ALL FOR LOVE on Hallmark Channel (starring Steve Bacic, Teryl Rothery, and Sara Rue) premieres May 27 at 9/8c.  The movie follows a romance novelist (Rue) paired (by her publisher) with a Navy SEAL (Bacic) to research details for her new book. As she’s reluctantly works with him, she starts to have a change of heart.

Cheryl had the chance to chat with Sara Rue about her character (Jo, “passionate about her work and…spending her time focusing on that as opposed to focusing on other things that she wants in life”), creating new media, and devoting time to charity.  Check it out!

Let’s start with Jo Parker.  Tell me a little bit about her.
Jo is a character that I play in All for Love for the Hallmark Channel airing on May 27.  She’s a writer of romance novels.  She is passionate about her work and is spending her time focusing on that as opposed to focusing on other things that she wants in her life.  She’s realizing it might be time to open herself up to those other things that she wants.

How much of yourself do you see in her?
It’s always interesting for actors to play characters that are not really like themselves.  She’s afraid of a lot of things, and because of that, she’s never traveled abroad.  She’s never learned to swim.  She’s afraid of heights.  That I can relate to.  For me, I believe that if you’re not willing to live a little outside your comfort zone, you’re not really living up to your full potential.  I have been lucky enough to have been able to do that in my life.  But for Jo, she’s never really done anything that makes her feel uncomfortable.  During the course of the movie, she realizes she needs to do this sort of thing to grow as a person.

Did you find anything about her that you did not like?
You know, when we’re playing a role, it’s an actor’s job to understand why the character is doing certain things.  So, there really wasn’t anything about Jo that I found unappealing related to her shortcomings.  In one way, I really liked her as a person.  She’s a really good person.  She’s really devoted to her work, and I have a lot of respect for that.

Can you talk about your Dimension Films project or your pilot project, maybe some other things you’ve worked on?
The pilot I wrote? I’ve been lucky enough as an actor to do film, television, and theatre, all forms of media.  I also like to write and create things, and a few years ago I was able to collaborate with some producers and writers that I know and present a horror movie idea to Dimension Films.  At the same time, I was developing a show that I pitched to the studio, but it didn’t go to series.

I’d like to hear about some of the charity work you’re involved with as well.  Tell me about CAST.
CAST is the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking.  I’ve worked with them over the years when I’ve been in Los Angeles.  I’ve worked with them to raise awareness of human trafficking.  What really opened my eyes about it was how it’s going on in all of our back yards.  It’s happening just a few miles from my home in Los Angeles.  And we don’t realize how much of this is happening on a daily basis.  Not only do they help those out of these horrific situations, they go on to defend them  in court and help get their lives back together,  It’s a really incredible organization.  Google them, check them out if you want to donate (http://www.castla.org/home). I’ve worked with them in fundraising as well over the years.  They’re a really great organization.

Sounds wonderful. What about Project Angel Food?
Project Angel Food is a kitchen in Los Angeles that cooks and delivers food to people who  have a hard time getting out of their homes, either because financially they can’t afford to get the food themselves or they aren’t physically able to get the meals because of illness.  They’re also an incredible organization   I love the work that Project Angel Food does.  It’s amazing.

What about The Lily Claire Foundation?
The Lily Claire Foundation is a foundation for children born with disabilities, all kinds of disabilities.  It was started by a friend of mine actually.  They now have a center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  They just do a lot of great work.  When I’ve won money in poker tournaments – I was on Celebrity Poker Showdown – I’ve donated cash to them.  It’s a cool kind of organization.  I feel lucky to be involved with it.  I don’t feel like I do enough, but I love to do what I can for them with whatever spare time I have.

That’s great! What about the NRDC?
The Natural Resoures Defense Council (http://www.nrdc.org). They are an organization that defends our planet.  One of my favorite things that they do is their work with saving animals – like polar bear families and wolf cubs.  They do a lot of work with the environment.  They’re really great.  One year for my daughter’s birthday, we got postcards from the organization from money we donated, and these postcards had pictures of different animals that were saved because of our donation.  We gave the postcards to all the kids.  It was just a nice way to leave the party feeling good about yourself.  It also teaches kids at an early age to be aware of our environment and to show them that taking care of the animals on our planet makes you a better human being.

In addition to acting, writing, creating, and donating her time to the charities above, Sara also works with the L.A. Mission serving Thanksgiving dinner. You can catch her on May 27 at 9 P.M. in the Hallmark Channel’s All for Love.