Even with more than two decades of film and TV credits, actress Cindy Busby, 42, still gets nervous stepping onto the set of a new production.
And that’s a good thing, said the Montreal native, who credited that “excited energy” with helping her shine in roles like her latest—Nora, a lawyer in the highly anticipated second season of the Great American Family series “When Hope Calls,” premiering on April 6.
“I still get the butterflies in my stomach,” Busby recently told The Epoch Times in an interview. “It’s because I care and it matters to me, and I want to do a great job.
“It’s very vulnerable to be a character, an actor in front of all these people and then subsequently have audiences watch it,” she continued.
“It’s something that equal parts I love and also scares me even to this day because there’s a little girl inside me that just wants to do a great job.”
In other words, Busby said, those first few days on a new acting job are like “diving into the deep end.”
When she made the right choice, like she did with “When Hope Calls,” she discovered that “the nerves end up going away pretty [quickly]” because everything “was in perfect alignment and it was really, really special.”
Persevering in Acting
It’s the “care” factor in her work that has, in fact, enabled Busby to make a sustainable living as an actor—complete with a résumé that includes a string of popular Hallmark productions, such as the “Unwrapping Christmas” films and “Unleashing Mr. Darcy”; big-screen movies such as “The Big Year” and “Honey Girls”; and guest roles in popular TV series such as “Supernatural,” “Psych,” and “The Vampire Diaries.”Of course, in the early days of an actor’s life, dues had to be paid.
“I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t have any side jobs on the way to getting a steady actor’s paycheck. It’s good because it prepares you,” Busby said of her gigs in retail, waitressing, and as a space camp tour guide.
“You’re always kind of working with people, and that’s what you end up doing on set anyway.”
That’s not to say it wasn’t often challenging to keep one’s spirits up.
“There were many times where I’m like, ‘Okay, this is it,’ and then it wasn’t,” Busby said. “So there’s a lot of heartbreak and a lot of ups and downs, but it’s always worth it.”
From the very beginning, however, Busby said she never considered any other career.
“I’m going to go ahead and say I was very naive and didn’t feel like I needed a plan or wanted a plan,” she said.
I was just like, ‘No, if I have a backup plan, then I’m gonna end up falling back on that and I don’t want to.’”
Strong Community Sets the Foundation
That bravery, Busby said, is rooted in her family.“I was doing all the plays in school, and then I got accepted into the theater program in college, [my parents] were like, ‘Oh, wow, okay, I guess she’s serious about this,’” she said. “They’ve always been incredibly supportive.
“I think that that’s a huge part of someone’s success. It’s to feel confident in yourself, but also having at least one person that stands by you that truly believes in you, and I definitely have been surrounded by those people, which is huge.”
Today, that support system includes her actor and producer husband, Chris Boyd.
“You need someone who’s going to be supportive and who’s going to understand the hours and the commitment that you have to give it,” Busby said, noting their dual show business work-life.
Her friends and rescue dog, Suzie, also contribute to that sense of accomplishment she carries on and off set.
She said Suzie is almost 11 years old now, and is “the light of my life.”
“I just love getting to go walk [Suzie] in the morning, grab a coffee, come home, maybe read a book, do my Pilates class,” she said of her favorite days off from work.
“I love cooking, so cooking a really delicious meal [lasagna is a favorite] for dinner and reconnecting with my husband and hanging out with friends,” she said.
“It’s important for me to connect with the people in my life when I’m in town, because there’s so many opportunities where I’m not here.
The Next Chapter
As this latest project launches, Busby continues reaching for the stars.“Growing up, I was a big fan of Reese Witherspoon, so that would be a dream come true to get to work with her,” she said while discussing her future wish list.
“I just love getting to collaborate with artists that are fun and take their jobs seriously while also being able to have a good time behind the scenes, too,“ Busby said. ”Those are my kind of people.”
In the meantime, she’s not standing still. She’s working toward producing her own projects while keeping an eye out for what’s next on her acting journey.
“Something like a drama mystery, but with a hint of comedy,” is what the actress said she’s eager to do.
“I love the idea of bringing the drama and lightness of comedy together. There’s something really special in that,“ Busby said. ”Or something like a dark indie would be fun as well.”
Perhaps there’s a project out there that would unite her onset and offset life by appealing to Busby and Boyd? She’s not ruling it out.
“That would be really, really cool,” she said. “He’s been primarily doing unscripted work.
“I certainly would love to work with him, and I think we would survive the experience,” she said. “That would be great.”
