Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Katie Boland, Hallmark’s ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ is a biographical drama that throws light on the life of Alana Thompson, popularly known as “Honey Boo Boo.” Narrated by Thompson, it traces her rise to popularity as a 6-year-old on the reality series ‘Toddlers & Tiaras’ and her subsequent struggles with her mother and her producers, both on and off-screen. As the years pass, things get physically draining and traumatizing for Alana, until a shocking revelation about her mother, who has been by her side throughout her success, turns her world upside down. Since ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ is based on real-life events, special care has been taken to enhance the narrative’s appeal using authentic visuals steeped in realism.
Where Was I Was Honey Boo Boo Filmed?
‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ is filmed entirely in Bournemouth, England. Principal photography began in the first week of March 2025 and wrapped up in the same month. The film’s theme may have led the crew to choose a more suitable location than Vancouver and Toronto, Hallmark’s primary filming regions, for which Bournemouth seemed apt. Talking about her experience, Vale Cooper, who plays young Alana Thompson, told Curiocity about all the fun she had on set. “My tutor, Beth, took me crabbing. The production coordinator, Rosie, and I made bracelets. My favourite person of all was a wild donkey named Ron Weasley near one location. I fed him apples,” she said.
Bournemouth, England
Bournemouth, a coastal town in Dorset County in south-west England, served as the sole base for the shooting of ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo.’ Needless to say, the crew captured the gorgeous locales in a way that highlights the film’s aesthetic in accordance with the story. The town is home to many notable production studios with state-of-the-art facilities that may have enabled the crew to effectively give shape to the story using proper indoor and outdoor shots. While shifting to England is an unconventional move for Hallmark, it isn’t new, as it has filmed many other movies there, including ‘Jolly Good Christmas,’ ‘The Presence of Love,’ and ‘Christmas in Notting Hill.’
Known for its award-winning beaches and nightlife, Bournemouth is a paradise for relaxation and leisure. Some of the most well-known beaches there include Alum Chine, Fisherman’s Walk, Durley Chine, Manor Steps, and Southbourne. Besides the beaches, the town is also known for its Victorian and Edwardian architecture, which can be spotted in many landmarks, including St Peter’s Church, St Clement’s Church, and Russell-Cotes Museum. Westbourne, a residential area in Bournemouth, is where Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson lived from 1885 to 1887 and wrote some of his most popular work, including ‘ Treasure Island,’ ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,’ and ‘ A Child’s Garden of Verses.’ The place also served as the final home of J. R. R. Tolkien, author of ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings.’
Bournemouth holds a string of festivals all year round, the most famous of which are the 10-day-long Bournemouth Food and Drink Festival, the Arts by the Sea Festival, the Bournemouth 7s Festival, which celebrates sport and music, and the Bournemouth Air Festival, featuring stunts by aircraft of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. The Dorset county itself has served as the backdrop for many films and shows like ‘Broadchurch,’ ‘Dunkirk,’ ‘Ammonite,’ ‘The Sandman,’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.’
I Was Honey Boo Boo Cast Details
The ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ cast is led by Vale Cooper, Chelsea Larkin, and Isabelle Ayres. Vale is a student at Born to Act Studios in Kelowna, British Columbia. She is an athlete and loves volleyball, soccer, and climbing. Chelsea is a comedian who has performed with The Second City, Just For Laughs, and New Faces: Characters. Isabelle is into theater and a regular at the Bradford Playhouse in Bradford, England. Although ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo’ is their first film together, the bond they formed on set is clearly visible in their onscreen interactions.
Vale Cooper as Young Alana Thompson
Vale Cooper plays the younger version of Alana Thompson in the film. She made her acting debut in 2021 with the Hallmark movie ‘A Christmas Together with You,’ where you can see her as one of the elf children. She also plays the young version of Rebecca in ‘Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane,’ which stars Brandi Alexander and Zac Bellward; the young version of Missy in ‘Happy Face,’ opposite Dennis Quaid; and Ryan in ‘We Need A Little Christmas.’
Chelsea Larkin as Mama June
Chelsea Larkin plays Mama June, Alana’s mother, in ‘I Was Honey Boo Boo.’ Her first role on TV is Jill Gaston in the series ‘Dual Suspects,’ which came out in 2011. Her other performances include the wine sample lady in ‘Children Ruin Everything,’ Fairy Godmother in ‘Conductor’s Hat,’ and Trisha Leffler in ‘See No Evil.’ She also plays the role of the perfect mom in the short film ‘Mom Jail.’
Isabelle Ayres as Older Alana Thompson
Isabelle Ayres plays the older version of Alana Thompson in the film. You can also see her as Gemma in the short comedy film ‘The Tooth Fairy,’ which is about a young girl hoping that the tooth fairy will help her single father with some much-needed money. Despite being only one film old, Alana shows a lot of promise as an actor her age, one who can handle complex roles.
Joining Cooper, Larkin, and Ayres is a highly talented additional cast that includes Richard Nicholas Emerson as Geno Doak, Georgia Small as Pumpkin, Hainsley Lloyd Bennett as Dr. Ish, and Eoin Lynch as Mark. The extended cast includes Neil Chinneck as Sugar Bear, Freddie Cohen as Josh Efrid, Kamara Bacchus as Susie, Emily Nevitt as Jessica Shannon, and Kieran Mortell as Justin. They are joined by Helen Belbin as the scout woman, Daisy Barlow as the pageant girl, Bern Collaço as the shopper at the supermarket, Norma Butikofer as the producer, and Rebecca Finch as the judgmental mother.
