{"id":139697,"date":"2024-12-21T21:48:27","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T21:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/21\/virgin-rivers-annette-otoole-on-season-6-hopes-ex-husband-and-more\/"},"modified":"2024-12-21T21:48:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T21:48:27","slug":"virgin-rivers-annette-otoole-on-season-6-hopes-ex-husband-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/12\/21\/virgin-rivers-annette-otoole-on-season-6-hopes-ex-husband-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Virgin River’s Annette O’Toole on Season 6, Hope’s Ex-Husband and More"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n Annette O\u2019Toole as Hope McCrea in \u2018Virgin River.\u2019<\/span> NETFLIX<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Virgin River<\/em><\/a> star Annette O\u2019Toole<\/strong> is opening up about her character Hope\u2019s season 6 journey \u2014 including what it was like shooting that stripper scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat scene for me to shoot, it was a little tricky,\u201d O\u2019Toole, 72, exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em> while promoting the sixth season<\/a>, which was released on Netflix on Thursday, December 19.<\/p>\n

In said scene, which takes place in episode four, a stripper meant for Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge<\/strong>) and her friends \u2014 who are out celebrating Mel\u2019s impending wedding at a Bachelorette Party \u2014 accidentally shows up for Hope McCrea (O\u2019Toole) and her knitting circle at Jack\u2019s Bar. Hijinks ensue.<\/p>\n

While the shooting of it was \u201creally fun,\u201d O\u2019Toole said it was also \u201cbittersweet,\u201d as Hope\u2019s friend Muriel (Teryl Rothery<\/strong>) was awaiting a breast cancer diagnosis. O\u2019Toole explained how she was \u201cthrilled\u201d for Muriel \u2014 who received a spicy lap dance from the erotic dancer, to the elation of the other women \u2014 because for her, \u201cthe dread and the feeling about your is my life over\u201d is a relatable
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\u201cThat\u2019s a real thing for anybody because you never know what\u2019s gonna happen. But especially for older people,\u201d O\u2019Toole explained. \u201cYou don\u2019t know what\u2019s around the corner. So, you have to embrace every moment. And I love that scene for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins, Annette O\u2019Toole as Hope in \u2018Virgin River.\u2019<\/span> Courtesy of Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For O\u2019Toole, getting to delve deeper into the \u201ccomplicated\u201d dynamics and characterization of each woman in the knitting circle has become one of her favorite parts of filming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re older women, and they still have these wonderful, rich lives and problems and issues they deal with, with one another and with their town, which they all love deeply,\u201d she said. \u201cI love how committed they all are to their community.\u201d<\/p>\n

While moments with her circle were filled with joy, O\u2019Toole also faced more complex, emotional moments for Hope<\/a> this season. Her ex-husband, Roland (John Ralston<\/strong>), was introduced in episode six, and their tumultuous past was revealed when she went to visit him about adopting a horse. O\u2019Toole admitted to Us<\/em> that shooting those scenes was \u201cstrange\u201d as she previously concocted her own past for Hope in her head, noting that to her, the character is a \u201cwidow twice over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite having an initially different vision for Hope\u2019s past, O\u2019Toole acknowledged that the introduction of an ex for Hope \u201cmakes sense\u201d dramatically \u2014 and could serve as a potential story line for season 7.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea how it\u2019s gonna go,\u201d she told Us<\/em>. \u201cI mean, I think it\u2019s good that they leave the door open. So, they are enemies enough where it might be good storytelling next year to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins, Annette O\u2019Toole as Hope in \u2018Virgin River.\u2019<\/span> Courtesy Of Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

O\u2019Toole added, \u201cThey\u2019re already writing season 7<\/a>, and I don\u2019t know what they\u2019re doing with any of that. I haven\u2019t talked to [showrunner] Patrick Sean Smith<\/strong>. So, I think that would be fun. I think anytime you can throw more hard, not hardship, but more problems into a relationship, not just a relationship, but just for a character to deal with, the better, especially if it\u2019s gonna be a long-running show. You gotta have these issues and stuff to deal with. And it can\u2019t just be all smooth sailing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hope, of course, is happy in her current relationship with Doc (Tim Matheson<\/strong>). After years of ups and downs between them, season 6 allowed the pair to lean into the romance \u2014 something O\u2019Toole \u201cloved\u201d getting to explore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can just play with it,\u201d she said of her on-screen chemistry with Matheson. \u201cWe like doing that. And we prepare, we try to fill in the holes that \u2026 that aren\u2019t explained in the script. We just go over those ahead of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

While season 6 gave Hope and Doc a much-earned honeymoon period, season 7 is likely to be a more challenging one for the duo. First, there\u2019s the return of Roland, plus the issue of Doc\u2019s practice being in jeopardy, which was revealed in the final moments of the finale.<\/p>\n

Regardless of what lies ahead of the character, O\u2019Toole is thankful she gets to \u201cinhabit\u201d someone like Hope, who she\u2019s learned to look up to these past five years.<\/p>\n

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\n Annette O\u2019Toole as Hope McCrea, Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen, Nicola Cavendish as Connie in \u2018Virgin River.\u2019<\/span> Courtesy of Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a lot of characteristics I wish I had,\u201d she told Us.<\/em> \u201c I wish I could be more of a pitbull sometimes. And she always knows what to say. She\u2019s just a big, big person inside. She\u2019s got big feelings about everything and nothing is trivial to her. I think it\u2019s interesting to play. There\u2019s just a lot about her that\u2019s interesting to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Toole added that while many people argue Hope is too \u201cbossy\u201d or \u201cnosy,\u201d she sees it as a good thing, calling it evidence that people are \u201cinterested\u201d in the character. The Smallville<\/em> alum also gave credit to showrunner Smith, who has ensured Virgin River<\/em> is a balance of authentic storytelling while also maintaining a means of escapism.<\/p>\n

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