The actress opened up to ET about her character's romance with Bill on-screen, as well as her friendship with Jack Wagner off-screen. 'When Calls the Heart' airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
Our favorite bad girl (with a big heart) is back in Hope Valley!
Much to Bill’s chagrin, accountant-turned-fugitive AJ Foster showed up unexpectedly last week, but proved to be a helpful asset in vetting possible investors for the failing bank. And more, AJ really saved the day this week after Bill was attacked by a venomous snake. Not only did she suck the poison right out of his hand, she successfully wrangled a medical professional to get him back to health. The pair locked lips in a sweet, tender kiss (more on that below!), and left all of us #hearties feeling a bit breathless. Swoon!
ET had the pleasure of sitting down with AJ herself, actress Josie Bissett, for an intimate conversation about her brief yet meaningful return to When Calls the Heart.
“[AJ] is just so fun to play. She's feisty and strong and I love playing that with Jack [Wagner] because we have that banter back and forth... and in this, it's amped up more, so it's fun,” Josie, 47, gushed of her experience working on the Hallmark period drama.
It’s not the first time Josie and Jack have shared the screen. The two first linked up on the unforgettable 90s drama Melrose Place, however, interestingly, Josie guesstimates their characters only shared three scenes together over the course of seven years.
“We feel like we've known each other forever, we have, we have that in common, the show, and the people that we know, so there was already this trust factor,” the blonde beauty said of her friendship with Jack. “And, we just also have similar personalities as far as sense of humor and not taking things too seriously.”
“Jack and I have this ease about our relationship. It's like we always say, I just understand him, I get him, he gets me, you know? It's kind of like, your brother or sister, you can look at them and go, ‘Oh God, I know what they're thinking right now,’ it's like that.”
Jack and Josie's friendship is the real deal. She tells ET they often spend time hanging out between takes on-set and sharing meals off-set. So, does their tight-knit bond make for awkward on-screen kisses?
“No!” Josie insisted. “The only reason it would ever be awkward is if he had onions or something, or I did, and I'm like, ‘Hey, you need some gum, or I need some,” she continued, laughing.
As AJ exits Hope Valley, Josie admits she has “no idea” if her character will ever return. However, she said she does ultimately see a future for AJ and Bill.
“I think it would be great. I think they would bring out the best in each other, they might bring out the worst as well, but that's how you grow,” she said.
It was an intense night for AJ and Bill as they overcame several obstacles. Josie dished some behind the scenes scoop on filming the complex scene in the forest, starting with AJ losing her horse.
“I love [horseback riding], I love it. I took some lessons before I started the show and I do, they’re so big and beautiful!” Josie gushed.
Then… Bill’s rattlesnake attack!
“That was a real snake, because they had to cut to that, but not on-set,” she explained, adding sarcastically that there are no “snake handlers” on the WCTH Vancouver set.
And finally… AJ selflessly licking the venom straight out of Bill’s hand!
“It was more of a suck,” Josie pointed out, laughing. “It was uncomfortable!”
When Calls the Heart airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
