Actress Danica McKellar made headlines in October when she announced that she had signed an exclusive contract with GAC Family, a new network started by Crown Media Family Network’s former CEO Bill Abbott. As part of the deal, she will star in and act as executive producer on four movies for the company. The first of these, The Winter Palace, premiered on January 8.
In an interview with The List, the Wonder Years alum says she is looking forward to using the moves she learned as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars in one of her GAC movies.
“I can’t give you a lot of details yet, but I’m working on one that involves some dance, which is a lot of fun,” she said. “I haven’t done a lot of dancing since “Dancing with the Stars” several years ago, but I love it. And it’s just a fantastic fun exercise and art form all at once.”
The actress said there’s nothing better than making romantic, feel-good films for viewers.
“Romantic comedies go all year round,” she said. “And I think what audiences love about Christmas is this feeling of nostalgia and family and traditions and warm fuzziness. Really, what we want is that warm fuzziness.”
Making the switch
McKellar first appeared on the small screen as Winnie Cooper in the ABC program The Wonder Years, which ran from 1988-1993. After finishing the series, she went on to study mathematics at UCLA.
In her work as an undergraduate, she helped author a mathematical-physics theorem, the Chayes-McKellar-Winn theorem. She has written 11 books about math and runs a website devoted to the subject.
She continued her acting career as well, making guest appearances on The West Wing and the The Big Bang Theory. Over the years, she has appeared in a number of Hallmark romcoms Crown for Christmas (2015), Christmas at Grand Valley (2018), and Christmas at Dollywood (2019). She also starred in Crown Media’s Matchmaker Mysteries series.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the actress said she was excited when Bill Abbott approached her about working for GAC Family.
“So when he was getting ready to launch this new network, I was thrilled that he reached out to me to sign a multi-picture deal as an actress and executive producer,” she said.
New network, new role
McKellar said she having a lot of fun in her new role at GAC Family.
“I’m executive producing and acting in these movies, and I have a little bit more creative say,” she said. “And so, it was really fun to be more hands-on and helping to make more creative decisions, not just in the script, but also just random things, like the props or whatever, just being more involved.”
The Winter Palace will air on GAC Family on Saturday, January 15 at 5/6c.
We don’t get that channel so who cares!