In December 2024, Kirby Ellwood’s latest mini-series Straight A Pregnancy was released on ReelShort, in which she played Kelsey opposite Jordan Frank as Ben, and her further ReelShort mini-series include My Secret Husband Is My Boss as Janie Townsend and The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain as Abby Hart. Amongst Kirby’s projects, she played Olivia Bennett in How to Divorce a Billionaire, Claire in Mr President and The Double Life of Mr President, June Carter in Final Call for Love (which has over 22 million views), Rachel Lane in Single Dad Hunt and Yvonne Hoffman in Spoiled by Four Billionaires. Continuing with mini-series, Kirby has several projects in post-production. We caught up with Kirby, who spoke about her recent release of Straight A Pregnancy playing Kelsey, filming as June Carter in Final Call for Love and her further mini-series including Single Dad Hunt.
Your latest mini-series Straight A Pregnancy was released on December 10th on ReelShort, can you tell us about the series and your character, Kelsey?
Straight A Pregnancy is a romantic comedy about Kelsey Barrington, a type-A college student who has always lived by her grandma’s rules. But in her final year of college, she decides to let loose for once and finds herself at a frat party in the arms of party-boy Ben Lawson. What was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into much more when Kelsey discovers she’s pregnant. The series follows her journey as she navigates breaking her grandma’s rules, figuring out how to tell Ben about the baby, and managing her growing feelings for him.
Kelsey is a logical and highly organised person who thrives on control. So, when life throws her this curveball, it completely derails her carefully laid plans. Watching her scramble to regain control while navigating love, family drama, and unexpected motherhood was such a joy to portray.
What was it like telling the story and filming opposite Jordan Frank as Ben?
Jordan is an absolute gem on and off set. I had such a great time working with him! He made it easy to connect and really dive into our characters. He was always willing to run lines, which was so helpful since we had many dialogue-heavy scenes.
I also discovered Jordan’s love for the Grateful Dead, a band I hadn’t really listened to before. He introduced me to their music, and it was so cool to learn about something new. Jordan has such a big heart, and he wears it on his sleeve. You can really feel that energy when you’re around him. I can’t wait to work with him again – he’s truly one of the best.
How was it getting into character as Kelsey, and how did you prepare for the role?
I could definitely relate to Kelsey’s type-A personality, which made this role especially fun for me. She’s strong-willed, determined, and always looking for the best way to reach her goals. Kelsey’s journey of balancing love, family drama, and a huge life change felt so real and relatable.
My preparation process was all about organisation, much like Kelsey herself! I treat my script like my Bible – I keep it in a binder with everything highlighted, tabbed, and annotated. It’s a system that helps me stay on track, especially when filming out of sequence. For this role, I even created a timeline for Kelsey’s pregnancy and her evolving relationship with Ben, which was crucial given the physical and emotional changes she experiences. Journaling as Kelsey also helped me connect with her inner life and relationships.
Also for ReelShort, you played Janie Townsend in My Secret Husband Is My Boss and Abby Hart in The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain, what were both projects like to be part of?
Both projects were a blast!
The Billionaire’s Baby Bargain was my first vertical series, and it holds a special place in my heart. I was so excited when they booked me directly from my reel – it felt like a big win, especially since it had been a while since I’d been on set.
My Secret Husband Is My Boss was also a great experience, particularly because it came from an in-person audition with ReelShort. Meeting Cossette Hatch and Jake Hobbs on set was a highlight – they’re such wonderful people and made the experience so much fun.
What was it like playing Olivia Bennett in DramaBox’s How to Divorce a Billionaire?
This was my second time working with my co-star Kasey Esser, which was so exciting because we had both been manifesting it! After wrapping our first project together, we were already plotting how to make a second one happen because we had such an amazing time.
The story itself is absolutely charming, centered on a wild misunderstanding that blossoms into an adorable love story. For Olivia’s character, I actually drew inspiration from my best friend’s parents, who are lawyers. Shout out to Ken and Jeannie for being my real-life muses – they added so much depth to my portrayal of Olivia!
Can you tell us about Mr President and The Double Life of Mr President and how was it taking on the role of Claire?
