How Kevin McGarry Helped Erin Krakow During Major WCTH Plot Shift: ‘So Fearful’

At the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City in December, “When Calls the Heart” stars appeared in multiple panels to talk about their behind-the-scenes experiences. One of the most heartwarming moments came during a panel that included Kevin McGarry (Nathan) and Erin Krakow (Elizabeth). The two opened up about their chemistry on screen and their deep admiration for each other as colleagues. Krakow also shared how McGarry supported her in the very beginning, when there was a huge plot change for the show that made her feel “so fearful.”

Erin Krakow Was ‘Trembling’ During Their Chemistry Read

During the panel, McGarry said he felt very lucky to work with Krakow.

“You are just so grounded and friendly,” he said. “And I think the reason we are able to take something off the page sometimes that doesn’t seem like it’s a big deal or it’s going to fly as high as it does, it’s just because you’re so present and you’re so willing to kind of take whatever I give you… You’re there with me all the time… And I’m very lucky.”

Krakow said she felt the same way, dating all the way back to before McGarry was even hired. When they did their first chemistry read for Nathan and Elizabeth, she said that McGarry was very supportive of her during such a big transition.

“I feel exactly the same way and I have felt that way about Kevin since our first chemistry read,” Krakow shared. “He was the first person I read with and … I was really nervous. I was trembling. I was so fearful of this whole situation, and I told him that. He’s the one trying to get a job and he’s the one telling me, ‘You’re gonna be fine…’ So working with Kevin is always a comfort and I love working with you. You’re such a great actor and you elevate my game.”

Krakow was likely feeling nervous because prior to those chemistry reads, her character’s entire plotline had revolved around a relationship with Jack Thornton, played by Daniel Lissing. Jack was killed off in an accident — an unexpected move that left fans reeling at the time.

Lissing moved on while contracts were being renegotiated for the show, ET shared. The showrunners considered hiring a new actor to play Jack, but realized Elizabeth and Jack’s chemistry was just too good to replace Jack. They also thought about having Jack and Elizabeth break up, but that would be too out of character for them.

In a Facebook Live, Lissing said he had to leave the show for very personal reasons, Deseret News reported. He shared: “Circumstances arose for me where I needed to leave ‘When Calls the Heart’ for reasons that are very personal to me I went to Hallmark and they were nothing but supportive of me. I went to the girls and they were nothing but supportive of me.”

In an interview with ET Online, Lissing later revealed that if he hadn’t left, he never would have met his wife.

The Stars Also Shared Their Favorite Scenes With Each Other

In the same panel, McGarry said one of his favorite scenes with Krakow was when their characters had their first fight in a cabin.

“It reminds me of all the things that Nathan and Elizabeth have gone through to kind of get where they are,” he said. “And when I first came on , I really liked … figuring each other out, the push and pull, the little fight we had in the cabin when you weren’t listening to what I was trying to tell you. I thought it was a pretty good scene. I thought it was one of the … (first scenes) where we had a fiery passion between the two of them… There was a connection in that scene… It pushed them off into this whole passionate tension.”

Krakow said she really liked the potato scene in particular.

“I also weirdly liked the potato scene,” she said. “I thought that was great.”

“That came out so much better than I thought it was going to come out,” McGarry said, laughing.

“Here’s one of the things I love about working with Kevin,” Krakow added. “We can approach a scene that we think is good, and then we completely surprise each other where we walk away from the scene (thinking) that was incredibly special. (But) we didn’t realize it until we brought it to life. And the potato scenes was one of those scenes.”