Virgin River's Benjamin Hollingsworth Absolutely Loves Filming In Vancouver
Virgin River is a small town with a tight-knit community, and Dan Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) is one of the town's most troubled residents. When he's not fighting with Jack (Martin Henderson), Preacher (Colin Lawrence), or Calvin (David Cubitt), he's being accused of crimes that he may or may not have committed. Virgin River hasn't exactly been kind to Brady, but luckily the actor who plays him loves filming the show. Although the show is set in a fictional town in Northern California, "Virgin River" is actually filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Benjamin Hollingsworth absolutely loves working there.
"Gosh, it's maybe one of the prettiest places in the world. Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me—all the small little spots that they find to film in," the actor explained during an interview with Parade. "The air is crisp and clear, and the water is that beautiful turquoise color that you see in the drone shots of 'Virgin River.' I love just to get outside, to go running and do trails. I love to go hang out at the oceanfront or on the river with my family."
Beyond his appreciation of the city in his downtime, Hollingsworth also believes that the spirit of Vancouver makes Virgin River seem like a more realistic place. The series is all about the value of community, a sentiment that extends to the people who work on set.
Benjamin Hollingsworth thinks filming in Vancouver adds to the atmosphere of Virgin River
Everybody seems to know everybody in Virgin River, but besides a bit of small-town gossip, most of the people who live there are kind-hearted and considerate. The good-natured residents of Virgin River are part of the reason Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) decides to stay in town at the beginning of the series. That feeling of togetherness may seem too good to be true, but Benjamin Hollingsworth says that the atmosphere of Virgin River reflects the attitude of the show's cast and crew.
"Just the spirit out here really does have the sense of a Virgin River kind of atmosphere. People are extremely kind and generous," Hollingsworth continued in the same interview. "Our crew is a great example—[they're] all locals to the area. I often say we have the best crew because they're so professional but also friendly and caring. Our whole set sort of feels like a mini-Virgin River. We look after one another."
Even though Brady has made many mistakes, he's made it clear that he wants to change. It looks like he will be sticking around for a while now that he's been cleared of all wrongdoing and his relationship with Brie (Zibby Allen) is back on track. Hopefully, Hollingsworth gets to film in nicer places than the lumber yard in Season 5 since he appreciates the surrounding scenery so much. However, he's not the only "Virgin River" cast member who loves Vancouver.
Benjamin Hollingsworth isn't the only Virgin River star who loves Vancouver
Virgin River is a town that looks like it fell straight out of a Hallmark movie. This picturesque town appears just as beautiful and charming as it's made out to be in the books that inspired the show. It's the perfect place for a bit of romance, which is great for Mel and Jack, who feel a connection the moment they meet. Leading lady Alexandra Breckenridge also loves working in Vancouver, and not just because the lush forests and babbling brooks make every scene seem even more magical. In an interview with Narcity, Breckenridge explained how using Vancouver as a backdrop has informed the atmosphere of "Virgin River."
"It's absolutely stunning up here and I think that it's its own character in the show. For me, it's the town and it's this beautiful place that we say that Virgin River is," Breckenridge told the outlet before continuing to praise all that the city has to offer. "Another thing about Vancouver that I love is everybody is so active here. Right now, I'm in a place where I'm on the water and the beach is just packed every day and people are jet-skiing, they're on paddleboards, they're sunbathing, they're playing volleyball. It's just biking, rollerblading, running, and it's so nice to see people being so active and using their bodies."
The mind behind the show definitely picked a great place to film if these comments are anything to go by.