Graham Wardle talks about Heartland

By Alexandra Heilbron on May 3, 2010 | 19 Comments


Heartland: The Complete Second Season is now out on DVD and to celebrate, Tribute‘s Alexandra Heilbron spoke to Graham Wardle, who stars as Ty on the popular CBC series.

At what age did you begin acting? Is your family in showbiz?
I started at age six in a Mattel toys commercial. My family, almost all of them have been involved in some part of it. My older brother did a few commercials when he was younger; my older sister did a commercial and a short film. They’re not still acting, they just did it when they were younger. I come from a big family—I have five brothers and sisters. My younger brother is in Victoria going to theater school right now. He’s big into theatre and improv, so he continues to act and my two younger sisters, one of them is into sports and one of them is into dancing and she’s also an artist as well so most of us have creative backgrounds, you could say.

On the Season Two DVD, the cast talks about how sometimes two episodes are filmed at the same time within 15 days. But the show shoots from May to December, how does that work?
Yeah, it’s about 15, 16 days. When we start getting into the later months of the years, we start losing daylight so we add an extra day to the shooting schedule. But yeah, it’s two weeks for two episodes and and there’s breaks for holidays and other stuff in between. We also have three hiatuses.

What can we look forward to next season? At the end of the last season, it looked like Lou might be leaving the show.
You know, I haven’t heard anything, I haven’t even got a script yet. I know that I’ll be back, but that’s all I know. I come back in Season 4 having traveled, but that’s really all I know.

When does it start filming?
First day of shooting is May 17.

Who were the cast members that played on the Heartland’s hockey team for charity? Was it all guys, or did some of the girls join in?
Off the top of my head, I’d have to say no, but that’s just from memory. I know Shaun Johnston, who plays Jack, plays all the time, he loves it. Chris Potter has played, Jake Church, who plays Jake in the show, he also plays and then there are a lot of crew members that play as well.  I didn’t play, because I can’t skate.

How did they do?
This year, I think it was a tie and then we went to a shoot out, and then we lost in the shoot out. It was fun, it was a charity thing, so we just had a lot of fun and Santa Claus was the referee.

How can fans get in touch with you?
The best way is through my website, grahamwardle.net. If they go there, they can post comments and I check them and try to reply to them. I had a fan email but it unfortunately got out of hand, because I couldn’t reply to everyone on that, but my website, or my twitter, people can post comments and I read them all, it just takes me awhile to get back to them.

One last question. Do you have a funny story you can tell us that happened during filming, maybe something that didn’t go quite right?
Yeah, I do (laughs). The first season, I had a little motorcycle that was kind of like a dirt bike, and I had a scene where I was supposed to be a little upset and Amy was trying to get me to stay and I was mad about something, so I was trying to leave. So we have this scene of dialogue, then I’m supposed to flip my visor down and rev my engine and peel out of there. Well, the bike, when it was idling, when I was just sitting there on the bike, the engine would stall out, because it was an older bike and it wasn’t working properly. So I’d have to give it lots of gas to keep it from stalling. Then finally, because it kept stalling when I tried to pull out on every take, on take five or six I was revving the gas to keep it from stalling, then I let out the clutch and it was just way too much power and I popped a wheelie and it skidded out and away from me. My left leg caught on the bike and my jeans ripped from my ankle to my crotch. I fell over, the bike went flying and they got it all on camera.

But you weren’t hurt?
Oh, no, I was fine. The bike was fine, I was fine, it was just my jeans were ripped in half.

Thank you very much for the interview today Graham and good luck on your next season!
Thank you! Have a good one.

Click here to read Amber Marshall’s interview to celebrate the launch of Heartland: The Complete First Season.



Comments & Discussion

  1. Laura • August 15, 2011 @ 10:36 AM

    Heartland is probably the best show that I have ever watched on TV! The characters are amazing and sometimes it doesn’t even look like their acting cause they’re so good!! Best show ever!!

  2. Linda Life • February 11, 2012 @ 9:00 PM

    I really enjoy watching Heartland ever Sunday. I would love to meet Amber and Graham one day.

  3. Olive • June 10, 2012 @ 6:42 PM

    Great show. I would love to meet the crew one day.

  4. Samantha • June 29, 2012 @ 4:38 PM

    I love horses and when i saw the show I hade to see it I love you guyssss!!!!!!!
    Amy is awesome sometimes I wish i was her in her life… And I love how she kept trying to make it work with you and make it look like you don’t care. But we all know you do!!!!

