In the upcoming Hallmark+ series Ripple, Isabella Astbury has been announced to play Finn, with the show starring Ian Harding, and it is set to have a 2025 release. Isabella played Young Abby (Katie Douglas) in an episode of Ginny & Georgia – Series 3, and she played Young Victoria (Clara Rugaard) in the Paramount+ series The Crow Girl. Further screen work for Isabella includes playing Lucy in My Husband’s Killer Affair, Young Mary in the Lifetime thriller Would You Kill For Me? The Mary Bailey Story, and she has filmed for episodes of Blue’s Clues & You. We caught up with Isabella, who talked to us about being announced to play Finn in the upcoming Hallmark+ series Ripple, playing Young Abby in Ginny & Georgia and Young Victoria in The Crow Girl and filming as Lucy in My Husband’s Killer Affair.

It has been announced that you will be playing Finn in the upcoming Hallmark+ series Ripple, what can you tell us about your time filming for this project?

I can’t say too much right now as it’s not been released but it’s been such a fun and special experience working on Ripple. Playing Finn was very different from my other roles so I really enjoyed playing her. She’s such a layered character, and I immediately connected with her story when I first read the script. Filming Ripple has been incredible; the cast and crew were genuinely like a second family. I think audiences are going to fall in love with the story of the show and really connect with the characters to their everyday life. I can’t wait for people to meet Finn and go on this journey with her.

What was it like meeting and working with the rest of the cast, and what are you looking forward to for the release?

Meeting the cast was honestly one of the highlights of the entire experience. There was such a fun energy on set from day one. I loved playing alongside Ian Harding, he made me feel so comfortable and confident. We clicked really quickly – which made the scenes feel that much more real to me. I learned so much just watching them work and feel like I’ve grown as an actor from them.

I’m really looking forward to audiences seeing the chemistry we built, I think it shows on screen because it was real. Ripple has such a heartfelt message, and I think all ages would love it.

How was it taking on the role of Young Abby (Katie Douglas) in an episode of Ginny & Georgia – Series 3 earlier this year?

Playing Young Abby in Ginny & Georgia was such a cool experience, especially because Katie Douglas has created such a strong and memorable character. It was important to me to capture those same traits while also showing a younger side of Abby. Even though I was only there for a short time, it felt like such a supportive environment. Being part of the show is exciting for me as I loved the show before being cast, it was definitely a pinch-me moment, and I loved getting the chance to help tell more of Abby’s backstory.

What was it like having a guest role on Ginny & Georgia and what was it like on set?

Having a guest role on Ginny & Georgia was such an exciting opportunity. The show has such an amazing fan base, and stepping into that world, even briefly, was a real honour. I have received so many nice comments on my social media.

The set itself was amazing – super professional, but also really friendly and welcoming. Everyone, from the cast to the crew, made me feel right at home, I also knew the kids playing alongside me from previous productions, so that was really nice to see them again. It was definitely a stand-out moment in my year.

In the Paramount+ series The Crow Girl, you played Young Victoria, how was it sharing the role with Clara Rugaard and playing the younger version of her character?

Playing Young Victoria in The Crow Girl was such an experience. Clara Rugaard is such a talented actress who I had previously seen in I Am Mother, so I was so happy to be sharing a character with her and was hoping to see her on set, which I did, It was an omg moment for me and I had to play it really cool.

The scenes I was part of were some of the most intense I’ve ever filmed, and I felt really supported by the team throughout. Being part of a project with such a gripping story was something totally new for me, and I’m so grateful for it.

What did you enjoy most about working on The Crow Girl and how did you prepare for your role of Young Victoria?

What I enjoyed most about working on The Crow Girl was how emotionally intense the story was. It’s not the kind of project where you just show up and say your lines – it really requires showing more thought than actual words. Playing Young Victoria meant tapping into a lot of vulnerability, and I found that both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I have not myself experienced Victoria’s past so I had to really think how I would feel from my own experiences to have this show on screen.

To prepare, I spent time watching Clara Rugaard’s previous work and reading through the script and breaking it down more about the emotion rather than the actual lines. My mum actually read the book so she helped me a lot to understand my character in a way that I would understand. A lot of the script was kept from me due to the adult content. I also worked closely with the directors to help me understand who Young Victoria was. I even kept a journal in character during prep, which really helped me connect emotionally to her mindset. It was definitely one of the most creatively fulfilling roles I’ve had so far.

