Inside Sarah Drew’s Return with Mistletoe Murders

Sarah Drew for RYMER&Co, photo by Sarah Krick

Beloved for her unforgettable role as April Kepner on Grey’s Anatomy, Sarah Drew has built a career defined by passion, versatility, and heart. Today, she’s entering a new chapter as both star and executive producer of Mistletoe Murders. In this interview, she opens up about her journey and this new role.

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We have viewers/readers in different countries. Could you introduce yourself for those who might not know you?

My name is Sarah Drew. I’m an actress, producer, and writer. Most people know me as April Kepner from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, where I played April for 9 years.

You’ve written, produced, and directed. Which part of the creative process fulfills you the most today?

I think my first love will always be acting. When I’m writing or producing, the end goal for me is to say the words I write or produce scenes I’m acting in. Producing and writing have given me ownership over my career in a new way over the past several years, and it’s been really exciting creatively for me. I love producing because I love being involved in the development of the story from the beginning all the way to the end. I think directing especially requires a mind and heart activation in a way none of the other disciplines do. The directing that I’ve done has been exhilarating for me.

You spent nine seasons on Grey’s Anatomy, one of the most iconic shows in television history. Looking back, would you say that this experience changed your life?

Absolutely. I was able to have both of my children while on that show. I was so supported and cared for while my babies were young, and I got to tell a very compelling story about a multifaceted woman of faith to a massive international audience. The reason I’ve been able to transition to writing, producing, and directing is in large part due to the notoriety I gained and the experience I gathered from my many years on Grey’s. I will forever be grateful for the ways Grey’s Anatomy changed my life.

You worked closely with Ellen Pompeo, Jesse Williams, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, and Patrick Dempsey. Do you have any special memories or lessons from working alongside them that have stayed with you?

Jesse Williams and I created such a special partnership while playing April and Jackson. We were both so committed to making the story as layered and nuanced as possible, and we were very invested in collaborating with the writers in that regard. We had to weather so many traumatic storylines together and really learned to trust each other and lean on one another in order to tell the stories as authentically as possible. I will always hold that partnership so dearly.

If Shonda Rhimes called tomorrow and asked you to return as April Kepner, would you consider it?

I wouldn’t return full time because I’m really very busy these days, and I feel like I’ve told her story very fully. However, I’m always open to coming in for an arc or for a few episodes. I love dropping back in and visiting my family over there, but I don’t think I’d want to return full time.

credit: Hallmark Media

What drew you to Mistletoe Murders and what excited you most about returning for Season 2?

I’d never done a mystery series, and I love that genre, so I was immediately intrigued when I sat down to read it. The mystery was so compelling in those first two episodes, and the scripts were so well written, but what really sealed the deal for me was the flashback at the end of the first episode when we see Emily as someone entirely different than we’ve seen her thus far. I love that there’s so much more to her than she shows anyone else, and I was really excited to play a role with a complicated and mysterious backstory.

Mistletoe Murders is my favorite job I’ve ever had. We have so much fun on set. We laugh our way through every day, and the creative collaboration is so deeply satisfying. As soon as we finished shooting Season 1, I was praying for more and more seasons. People seem to be loving the show, and I just hope that we will be able to make seasons for many years to come. I’m so proud of this show and so happy in this job. I’m also really excited for folks to see Season 2 because I think it’s just getting better and better with every new episode. The relationships are deeper, the love story is more layered, the friendships are becoming more and more vibrant, and the mysteries never disappoint.

As both an actress and executive producer, how does wearing both hats influence the way you work on set?

I take my job as a leader very seriously. As EP on the show, I’m involved and invested in the creative development of the episodes, but I’m also invested in the lives of my cast and crew. I endeavor to make every member of the cast and crew feel valued and cared for, and that job is as important, if not more important, to me than turning out a perfect episode. The beautiful thing about this show is that the good vibes we feel on set really translate to the chemistry on screen and the work ethic of all of our crew. It’s a big love fest on the show, and you can see the love that every department puts into it when you watch the episodes.

You’ve been part of so many projects across networks like Hallmark, Lifetime, and Apple TV+. What makes Mistletoe Murders stand out for you personally?

I think I answered that above, but I think it all starts with a really loving and collaborative creative team. Ken Cuperus and Michelle Melanson set an incredible tone on set. They truly love the people who work for them, so on top of just being really good at storytelling, they make our job feel really wonderful. It’s rare that you have such a joyous time on set and then are also really proud of the final product, and on top of that, turn out a product that people really love. Often you might get two of those things on a job, but very, very rarely do you get all three. It’s a pretty magical trifecta, and it makes me want to just keep making more and more seasons with this team.

Would you say your real-life personality is different from the characters you play? Is there one role that feels the most like you?

There are pieces of me in all of my characters. When I approach a role, I just use my imagination to put myself in the character’s history and current set of circumstances. I endeavor to understand what makes them choose the things they do, and I approach every role with total empathy, unconditional love, and curiosity. I wind up merging a bit with every character I play. She will teach me things, and I will inform who she is as well.

You’ve managed to balance an impressive career with being a wife and mom. How do you find harmony between your personal and professional life? How do your children feel about seeing you on screen? Do they ever watch your shows?

One of my favorite things about making Mistletoe Murders is that my kids are obsessed with it. They love the show. They love the relationships and the mysteries. My kids love to visit set. This spring, they came out for their spring break, and my son actually joined me on set for two straight days from start to finish, and finished out the second day saying, “You know what, Mommy? I think set is my happy place just like it’s your happy place.” I’ve loved being able to share my projects with them over the past several years. In terms of work-life balance, I’m still figuring it out. I’m gone a lot, and that is hard for sure. But we do our best to really connect when we are together and to be super present with each other. It’s a constant balancing act.

Did you ever imagine reaching this level of success and recognition in your career? What are your next goals or dreams?

My biggest dream when I was a kid was just that I could make a living as an actress. I wanted to be able to support myself with acting without having to get a day job. I, of course, dreamed of Broadway and movies and such, but never really thought I’d wind up living my dream so entirely. It’s interesting, because no matter what the dream is, the goal post keeps moving if you don’t figure out how to find contentment in the here and now. I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about what will come next, because it’s important for me to live into the gratitude of the moment I’m in. Otherwise, I’d never be satisfied with what I have. I’d like to keep acting, writing, and producing, and I’d like to do more directing moving forward, but it doesn’t all have to happen immediately.

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Journalist: D.R.

Courtesy of Conscious Hollywood PR #SarahDrew #GreysAnatomy #MistletoeMurders