With season 12 of “When Calls The Heart” underway, several new characters have popped up in Hope Valley since the premiere on January 5, 2025. But could a character from the past be set to return, too? Kayla Wallace, who debuted on the Hallmark Channel show as feisty Fiona Miller in the sixth season, has hinted in several recent interviews that her character may not be gone for good.
Hearties were stunned during season 11’s April 2024 premiere when the storyline revealed that Fiona had moved to Nashville to work with her sister and other Suffragettes, trying to secure women’s right to vote. The real-life reason for Wallace’s disappearance from the show was that she’d landed a major role on Taylor Sheridan’s newest drama, “Landman,” on Paramount+.
WCTH’s filming schedule in Vancouver conflicted with the “Landman” schedule in Texas, where even Wallace’s co-star Billy Bob Thornton said he was a fan of the Hallmark series, she told People. Wallace did manage to make a surprise return to Hope Valley in the season 11 finale as Fiona attended the wedding of her good friends Mei and Hickam. But fans want to know: can they look forward to more Fiona sightings in the future?
Kayla Wallace Wound Up Spending Almost ‘the Whole Season’ on WCTH Set During Season 11 Filming
In several recent interviews, Wallace said has hinted at what sounds like a likely return to Hope Valley. She continues to be good friends with the cast and her new husband, Kevin McGarry, is one of the show’s leading men.
In December, Wallace hinted to People, “I might have an appearance on this season.”
Days later, in a YouTube interview with Kyle Meredith posted on December 30, she smiled as she said of Fiona, “There’s a chance you might see more of her on the season coming up. There’s a chance, that’s all I’ll say.”
Then on January 19, she told Soaps of a possible return to the show, “I’ve never closed that door. It’s such a big part of my life. My husband is still very much on that show. It’s funny, I’m around the cast a lot, so it never felt like a goodbye, and I hope it’s never a goodbye.”
Wallace was unexpectedly able to visit the WCTH set and film her scenes for the last episode of season 11 because of the 2023 writers’ strike, she told Soaps. “Landman” couldn’t film for several months like most productions, but WCTH received special permission from SAG-AFTRA to continue shooting in Canada.
“That was going on while I was waiting for ‘Landman’ to start up again,” she said. “I would bring our puppy to set so she could run around. The set is on a beautiful farm here in Vancouver. I was there for what felt like the whole season. It was a little strange to hop back in for one episode, but it’s a big family over there. They’re all our close friends.”
Kayla Wallace Says Billy Bob Thornton Reminds Her of WCTH Lead Erin Krakow On Set
Though “Landman” has not officially been renewed for a second season, TV Guide says it’s highly likely the show will return given how the season finale ended with lots of unsolved problems.
But the gritty, modern-day drama about the Texas oil industry, in which Wallace plays big city lawyer Rebecca Falcone, didn’t feel that much different than her years on the WCTH set, she told Soaps.
“To be honest, how things are ran on set is very similar,” she said. “When it comes to day-to-day operations, they’re very similar. Both sets have a family vibe. Everybody works together.”
In fact, Wallace said Thornton even reminds her of WCTH star Erin Krakow.
She explained, “We had the wonderful Erin Krakow leading ‘When Calls the Heart.’ She’s such a kind, wonderful person, and it sets the tone for everybody on set. Same with Billy. Both having that person who’s leading your cast be such a kind, down-to-earth person, it really helps to make a positive energy on set.”
Season 12 of “When Calls The Heart” airs Sunday nights on Hallmark Channel and is available to stream the next day on Hallmark+.
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‘When Calls The Heart’ Alum Hints at Likely Return to Series