True Gemini and challenge-loving Andrew Walker is a Canadian actor and producer. His road to stardom began with his roles in Hallmark Channel movies and films such as The Torturer, Abducted: Fugitive for Love, Three Wise Men and a Baby, An Unexpected Christmas, and countless more.

He has won the 2006 Best Actor Award from the Whistler Film Festival for his role in Steel Toes. In 2019, he was nominated for the Outstanding Performance - Male Award at the ACTRA Montreal Awards for his role in Snowed-Inn Christmas. Recently in 2022, Andrew has been nominated as the Favourite Hallmark Star from A Maple Valley Christmas at the Just Jared Jr Fan Awards.

Andrew Walker’s passion for entrepreneurship has also led him to invest in his own founded brands. From 2013-2020, he started a cold-pressed juice company with his wife Cassandra Troy. Moreover, his drive for creative innovation led him to start his own skincare line called SkinMason.

Andrew Walker is set to be featured in two upcoming Hallmark roles for the holiday season, where he pursues his legacy of empowerment and positivity.

Jingle Bell Run: Saturday, November 6th

Three Wiser Men and a Boy: Saturday, November 23rd

Suit by Pence 1979
Turtleneck by Pence 1979

You have filmed several Hallmark Channel movies before. Was filming Jingle Bell Run nostalgic?
Yes, it was nostalgic...

I played a high level of football growing up, committed to Boston College on a scholarship, and then injured my knee. It was a major blow to my ego and my future plans of becoming a professional football player. So, to play an NHL hockey player who recently played in the Stanley Cup and then retired against his own wishes at the height of his career, brought me back to being an athlete whose future took an unexpected turn. But then through surrounding myself with inspiring people and finding love, changed the course of my future in the best way possible. It reminded me of a great quote, “When you find yourself in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried, but actually you’ve been planted” - Christine Caine.

What feelings arose when you were back on set?
Being on set is my happy place, but to be on set with one of my best friends, Ashley Williams, along with an amazing supporting cast and wonderful director, Lucie Guest, made it that much sweeter. Where most acting roles require you to be mentally prepared, this role was extremely physically demanding. It allowed us to act with our bodies and gave us very little time to think, which was creatively liberating, but also took a toll on you at the end of the day.

Do you have a favorite memory while filming Jingle Bell Run?
The ending of the movie was a memorable day. We took over an entire courtyard in a cluster of high rises in Vancouver, which is going to be visually impressive. Another memorable day was when one of my best friends and business partners in my skincare line came to set with his family and his daughter acted as a background performer. It’s always fun to bring people to set and have them be impressed by the magic of movie-making. I feel very lucky to be living my dream of making films, and seeing it through someone else’s eyes reminds me just how cool this industry is.

Suit by Christopher Korey
Oxford Hutcheson Dress Shirt Light Blue by Billy Reid
Shoes by Florsheim Shoes

Three Wiser Men and a Boy covers family dynamics during the holiday season, while Jingle Bell Run has a hint of romance. How were you able to take on each role?
I bring a piece of me into every role I play, I’m a true Gemini and have alter egos. This said, I love reading a script multiple times and getting a feel for the character, and then building him and his backstory to create a new character with every role. I work on my own and with my acting coach (Megan McNulty) to make specific character choices before we start filming. The beauty of performance is that it has no boundaries, if you go too far the director will tell you to pull back, but why not push the limits?!

In Wiser Men, I was familiar with my character Luke Brenner and enjoyed revisiting him more in-depth 5 years later. In Jingle Bell Run, it was Ashley Williams and my first film together and so part of the fun was creating a character and exploring the chemistry with her. I’m excited for the audience to see just how different and fun each character and film is!

Shoals Denim Shirt Double Dye by Billy Reid
Henley by Stylist Own
Pants by Christopher Korey
Shoes by Florsheim Shoes

You have been featured across different works, such as The Big Bang Theory, Against the Wall, The Way of the West, and A Bride for Christmas to name a few. Additionally, you starred alongside Academy Award nominee David Strathairn in Steel Toes, for which you received the Best Actor award from the Canadian Union of ACTRA. What is your experience of going into distinctive roles like?
I love jumping from character to character, it keeps things exciting! I’m a man of many personalities and I love a challenge, so acting truly is the best job in the world for me. I started my career doing mostly half-hour comedies. In 2001, I did a show called ‘Maybe It’s Me’ on what was then the WB network which turned into the CW, and Fred Willard played my dad. Having worked with a comedic genius like Fred opened up a whole world of possibilities for me, it was as if I was performing in my high school variety shows again. The freedom of play is what I love most, and while there have been times when I’ve felt my creativity was stifled, as I work with more wonderful actors and hone my creative process, I’ve found my confidence as an actor and the boundaries become limitless. Creating each role/character is part of what I love and I get excited when a new role is presented to me.

How do you step into a new role?
I start every new role with a clean slate. I work with my acting coach to make specific choices about the character, and then read the script incessantly before we shoot. I ask a ton of questions about the character, like where are they from, what was their family life like, what do they want, what’s at stake if they don’t get it, and two key questions on what is their need and what is their fear.

It’s a pretty formulaic preparation technique, which I continue to refine as I take on new roles, and depending on how much time I have, this list can grow significantly.

