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Megan Follows was asked how tough it is to play a character who has a secret.
"I guess it depends on how good a liar you are," Follows said in a conspiratorial tone.
Well, this part is no lie: Follows has a two-episode guest-starring role on the CBC series Heartland, beginning today. She's playing Ty's mother Lily, who arrives in town unexpectedly with something to hide.
Certainly when a character has skeletons in the closet, the trick for the actor is not to go too over-the-top with the cloak-and-dagger stuff. After all, you don't want to be Snidely Whiplash, twirling your moustache.
"Well, hopefully I don't have a moustache," Follows said. "That's a whole other thing.
"But that's a great question and I think it was a challenge for this part. It's one thing when something is written and it's another thing when an actor takes it over. It depends on your reasons for lying and how important it is that you get away with it."
Heartland is an Alberta-shot and Alberta-set family drama that is in its third season on CBC. It follows the Fleming sisters -- Amy (Amber Marshall) and Lou (Michelle Morgan) -- and their struggling horse ranch.
Ty (Graham Wardle) is Amy's boyfriend. Lily wants to reconnect with her son, but she clearly is hiding something, and the fallout could destroy the relationship forever.
Follows has plenty of wholesome characters on her resume, most notably her breakthrough childhood role in Anne of Green Gables. So she must enjoy playing someone like Lily, whose motivation is more murky.
"Black and white is pretty fun to play, too, but there's a mystery with Lily," Follows said. "There also is the fact that she's a recovering addict herself, so there's a lot of grey zone."
Follows has lived in the Los Angeles area for many years now, but often Canadian TV shows seek her out specifically.
"Yes, they did come after me for this role, which always is nice -- it's a nice way to be come after," Follows said. "That's the way it generally has happened with Canadian shows, which has been lovely.
"I certainly knew of Heartland, but obviously I became more familiar while doing it. I have friends who've been on it. I'm good friends with Cara Pifco and she has been on the show (as Mackenzie Hutton). And I also know Jessica Steen, who is a regular (as Lisa Stillman).
"I have to say, we had a blast. It's a lovely group of people and a wonderful environment, actually."
Next month Follows will be back in Canada rehearsing for a stage show in Toronto, Cloud Nine by Caryl Churchill. It's scheduled to run early in the new year.
But for now, you can see Megan Follows frolicking in the Canadian Heartland, playing a woman with a secret.
"As an actor in that situation, you have to think about who you want to know your secret, or when, and how clear you are about your own motivation in the secret," Follows said.
Sheesh, who knew lying was so complicated?
BILL.HARRIS@SUNMEDIA.CA