress—so much that she decided to claim the same path for herself. Therefore, she declares she has traveled all the way from Baltimore to become a teacher and find a new life for herself. Although the luggage theft is unfortunate, she seems to still be in high spirits. Mike is also sympathetic to her traveling troubles and offers her a meal at the house, to which she responds with a tall order of expensive items.
Whether this is a ditzy characteristic reminiscent of Ava’s acclimation to riches or an indicator of her willingness to exploit the kindness of others remains yet to be seen. In fact, the character becomes more and more intriguing once she takes up lodging in Hickam’s hotel without paying, with the excuse of delay in correspondence from her parents. Furthermore, her immediate suggestion to become a waitress at the cafe to work for her stay adds suspicion to her presence. Perhaps Ava isn’t quite who she says she is. Her uncanny similarity to Elizabeth’s story of her own arrival in town adds another layer of distrust. For now, her intentions don’t seem particularly nefarious, and save for Hickam’s unpaid bills, she hasn’t caused any damage either. Thus, whichever way her plot progresses, it remains promising.
Tiera Skovbye Plays Ava in When Calls the Heart
Tiera Skovbye is the real-life face behind Ava’s character from ‘When Calls the Heart.’ Interestingly enough, the actress actually has a pre-existing connection with the show. Skovbye is the older sibling of Ali Skovbye, the actress who portrays the role of Rebecca “Becky” Stanton from seasons 3 to 5. Even though their characters seem to have no clear connection yet, their off-screen relationship adds fun trivia to Ava’s new character. She has been an actress for many years now, having started out in the industry at a very young age.
Skovbye’s first acting credit is from 2001, when she was 6. In the short film ’24/7,’ the actresses portray the role of Little Girl Braun. She had a feature film debut in ‘Dead Lines,’ a 2010 crime film, and went on to star in several more projects. The actress is best recognized for some of her more recent work, including her portrayal of Polly Cooper in ‘Riverdale’ and Grace Knight in the sitcom ‘Nurses.’ She also has memorable roles in films like ‘2 Hears’ and ‘Summer of 84.’ Additionally, ‘When Calls the Heart’ isn’t her first foray into the world of Hallmark. She stars in the western drama show ‘Ride,’ where she embodies the role of Missy McMurray. Therefore, it seems Ava is another notable addition to Skovbye’s growing cinematography!
Read More: Is Kavan Smith’s Lee Coulter Leaving When Calls the Heart?