Playing Claire was so much fun, especially since it was my first role that involved travelling. The cast and crew were amazing, and I got to work with Nic Westaway, who is so talented and kind.
We filmed several memorable water scenes, like a pool scene in Vancouver that was supposed to be warm but ended up freezing! Nic had to dive in to ‘save me’, and his reassurance during those moments made all the difference. Claire was such a quirky, lovable character, always finding herself in funny situations. One of my favourite scenes was when Claire pieces together that William is the President – it was such a comedic moment, and I added a line that I think made it even funnier.
What are some of your favourite highlights from your time on set of Final Call for Love as June Carter?
Final Call for Love was only my second time leading a vertical show, so I was still pretty new to the scene. Some of my favourite moments were when we filmed all the camp scenes, which I believe happened on the first or second day out in this beautiful wooded area. Those moments felt so sweet and precious because they captured the essence of new love – it was just so much fun to bring that to life.
One memorable moment was when we found the cutest woolly caterpillar on our blanket during a scene where we were exchanging gifts. It really added to the innocence and magic of youth that the story was trying to convey. Later in the script, the tone shifted to a lot of emotional scenes, which were definitely challenging. It felt like I was crying in almost every scene!
The scene I’m most proud of was when June loses her baby, and Susan, played by the incredible Michelle Park, comforts her. I really prepared emotionally for that one, and I remember feeling like my whole body was buzzing while filming it.
Working with directors Olivia Luying Wang and Liang-Chun Lin was such an amazing experience. We really understood each other, and they had this fun process during takes where we’d do a “Version 1” and “Version 2”. Liang would always let me know which version they preferred afterward, and most of the time, V2 ended up being the winner. It was such a great collaborative process!
Final Call for Love has over 22 million views, what has the fan response been like?
The fan response has been overwhelming in the best way! So many people have reached out to share how much the series resonated with them. Many have asked for a second season, but I think the ending was perfect – a beautiful conclusion to June’s story of self-discovery and empowerment. I’m incredibly grateful for the fans and their support.
You have worked on a number of other releases in 2024, such as Single Dad Hunt and The Back of the Unwanted Bride for ShortMax, Spoiled by Four Billionaires for DramaBox, Flash Vows for Best Short, and One Million Reasons to Love a Prince for Kalos TV; can you tell us about some of them?
Each of these projects was such a special experience for me in its own way.
Single Dad Hunt was an absolute joy to work on because I got to play a mom! My on-screen daughter, Stella Mae Reid, was so talented. My co-star, Paul Addison, and I were always so excited to have scenes with her. We’re hoping to reunite for the continuation of the story since it ended on a “to be continued” note – fingers crossed!
Spoiled by Four Billionaires was SUCH a fun project to film. I mean, who wouldn’t love being spoiled by four billionaires? The actors who played my brothers were all an absolute delight to work with. Honestly, the whole cast and crew made it such a warm and enjoyable experience. We even filmed on my birthday that year, and I felt so thankful to celebrate on set with such a wonderful group of people.
What do you enjoy most about filming for online mini-series?
The fast-paced environment keeps me sharp. Mini-series production often means filming 12-17 pages a day, with only one or two takes per setup. It’s challenging, but it’s also taught me so much about memorising lines quickly and making confident choices as an actor.
What are your favourite films and TV shows to watch?
My favourite film of all time is Interstellar by Christopher Nolan. The storytelling, visuals, and Hans Zimmer’s music – it’s just a masterpiece.
When it comes to TV, I love Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Euphoria, Outer Banks, and You. I’d love the chance to be part of shows like these someday!
How do you like to spend your free time?
When I’m not working, I’m usually at hot yoga – it’s my go-to for staying mentally and physically strong. I also love painting abstract art, especially textured monochromatic pieces. Blue is my favourite colour to work with.
I enjoy spending time with my best friend, whether we’re shopping, seeing a movie, or just relaxing.
What are your hopes for the next year, and do you have any upcoming projects?
I hope to continue working on bigger projects and achieving milestones like landing a TV role or being in a Hallmark movie.
I have several mini-series in post-production and a proof of concept for a feature film with Rebecca Louise and director Matt Maddox that I’m really excited about. It’s a story about friendship, betrayal, and the supernatural – I think it’s going to be incredible.
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