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VIDEO: Actor Ben Ayres chats about upcoming Hallmark movie, filming in Agassiz-Harrison

Ayres stars in 91ƵLong Lost Christmas91Ƶ, premiering Nov. 19
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Actor Benjamin Ayres (left) poses with Allen and Karolin at Harrison Hot Springs Resort. He stayed at the resort while filming 91ƵLong Lost Christmas91Ƶ in Agassiz-Harrison for the past two weeks. (Instagram/@benjaminayres)

It was the surprise seen around the world 91Ƶ millions of times, as a matter of fact.

Actor Benjamin Ayres was in town to film one of Hallmark91Ƶs Christmas movies this year, 91ƵLong Lost Christmas.91Ƶ Recently, he posted a short video on social media surprising some onlookers checking out the decorations along Pioneer Avenue. The spectators immediately recognized him, much to the delight of everyone involved.

Ayres said the video has since received more than 2 million views on TikTok and nearly as many on Instagram.

91ƵThat was a really wonderful video,91Ƶ Ayres recalled. 91ƵI had just broken for lunch. I knew that we were going to be filming for another 10 to 15 minutes. I walked across the street walk past them, and I was like, 91ƵThat91Ƶs so cute that they91Ƶre watching.91Ƶ I put my phone on and I walked up and just said 91ƵWhat are you filming?91Ƶ91Ƶ

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Ayres said he wasn91Ƶt sure how the onlookers would react.

91ƵThat could have gone the way that I thought, which is they turn around and go 91ƵOh, it91Ƶs a Hallmark movie,91Ƶ91Ƶ he added. 91ƵI would have said was like 91ƵDo you know who91Ƶs in it?91Ƶ and they would have been like,91Ƶ I have no idea91Ƶ and I would have just played along. I91Ƶve never done that, just turn my camera on and walk up to somebody.91Ƶ

Ayres91Ƶ 91ƵFamily Law91Ƶ co-star Jewel Staite (91ƵFirefly) convinced him to join TikTok. While his videos drew in a few thousand views, the Agassiz encounter with fans, in his words, 91Ƶblew up.91Ƶ

91ƵI think it91Ƶs such an honest reaction,91Ƶ Ayres said. 91ƵIt91Ƶs super quick. What I love about it is it91Ƶs really brought all these Hallmark fans from all over. I wish I would91Ƶve kept it going because even the husband was like, 91ƵOh, I know all your movies!91Ƶ91Ƶ

Kamloops-born Ayres has been in about 13 films in the Lower Mainland. He now lives in Toronto.

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91Ƶ(Agassiz-Harrison) has been one of my favorite locations to film, to be honest,91Ƶ Ayers said. 91ƵPeople are so kind here; everyone is so nice.91Ƶ

Ayres said there are many Hallmark fans in the area and the cast and crew have been welcomed with open arms.

While he91Ƶd been to and filmed in Agassiz before, Ayres had up until recently never been to Harrison Hot Springs.

91ƵOf course, I91Ƶve known about it my whole life and I didn91Ƶt realize kind of what it was, or just the natural beauty of this whole location and this quaint little (community), Agassiz included,91Ƶ Ayres said. 91ƵThey work splendidly well, for a Hallmark film, because there are so many locations we can use between the two. The backdrop is magnificent.91Ƶ

91ƵLong Lost Christmas,91Ƶ which also stars Taylor Cole (91ƵSurrogates,91Ƶ 91ƵMaking Spirits Bright91Ƶ is among the more dramatic of Hallmark91Ƶs offerings this year.

91ƵIt91Ƶs about a girl who lives in a big city and she just lost her father,91Ƶ Ayres said. 91ƵShe discovers that there might possibly be an uncle that she didn91Ƶt know about, and she kind of decides to do some sleuthing and drives to the small town where she thinks potentially this uncle might live.91Ƶ

While unraveling the secrets of her long-lost family, the protagonist might just find love along the way.

91ƵLong Lost Christmas91Ƶ premieres on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Nov. 18 at 10 p.m. EST (7 p.m. Pacific).



adam.louis@ ahobserver.com

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Check out highlights from the video interview with Ayres on our website, www.agassizharrisonobserver.com.



Adam Louis

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