Interview: Brigid Brannagh Has A Crush on You

Brigid Brannagh took a break from being an Army wife and developed a crush on Sean Patrick Flanery in the Hallmark original movie “A Crush on You,” which premieres June 11 at 9/8c. Brigid plays Charley, an overworked single mom who soon develops a flirtatious email exchange with a “secret admirer.” This admirer (Flanery), as it turns out, meant for the email to reach Charley’s co-worker, Chloe, who herself is a slightly vacuous yet gorgeous man-eater. I spoke with Brigid recently about the experience of playing someone other than her “Army Wives” character, Pamela.

Daytime Dial: What was it about this movie and the role of Charley that made you want to be a part of it?

Brigid Brannagh: One of the things that I really liked about it is that she’s really sort of forgotten herself; she’s in the background of her own life in a way. It actually happens to a lot of women, a lot of mothers, I should say. I also liked that there was the opportunity to kind of be really natural, messy. I think it’s one of the things I’m willing to do that a lot of people aren’t. I like playing people who are a little undone and honest. I have a harder time with people who are so together it’s impossible. In fact, I don’t even know how to play them.

DD: Charley really is the “everywoman” — in her professional life and her personal life.

BB: I really like the everywoman roles, because there are just so many roles that have nothing to do with what women really are. Most women, a big part of their lives is being a daughter, a wife, a girlfriend, a best friend and a mother, and I think that women tend to associate ourselves by the people we surround ourselves with. Our work ethic, our loyalty and all that are intertwined.

DD: What was it like to work with Sean Patrick Flanery?

BB: He is a joker, very playful. I can be kind of nerdy; I don’t want to mess up. I’ve done this for 25 years, and still, my heart will palpitate if I am not sure that I really have a handle on what I am shooting or that I might mess up. I’m so super focused, and I can get a little OCD like that. But not Sean. He’s more casual in terms of like, let’s just work a little with this line; let’s make it work. He’s joking around, and I’m like: “OK, time to go. What are you doing?”

You’d be amazed at how much people try to make me laugh and it’s not going to happen. I’m terrible. I’m never on a gag reel, because I’ll joke before and I’ll joke after. The money’s being spent. I’m one of nine Irish kids, so I have that work ethic. I’m not wasting a dime.

DD: You also got to work with Michael Clarke Duncan …

BB: Oh, he was a lovely man. What a delightful human being. Literally, he is. He is a very grateful, sweet, bright human being.

DD: What message do you hope viewers take away after watching this movie?

BB: I hope that people realize that yeah, I count too. I can have things; I can have joy, and I can remember that I’m special. I hope it just kind of nudges people a little bit, especially women, to realize that there’s a lot more there. And it’s literally right there in front of you.