Brooke Shields returns to TV for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ newest franchise, Flower Shop Mystery, based on Kate Collins’ books. Shields leads the cast of Flower Shop Mystery: Mum’s the Word which is set to premiere on January 17, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT. Her co-stars include Beau Bridges and Brennan Elliott, with Shields, Nancy Bennett, Brad Krevoy, and Amanda Phillips Atkins executive producing. Gary Goldstein adapted Collins’ work and A Killer Among Us helmer Bradley Walsh directed the romantic drama.
The Plot: “Abby Knight (Shields), a former lawyer turned proud flower shop owner is starting over after the death of her husband with the support from her father (Bridges), a new business and her daughter off to college. Life is good in the peaceful town of New Chapel but when a black SUV rams her prized vintage car, she’s determined to track down the driver. She begrudgingly accepts the help of a new neighbor, the handsome and charming ex-Marine Marco Salvare (Elliott) who just bought the bar down the street. But their budding relationship is threatened when an acquaintance is murdered and Abby’s good friend is the prime suspect and it all links back to the hit and run. Caught up in a tangle of menacing phone calls, police corruption and murderous road rage, Abby must work against the clock to find the killer or the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.”
This new mystery series marks Shields’ first project for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries and at the 2016 Television Critics Association winter press event, she talked about now being a part of the Hallmark family.
Brooke Shields Interview:
What can you say about your character?
Brooke Shields: “I play an ex-lawyer but I remain a lawyer in my brain. [Laughing] I can’t help but meddle and solve mysteries in my town. I move out of the big city and I move my hometown to be closer to my daughter and my dad. I run a flower shop and it’s amazing what stuff I dig up!”
Is this less of a time commitment than a regular series? Are you busy with other projects?
Brooke Shields: “This is taking up a lot of time, even though it’s not a series. We’re doing 15 of these movies. They say they are doing them, so we’ve really been doing just that. I don’t know, I probably will be working on another series by this next go-around but right now I’m just concentrating on this. I have a book that just came out in paperback called There Was a Little Girl. It was on the bestselling list of the New York Times as a hardcover so now it’s on paperback.”
Is there a certain inspirational message about Hallmark that appeals to you about working with them?
Brooke Shields: “Absolutely. What’s been so refreshing is that it’s all about entertainment. You know, predominately about entertainment. I think especially in the world today what we see the minute we turn on TV, the images that we’re bombarded with, it’s really nice to be a part of a brand that is about entertainment. It pulls on your heartstrings but it also doesn’t make you feel bad. It makes you feel good. It’s wish fulfillment. It’s fun to do.
Ours is very comedic, so for me I love the comedy. We’ve amped up the comedy a lot more and I think that’s different for them with regards to the Mysteries. I said, ‘Look, if you’re going to have me we might as well amp up the comedy because it will differentiate itself from the rest.’”
Once you get attached to Hallmark projects, you never get out.
Brooke Shields: “I’m actually beginning to see that! I was like, ‘Wow, I’m in!’ But, no, there’s a sense of loyalty. It’s not just about propriety. I’m an executive producer as well. They’re actually interested in it being a collaborative process, and that’s rare.”
With your relationship to Broadway, what is your relationship to music as an actor?
Brooke Shields: “I’m more motivated by music than probably most things with regards to mood-altering. I find that the times that I’ve been on Broadway, I’ve been much more in tune to everything in my life including myself when I’m vocally aligned.”
Do you use music to prepare even in non-musical projects?
Brooke Shields: “All of the time. It depends on what the role is, what I want to listen to. When I’m jogging as Abbie, it depends on what the scene is. I think it’s important. It does affect you because it’s one of the senses that we often overlook.”
What’s on your playlist for this show?
Brooke Shields: “This one has run the gamut. Like, it’s really run the gamut from the stuff that I loved in the ‘80s to ‘40s, like some jazz. She’s very close to her dad and there’s a level of what I used to listen to with my family, my mom and my dad.”
What sort of shows do you watch with your kids?
Brooke Shields: Now we watch more Hallmark because now they’re obsessed. My kids feel like they’re in it. I watch Better Call Saul, but not with my kids.”
Do you still reflect back on Endless Love?
Brooke Shields: [Laughing] “I’m always reflecting back and marveling at the fact that I’m still here. I’m still answering questions!”
