Virgin River’s Annette O’Toole on Season 6, Hope’s Ex and More

Virgin River a star Annette O’Toole opens up about her character Hope’s season 6 journey – including what it was like shooting that stripper scene.

“That scene I shot, it was a little difficult,” O’Toole, 72, said only Us Weekly while promoting the sixth seasonreleased on Netflix on Thursday, December 19.

In that scene, which takes place in episode four, a stripper meant for Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and his friends – who are out celebrating Mel’s wedding at a Bachelorette party – accidentally show up to Hope McCrea (O’Toole) and her knitting ring at Jack’s Bar. Hijinks ensue.

While shooting it was “a lot of fun,” O’Toole said it was also “bittersweet,” as Hope’s friend Muriel (Teryl Rothery) is awaiting a diagnosis of breast cancer. O’Toole explained that she was “delighted” for Muriel – who received a spicy lap dance from the erotic dancer, to the delight of the other women – because for her, “the fear and feeling about your life is over” is a relatable
situation.

“That’s a real thing for anyone because you never know what’s going to happen. But especially for older people,” explained O’Toole. “You never know what’s around the corner. So, you have to embrace every moment. And I love that scene for that.”

For O’Toole, delving deeper into the “complex” dynamics and character of each woman in the knitting circle has become one of her favorite parts of filming.

“They’re older women, and they still have these wonderful, rich lives and problems, and problems that they deal with, with each other and with their town, the they all love them very much,” he said. “I love how dedicated they all are to their community.”

While moments with her circle were full of joy, O’Toole also faced more complex, emotional moments for Hope this season. Her ex-husband, Roland (John Ralston), in episode six, and their troubled past was revealed when she went to visit him about adopting a horse. O’Toole admitted to Us that shooting those scenes was “strange” as she had previously constructed her own past for Hope in her head, noting that for her, the character was a “widow twice over.”

Despite initially having a different vision for Hope’s past, O’Toole acknowledged that introducing Hope’s ex “makes sense” dramatically — and could be a potential storyline for season 7.

“I have no idea what it’s going to be like,” he said Us. “I think it’s good that they leave the door open. So, they are enough enemies where it could be telling good stories next year to do it. “

O’Toole added, “They are already writing season 7and I don’t know what they do with any of that. I haven’t spoken to (showrunner) Patrick Sean Smith. So, I think that would be fun. I think anytime you can throw more hardship, 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 goes to be a long-running show. You have to have these issues and these things to deal with. And it can’t all be smooth sailing.”

Hopefully, of course, happy in her current relationship with Doc (Tim Matheson). After years of ups and downs between them, season 6 allowed the pair to lean into romance – something O’Toole “loved” to explore.

“We can play with it,” she said of her on-screen chemistry with Matheson. “We like to do that. And we’re preparing, we’re trying to fill in the holes… that aren’t explained in the script. We’re just going over those ahead of time.”

Although season 6 gave Hope and Doc a well-deserved honeymoon period, season 7 is likely to be a more challenging one for the duo. First, Roland returns, along with the matter of Doc’s practice at stake, revealed in the finale’s final moments.

Regardless of what lies ahead for the character, O’Toole is grateful that she gets to “inhabit” someone like Hope, who she has learned to look out for in the past five years.

“It’s a lot of features I’d like to have,” he said Us. “I wish I could be more of a pitbull sometimes. And she always knows what to say. She’s just a big, big person inside. She has big feelings about everything and nothing is trivial to her. I think it’s interesting to play. There’s a lot about her that I find interesting.”

O’Toole added that while many people argue that Hope is too “moody” or “funny,” she sees it as a good thing, calling it evidence that people are “interested” in the character . The Smallville the former student also gave credit to showrunner Smith, who has ensured Virgin River is a balance of authentic storytelling while also maintaining a way of escape.

“It’s not just, ‘Oh, it’s a romantic show.’ Yes, it’s beautiful and you have all these lovely, lovely people running around. But it’s real too,” he said. “It’s something that people can strive for, to have that feeling in a community where people really care about each other and are always there, always showing a cup of coffee and (saying), ‘Tell me, what you (need) , how do you feel?’”

Virgin River season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.

With reporting by Kat Pettibone