Actors have many roles, and for mother of two Sara Rue, being an activist in today’s political climate is as important to her as any theatrical performance. With her daughters in tow, Rue recently participated in the climate march from where she was filming, setting an inspiring example for her kids. A celebrated actor on stage and screen, you have probably caught her as Carmen Ferrara on Popular, and as Claude Casey on Less than Perfect. As a huge sitcom fan, I loved her performance in The Big Bang Theory, playing Leonard Hofstadter’s physician girlfriend Dr. Stephanie Barnett for three episodes.

I had a chance to record a podcast while she was filming in Vancouver and promoting the premiere of All for Love, which airs Saturday, May 27th on the Hallmark Channel. It is a charming story about expanding your definition of who you can be and how you can live your life. Playing romance novelist Jo Parker, she tries to improve her novel by working with a Navy SEAL hero (Steve Bacic). Committing herself to a rigorous immersion with a retired SEAL, she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery, not just improving her military prowess as planned!

I was stunned by our conversations – particularly about politics – and asked how she melds her activism with her artistic pursuits. She replied that “any time you feel passionate about something, it fuels your battery as an actor.” We discussed life in the Trump era, saving the environment and raising children to be the best they can be.

You can listen here to our full interview below. We chat about her husband’s favourite baby gear for travelling to the set with the girls (Kickboard attachment for the Orbit stoller, Baby Bullet and carriers – Ergo and Baby Bjorn). She talks about taking Talulah – her four year-old to Wicked on Broadway, and her passionate political beliefs.

All for Love airs Saturday on the Hallmark Channel.