Bethany Joy Lenz Leaned on Erin Krakow for 'When Calls the Heart' Spinoff Advice

The actresses connected ahead of the 'Hope Valley: 1874' premiere to discuss the new Hallmark+ series.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 9:02pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bethany Joy Lenz, who stars as Rebecca Clarke in the new When Calls the Heart prequel series Hope Valley: 1874, reached out to Erin Krakow, who plays Elizabeth Thornton on the original show, for advice about taking on the new role. Lenz wanted Krakow's wisdom on what to expect in terms of the job responsibilities, hours, and even the corsets. While Lenz acknowledged it was intimidating to step into the same world as the beloved When Calls the Heart characters, she's focused on making the role her own and honoring what has come before.

Why it matters

The connection between the two actresses highlights the supportive nature of the When Calls the Heart cast and crew, as well as the importance of tapping into experienced mentors when taking on a new high-profile role. Lenz's desire to respect the existing WCTH franchise while also putting her own spin on the new character reflects a thoughtful approach to joining an established TV universe.

The details

Bethany Joy Lenz, who plays the lead role of Rebecca Clarke in the new Hallmark+ series Hope Valley: 1874, reached out to Erin Krakow, the star of When Calls the Heart, for advice before taking on the new role. Lenz wanted Krakow to share her wisdom about the job responsibilities, hours, and even the experience of wearing corsets on set. While Lenz acknowledged it was intimidating to join the same world as the beloved WCTH characters, she's focused on making the role her own and honoring what has come before.

  • Hope Valley: 1874 premieres on Hallmark+ on March 21, 2026.
  • Lenz and Krakow have known each other for about 4-5 years prior to this project.

The players

Bethany Joy Lenz

An actress who is starring as Rebecca Clarke, the lead character, in the new When Calls the Heart prequel series Hope Valley: 1874.

Erin Krakow

The actress who plays Elizabeth Thornton on the original When Calls the Heart series, who provided advice and wisdom to Lenz about taking on the new role.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Erin was one of the first phone calls I made. I wanted her to tell me what this job is like, and tell me what the hours are like. Tell me what the responsibility feels like. I asked her, 'Give me your wisdom and your knowledge, and tell me what the corsets feel like!' I needed all the information, so I wanted her to give me the download.”

— Bethany Joy Lenz

“It feels like a really big honor and kind of intimidating to step into, because you're coming into the same group of people that work on When Calls the Heart. But I'm not her, and I'm not any of those people that they've all fallen in love with as a crew. So that was kind of intimidating, but hopefully it went well.”

— Bethany Joy Lenz

What’s next

New episodes of Hope Valley: 1874 will air every Saturday on Hallmark+.

The takeaway

Bethany Joy Lenz's outreach to Erin Krakow for advice on joining the When Calls the Heart universe showcases the supportive nature of the show's cast and crew, as well as Lenz's thoughtful approach to respecting the existing franchise while bringing her own unique interpretation to the new lead role.