I also spent a lot of time with my new friend Smylie Bradwell to have that real best friend connection and now we speak regularly and he even came to Canada to visit me. FRIENDS FOR LIFE!

Do you have any favourite highlights from being involved with The Crow Girl that you can share?

Favourite… definitely meeting Smylie! We went to the wrap party together, which was so fun, we ate a lot of pizza! What I enjoyed most about being on set was working with the directors who made my time on set so comfortable and they gave me so much support, highlight was going to some of the locations we filmed at and playing with the dead crow, haha.

How did you find the experience working on My Husband’s Killer Affair and how would you describe your character Lucy?

Working on My Husband’s Killer Affair was fun. My character, Lucy, is smart, observant, loves crafts and just being a kid. However, she is also caught in a really complicated family situation, which she can see even though her parents and nanny try to keep it from her. She’s someone who sees more than people realise, and I loved playing that kind of role.

How was it playing Young Mary in the Lifetime thriller Would You Kill for Me? The Mary Bailey Story in 2023?

Playing Young Mary in Would You Kill for Me? The Mary Bailey Story was a really special experience for me – it was actually my first real named role with a proper script to dig into, so it meant a lot. Being trusted to play this character, especially being a true story based on real events, made me feel a little nervous and I took it very seriously even at a young age.

Young Mary goes through so much emotionally, and even at a young age, she’s carrying the weight of a very complicated story, I spent time understanding her background, and what she might have been feeling in each scene – fear, confusion, love, anger – and that really helped me step into her shoes. It was a huge learning curve, but one that made me fall even more in love with acting.

What were your episodes of Blue’s Clues & You like to film?

Being on Blue’s Clues & You will always be really special to me because it was my first-ever ACTRA credit – and I actually grew up watching it, so to be in one felt so cool. I remember being so excited; I wasn’t nervous at all, just genuinely thrilled to be there. I still look back at my behind-the-scenes photos and videos with such happy memories. I was so small at the time, but that experience really confirmed for me that this is what I want to do forever.

It was also my first time working with a green screen, which was super cool and felt very new and professional. And being asked back later that year for another episode was amazing – especially because my real sister and dad were cast in that one too. It made the whole thing feel even more personal.

How did you get into acting and was it always something you wanted to do professionally?

I actually got into acting really young, I think I was around five or six when I started doing little background roles, commercials and a few short films. At first, it was just something fun to try, but the more I did it, the more I realised how much I loved being on set. I loved watching how everything came together, the cameras, the lighting, the direction and I became really curious about the storytelling side of it all.

It wasn’t until I had my first named role, with a script and character to really dive into, that I knew this was what I wanted to do professionally. I’ve never really looked back since then. It’s the one thing that’s always felt right, and I feel really lucky to be doing something I genuinely love. My family has also always been connected to the industry so it was something that was just bound to happen.

What are some of your favourite films and TV shows to watch?

Horror… I live for horror and thriller. My parents would never let me watch them but gave in when I was around 10. They don’t scare me, I just love that feeling you get when you watch them. My favourite being Annabelle. I would love to be in horror. I love Wednesday, the TV show, cartoons left me years ago.

How do you like to spend your free time?

Playing soccer, I am in a local team which supports my acting career, which I really appreciate because I thought it wasn’t possible to do both. I like swimming and travelling. We are always on the road, especially to Florida. We LOVE going to Disney.

Do you have a favourite aspect of working in the acting industry?

Meeting so many incredible people who share the same passion as me, my friends outside of the industry don’t understand, so to connect with people who are like me is what I love the most. Also, just being on set, I always take a moment to take it all in and, of course, the craft table – who doesn’t love set snack!

What are you hoping the next few months bring for you, and do you have any upcoming projects that you can talk about?

Lately, I’ve been taking some time to enjoy the other things I love outside of acting, but I’m still constantly self-taping and doing lots of callbacks. There are a few projects I’m patiently waiting to hear back on. I’ve gotten used to the rejection – it’s part of the journey, and there are definitely more nos than yeses – but it’s the waiting and not knowing that’s the toughest part. At the same time, that uncertainty is also what makes it exciting.

I’m still young, and I have no plans of ever giving up – this is what I love. So I try to enjoy the quieter moments and trust that the next adventure is on its way. I also have four TV series out this year, which has been really fun to celebrate. It’s always exciting to finally be able to share what I’ve been working on with my friends and family.

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