Amber Marshall says her life changed “100%” within a single week when she was offered the starring role of Amy in Heartland, CBC’s endearing Prairie series.

When the auditions were called for the series, Ms Marshall’s agent jumped on it as an ideal role for the horseloving actor. One way or another, being involved with another engagement, Ms Marshall missed the auditions. Nothing daunted, her agent send them photos and details of her career to date and her love and understanding of horses. At the time, Ms Marshall owned a horse herself. She has been riding since she was 10 or 11 years old.

The series producers were so impressed with Ms Marshall’s suitability that they asked for a taped audition, which she duly did and her agent sent it along.

They called her straight away to offer her the role of Amy in the series, which she accepted.

So, at the ripe old age of 17, having always lived with her family, Ms Marshall was whisked out to Alberta, with a whole new life, new city, very different circumstances - all within a week.

Her life in Ontario as an equestrian concentrated on the English style of riding. She trained as a hunter jumper. There was very little influence, she thought, of the Western world in Ontario, which focuses on English riding. At one point, though, she did try out Western riding “just for fun.”

Her character, Amy, rides both English and Western too, she commented.

When Amber first disrupted her life in Ontario to go to Calgary, she found herself so busy with the show, that she had no time for regrets or homesickness.

“We are always on the set,” she said in a telephone interview. “I was pretty independent before coming to Calgary but this was the first time living on my own. I was working so much, I had no time to think about it.”

Everything about Ms Marshall’s current life satisfies her. “This show is perfect for me,” she declares happily. “It’s not a high school series - it’s a family ranch and we grow with the characters.”

Even acting and working so much is fine for Ms. Marshall. She praises how well they are cared for - good food, good atmosphere - great story line.

She said, “I’ve been able to grow and develop with the character and that’s very exciting.”

For the first year, Ms. Marshall lived in Calgary and “couldn’t stand it.”

She explained, “I always knew I would live on a farm, even though I always lived in the city [of London, Ontario]. So, after a year in Calgary, I rented a little farm and then, this year, I bought a place.”

She has been able to indulge her passion for animals too and has a large troop of them on her farm, which she cares for herself. She has picked up a couple more horses, plus a whole menagerie.

Ms Marshall is grateful for that the series has brought her out west, for, as she tells it, “I would never have ventured out to Calgary if it hadn’t been for the show. It really opened my horizons.”

She met Shawn Turner, the organizer of the upcoming Rodeo here in Orangeville, in London, Ont., at the Can Am Equestrian Trade show. She was promoting her clothing line, Amber Marshall Apparel. This is a kids’ line of quality Western style clothing, plus some T-shirts for adults.

Mr Turner offered her to come to Orangeville to promote her clothing and the whole effort turned out very well.

Later, the Heartland producers/ promoters organized a signing for the series with Ms Marshall at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto that was a wonderful success. In fact, Ms Marshall will be appearing again at the Royal, in November, this year.

“I love coming back to Ontario,” Ms Marshall commented. “All my family are here. I may wind up back in Ontario, but I’m having a really good time here in Calgary. The cast of Heartland - we get along together really well and we’re having a lot of fun.”

Ms Marshall will be appearing at the Dodge Rodeo for signing next weekend, July 17 and 18