**Left:**
Suit by Pence 1979
Turtleneck by Pence 1979
**Right:**
Coat by Le Catou
Shirt by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
Denim by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
HUCK Black Leather by Steve Madden

Out of all movies, shows, and musicals, which characters do you feel the deepest connection with?
I think because of how well writers & actors Kimberly Sustad and Paul Campbell know me, Luke Brenner from Three Wisermen and a Boy is the one I feel the deepest connection with. I’m a relatively new dad and I’m aging, I’ve always been active and played a high level of sports, but because of the great equalizer ‘time,’ I’m starting to lose my athletic abilities and that’s tough. I love how Luke is always trying to better himself as a brother, son, and father. This is something I’m also consistently trying to do and I love that Kim and Paul have so beautifully encapsulated the commonality and crossroads where both Luke and Andrew are in real life and in the film.

Which characters did you feel to be the most challenging to connect with?
I had more of a difficult time as a young actor playing people of authority: police officers, lawyers, high profile business professionals. I think this is primarily due to it not being authentic to who I was, but with age and fatherhood comes experience and respect from others, so I really quite enjoy taking on these roles now. I also know these characters are more interesting to watch when they’re flawed, and I have plenty of those!

Coat by Le Catou
Shirt by Karl Lagerfeld Paris
Denim by Karl Lagerfeld Paris

You also produce documentaries and reality TV shows. Can you describe what it’s like to produce your own storyline?
When it works, it’s tremendously rewarding when you cross the finish line. It takes a team of people who are all working towards the same goal, which is to finish a project and make it the best it can be... And to have fun in the process.

The documentary Stolen Seas was arguably one of the projects I produced which I’m most proud of. We told an intricate story about piracy in Somalia, with all original footage taken through the eyes of an aspiring pirate in Djibouti, story edited by Mark Monroe who won an Academy award for ‘The Cove’. It was an incredibly difficult movie to make, but I love bringing passionate and talented people together and watching the magic happen.

What inspired you to curate your own skincare brand, SkinMason?
From 2013 – 2020 I started and sold a cold-pressed juice company with my wife Cassandra Troy. Even though it was unbelievably tough, I was addicted to entrepreneurship. I love planting a seed and watching it grow, especially in a space that helps people feel their best.

The opportunity with SkinMason was presented to me by my friend and partner Dr. Hussein Kanji, one of Canada’s best heart and lung surgeons and MIT Lab Scientist. I love skincare, and being an actor I regularly use a variety of it, so I wanted to create something incredible that was also super easy to use. SkinMason embodies everything I have ever wanted in a skincare brand, one of the best formulas in the industry paired with simplicity that’s remarkably effective.

Share with us more details about SkinMason's new moisturizer?
Our new moisturizer, or as we call it, our “3-in-1 bioactive” is the third product in addition to our already powerful combo, exfoliating wipes and serum. Like the cleansing pads and serum, we have carefully crafted a moisturizer which we believe is the best on the market. This bioactive cream can be used on all skin types, across all skin concerns. it’s not your typical moisturizer, which just hydrates the skin. It’s multi-functional. 3 in 1 bioactive, because its ingredients aren’t typically used in moisturizers: antioxidant and providing brightening benefits, vitamin C and lipid-coupled retinol.

Our retinol lineolate is carefully coupled to be slowly released so it’s not irritating to sensitive skin, Our retinoid is resilient to downgrade - most every retinoid on the market downgrades 15-20% when you receive it. Just try it and see for yourself!

What sets SkinMason's cleansing pads and serum apart from other products on the market?
It took us nine years and numerous lab visits finally to lock our first two products: the cleansing pads and serum. There’s a reason why we only started with two products. First, people do not need many and multiple skincare products on their bathroom counter, and we will challenge any brand on that statement. Second, we wanted to disrupt the skincare space, and come out with a superior product, which uses science to simplify what you really need. Best of all we have refined our price point because we wanted it to be accessible to everyone.

Along with our collagen building peptide and being antioxidant rich, our wipes have our proprietary peptide MP1, which helps eliminate the bacteria that forms acne.

Our Vitamin C Brightening serum is one of the products I’m most excited about and the product our advisor Dr. Jean Carruthers (founder of Botox) has deemed one of the best serums on the market.

Formulated with a potent blend of antioxidants, hydrators, and skin-rejuvenating ingredients, our serum is a go-to solution for brightening dull skin, reducing the appearance of dark spots, and providing advanced protection against environmental damage. Perfect for daily use, it’s designed to give your skin a youthful glow while strengthening its natural defenses. We added an Anti-Aging powerhouse: L-Glutathione, a master antioxidant that works in tandem with Vitamin C to further rejuvenate the skin, reduce discoloration, and enhance skin clarity.

What legacy do you want to leave behind?
I want to leave behind a legacy of empowerment and positivity. There are no boundaries for what people can achieve. When they dream big and live a life rooted in kindness, love, and connection, you can succeed in any industry.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Andrew Walker
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Michael Creagh
Fashion Stylist: Alison Hernon at Exclusive Artists
Groomer: Alex Byrne at Walter Schupfer Management using SkinMason
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Atėnė At
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Anna Yim

Andrew Walker’s Takes On Two New Roles For the Upcoming Hallmark Christmas Movie Season