  5. Daryl • May 13, 2014 @ 8:15 AM

    I’m in the UK and I’m currently stuck at series 7 episode 14. Due to the UK live airing just finished series 6 i rely on live feeds to carry on watching. Love this show and although I’m a grown man this show brings tears to my eyes every now and then. The acting is great and like already said, You wouldn’t believe its filmed its so real. The cast are great together. Just wish the UK was more upto speed on this Program. Keep up the good work. Cant wait for Season 8 9 10 and as many that come. even got my daughter and nephew watching it. 🙂
    Brilliant Show.

  6. Katelyn • July 17, 2014 @ 6:12 PM

    I llllloooooovvvvvveeeeee to watch Heartland! Amy and Ty is my favorite character. I love to see them together! In a finale of season 5 eposide 18th, I was really happy that Ty really wants to marry Amy. I wish they could marry in real life! They look cute as a couple… I am 11 almost 12, and I really wanna see Amy and Ty in real life!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!

  7. Katelyn • July 17, 2014 @ 6:21 PM

    Pleaselet me see u guys in real life! LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! 🙂

  8. rich • August 18, 2015 @ 9:15 AM

    I’ve always known about the show but never gave it a chance till season7.My wife and kids just laugh at me a grown man who can’t get enough of the show now!I hope the show last for a long time even tho the characters aren’t young and grow up to do other things.Congrats to the cast and writers please keep the show going for a long time,this old guy would appreciate it!

  9. laura brigida • April 2, 2016 @ 7:00 PM

    Amo esta serie….buenisima,mis personajes favoritos ,son TY Y AMY….todos actores fantasticos….espero ansiosa,mas temporadas.

  10. Patti kim • May 19, 2018 @ 12:25 PM

    You know this one of my favorite series ever. You all work so well. I am 68 and this my favorite . I have watched it over and over. I was raised on a ranch so am familiar with the work that goes in with horses. Wish they had a series like this when i grew up, but not much tv back then only the outdoors. Amy and Ty are great. Keep up the great work..will keep watching! On and waiting for11.

  11. kimbra • June 30, 2018 @ 2:17 PM

    love the show love the love story between amy and ty

  12. Dianne • August 25, 2018 @ 12:33 AM

    My Husband and I discovered Heartland about a year ago. It is our favorite series on TV in fact I have purchases the entire DVD set through season 10. Waiting Not so Patiently for the chance to see season 11 as well as purchase it. This show is awesome. We love it. And we are seniors. We are both in our early 70’s. Isn’t that funny. Old grandpa and grandma watching this family show. Just know that it is so well written and acted. The characters are so natural it seems like they are playing themselves.

  13. Pauline Wright • September 10, 2019 @ 4:45 AM

    Discovered this show on Netflix this year, we all love it and have binge watched 7 series so far.
    It’s a fantastic show love the cast.
    Can’t wait to watch more. X

  14. angela maria mansur • April 15, 2020 @ 11:53 AM

    JA ASSSISTI HEARTLANDER 02 VEZES, ADOREI, FIQUEI APAIXONADA PELO ELENCO, PRINCIPALMENTE PELO TAY, GOSTARIA DE SABER QUANDO SAIRA AS PROXIMAS TEMPORADAS.

    Translation:
    I already watched HEARTLAND 2 times, I loved it, I am in love with the cast, mainly with Ty, I would like to know when the next season is playing.

  15. Thomas Holmes • June 15, 2020 @ 4:30 PM

    I just purchased prime video through my amazon prime. I was searching for shows on prime . I said to my wife let’s try Heartland. The past two plus weeks we have watched 3 shows a night. It is a great show. We love the cast. Hope Amazon gets the rest of series. Right now they only offer series 1thru 9.

  16. Margaret Gillett • September 29, 2021 @ 4:30 AM

    I’m so saddened that ty isn’t in the show anymore.. the whole show isn’t the same. Everyone in the show are so sad to have had lost him.. can’t stop crying 😢

  17. PATRICIA J. GIULIANO • October 6, 2021 @ 10:51 AM

    I Loved Heartland When Graham Wardle played with Amber Marshall ,but now I lost interest . They were great together ,but now the show is lost with out him .Great actor , I miss him ,good luck where ever life brings you He is so handsome Love

  18. Leopoldo Sposito • November 3, 2021 @ 4:44 PM

    We watched Hearthland 2 time and now we watch it again for the third time, when the 14/15 season we will go to see? Wy Ty isn`t in the show? We love him.

  19. Gen Seibel • February 19, 2023 @ 12:01 AM

    I loved this show Amy and Ty love and that little girl Lynda is the cutest. I cried so hard when Ty died it was no that can’t be for real. Now trying to get season 16 in the USA so can watch that. I was absessed with this show watched every day till end of season 15 ended took me month and a half to finish it all but was such a good story couldn’t stop watching it. Love Ty and Amy miss Ty in the show. Thank you.


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