In the upcoming true crime drama Happy Face, Chanelle Harquail-Ivsak will be playing Adele alongside a cast including Dennis Quaid as Happy Face, Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa and Khiyla Aynne as Melissa’s daughter Hazel, with the series premiering on Paramount+ in March. Further television series for Chanelle include a guest appearance in A Million Little Things as Celeste, and in 2018, she played one of the main characters – Hailey Yarner – in The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, which aired in the UK on ITV and saw Chanelle be nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama at the Canadian Screen Awards. Chanelle has appeared in a number of films such as The Journey Ahead as Katie for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, A Cinderella Story: A Christmas Wish as Grace Decker, the Lifetime film No One Would Tell as Nikki (which is based on a true story), and the Disney Channel Original Movie Zapped, playing Rachel opposite Zendaya as Zoey Stevens, for which she was directed by Peter DeLuise. As a voiceover actor, Chanelle has voiced characters in My Little Pony: Pony Life, Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own and Barbie and the Secret Door. We chatted to Chanelle about her upcoming role of Adele in the Paramount+ series Happy Face, her time as Hailey Yarner in The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, and her film work including A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish and Zapped.
It has been announced that you will be playing Adele in the upcoming Paramount+ series Happy Face, is there anything you can tell us about the show and your time working on it?
When I first found out about the series, I immediately started listening to the podcast. After the first episode I was hooked. I thought to myself, “this is going to be an incredible show”. Fans are in for a treat as the series dives into more of the behind the scenes of the podcast. Filming the show was such a cool experience. The sets were fantastic and so detailed. It was really easy to immerse myself into the role of a researcher on a production. It was also fun to play someone on the other side of what I do!
What are you looking forward to for the release of Happy Face and why would you recommend watching the series?
I’m looking forward to seeing the reactions of the fans of the Happy Face podcast the most… I feel like they’ll be able to immerse themselves into the story by watching the show after listening to the podcast. On the other hand, I look forward to hearing from people who’ve never listened to the podcast. The story itself is so unique, with so many twists and turns, it’s bound to leave some people speechless.
How was it having a guest appearance in A Million Little Things as Celeste?
I had auditioned for the show a couple of times so to finally book a role felt like such a relief, especially since it was the show’s last season. It was a show on my bucket list to be a part of! My scene was brief but I had a lot of fun working with the cast and making them laugh.
What was it like playing Katie in The Journey Ahead for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries?
Playing Katie was a huge milestone for me. As an openly gay woman, it was the first time I was able to play a queer role on Hallmark. I didn’t know if I’d ever get to do that! I was so grateful for the opportunity.
You played the role of Grace Decker – one of the stepsisters in A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish, what did you enjoy most about playing Grace and how was it getting into character?
I think my favourite part about playing Grace Decker was getting to wear clothes I never would in real life. It’s always so much fun to play a character that is the complete opposite of you. You really do get to walk in someone else’s shoes.
How was it being part of the A Cinderella Story film series and what was it like working alongside the rest of the cast?
The cast and crew really made my filming experience one of the best. The crew was always so kind and respectful. They were always up for a good laugh. And the cast was so much fun to work with, especially working with Lillian Doucet-Roche, who played Grace’s sister Joy. Every morning, Lillian would come to my place and we’d drive to set together and drive back home together every night. It really helped us build a relationship that helped bring our characters to life.
Can you tell us about the Lifetime film No One Would Tell and your character Nikki, and how was it telling the story?
Working on No One Would Tell was gut-wrenching. Going into this project, knowing it was based on a true story, always brings another element to a project. You want to do it justice and you want to respect the victim’s story. I felt like it depicted a really honest portrayal of abuse and how “love” can really blur the lines between passion and abuse. This project will always have a special place in my heart. I made lifelong connections working on it. It was also such a gift to work with someone as iconic as Shannen Doherty. You never know what people are going to be like, but she was so kind and always came to work ready to give her all.
In 2018, you played one of the main characters, Hailey Yarner, in The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco (which aired in the United Kingdom on ITV), what was the series like to film?
Filming The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco was definitely one of my more challenging projects I have worked on but so incredibly rewarding. It was challenging because it was the first time I was a series regular on a series that didn’t cater to children and it was also a period piece, something I had never done before. Thankfully, my incredible castmates really supported me while filming and helped me whenever I was feeling like I couldn’t figure out a scene or if I came across dialogue I was having a hard time grasping. The other challenging part of filming Bletchley was that I was also working on another series called Sacred Lies. On days I wasn’t filming Bletchley, I was filming Sacred Lies and there were days where I’d spend filming Bletchley and then get driven to the Sacred Lies set for a night shoot. It was such a challenge but I’m so proud I was able to get through everything and I look back fondly at my experience.
Did you have a favourite episode/storyline to work on in The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco, and how was it being nominated at the Canadian Screen Awards for your role of Hailey?
I think my favourite storyline from The Bletchley Circle: San Francisco was Hailey’s coming out story. When I was first cast, I had no idea that Hailey would come out as a gay woman. It wasn’t until about a week before filming I sat down with our showrunner Michael MacLennan and he told me that Hailey eventually comes out as gay. I remember being so excited to play a queer character as a queer person myself. Going through Hailey’s journey of coming to terms with her sexuality helped me discover my own in ways. It wasn’t till a couple of months after filming that I had come out as an openly gay woman myself. I think Hailey helped me figure out parts of myself I wasn’t able to.
Being nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for my work on Bletchley was so completely unexpected. I had absolutely NO idea I was submitted by the producers of the show to be considered for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. I found out via an email from the Canadian Screen Awards congratulating me of my nomination. I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so loud. I was at home and my landlord texted me to ask if everything was okay hahahaha. It was such an honour to be nominated by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and I’m so grateful.
What are some of your stand-out memories from playing Rachel in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zapped, in which you starred opposite Zendaya as Zoey Stevens?
I think one of my favourite parts of working on Zapped was getting to work with director Peter DeLuise for the second time. I had worked with him previously on a series called Level Up and it was such a treat to work with him again. He just has that eye for comedy and he’s absolutely brilliant. He also isn’t afraid to be silly and just knows how to make you laugh.
You have also worked as a voiceover actor on projects such as My Little Pony: Pony Life, Littlest Pet Shop: A World of Our Own and Barbie and the Secret Door, how different do you find voiceover to on-screen acting and can you tell us about some of the voiceover roles you’ve recorded?
There is such a huge difference between on-screen acting and voiceover. For me personally, I find that I have to be so much more over the top and when I’m acting on-screen everything is so much more subtle. Growing up, I always dreamed of doing voiceover but never thought I’d have a shot. To be able to have worked on a handful of voiceover projects has been such a treat. I was also able to do some voiceover work for a game called Dragalia Lost that was so much fun. I got to voice a dragon named Nimis. It’s not every day you get to say you voiced a dragon!
Having been involved with many other TV series and films over your extensive acting career so far, what are some of your favourite highlights from your further projects, which have included Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story, Another Life, Deadly Class, Sacred Lies, Level Up, R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour and Radio Rebel?
I think one of my most memorable moments during filming was when I was working on Another Life. The role was for someone who is infected with something that affects their nervous system. They were looking for someone with flexibility and growing up I was a rhythmic gymnast and to this day I’m still very flexible. I booked the role and I had so much fun working with the stunt coordinator and director to find uncomfortable ways I could contort my back. The looks on the cast and crew’s faces were priceless. The end result looked so cool and it was definitely a highlight for me.
How did you originally get into acting and was it something you always wanted to do professionally?
As far back as I can remember, I knew I wanted to be an actor. I tried to pursue a career as an actor when I was five, but it wasn’t until I was 16 that I booked my first role. There were so many times I just wanted to give up but I’m so grateful I persevered.
Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?
Oh goodness, it’s so hard for me to pick favourites! For movies, some of my favourites are Spirited Away, Miss Congeniality, Ginger Snaps, Silence of the Lambs, Practical Magic and my newest addition is Wicked. Who didn’t love Wicked?! Top TV shows for me are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dexter, Arrested Development, The L Word, The Office and the most cliché of all, Friends.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love to play video games! I just finished Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom which I LOVED. I also love to crochet and knit and when I’m up for it, I love to devour a good book. But my all-time favourite way to spend my free time is watching TikToks and doing absolutely nothing else. That’s the honest truth.
What are you hoping 2025 brings for you, and do you have any acting projects coming up that you can share?
I’m always looking to grow as a person so I hope this year brings me lots of positive change, in my personal life and in my work life. As for projects, I don’t have any others coming up at the moment but you never know when that might change!
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