Helen Decatur was busy on Sweet Magnolias this season. She helped the mayor with the budget and tried to save the town she loved.
However, it was more than that. Helen seemed happier as she chased her dreams and realized she still loved Erik.
TV Fanatic had the opportunity to chat with Heather Headley, and it was like catching up with an old friend. She discussed filming that rescue scene in the rain with Dion Johnstone and what made the second time around with Erik even better.
Headley also shared some storyline arcs she hopes to see in a potential fifth season and singing on the series again.
Check out the interview below.
It’s lovely to see you again, Heather. You all had such different roles this season. How did you enjoy Helen’s work as town manager for the mayor?
She doesn’t like it at first, but she’s doing it for the sake of the town. As everybody knows, Helen loves Serenity. A few weeks ago, when they sent us the show, I watched some episodes and remembered why Helen is still in Serenity and why she loves it so much that it’s her town.
She and Peggy fight because the budget constraints force them to make hard decisions. She takes it on because she loves that town so much and because that town has been there for her in the past.
She knows that she may be the best candidate for the temporary town manager position. Although she’s not crazy about it, she’s there for the town.
What triggered Helen and the others to chase their dreams more vigorously this season?
Laura, when we get a little older, there comes a point in our lives as women. We try to figure out our passion and our purpose. It’s about what we are working towards.
In your 20s and 30s, you’re building a foundation of what you may be, and when you hit your 40s, soon approaching your 50s, you often feel your time is limited. Time is short, and you have to get these things done.
In Sweet Magnolias Season 4, the women are portrayed as knowing their dreams, determined to achieve them, and knowing they mustn’t procrastinate. You see that with Maddie. You see that with Dana Sue and her kitchen idea.
They hesitate a little bit: Should I do this? Do I have the time? Do I have the money? Eventually, they realize they should follow their dreams. This is an excellent lesson for all of us as women.
Somebody once told me that procrastination is offensive to God because it implies that you will have tomorrow when you don’t know it. It’s rude to some extent. So, they said, go ahead and grab your tree and say it is. So, I think that’s part of it.
Absolutely. And you know I am a massive Helen and Eric fan. So, we must discuss Eric rescuing Helen from that storm and that passionate rain kiss. What was that like to film?
(laughs) Laura, they give us the scripts two episodes at a time, so two weeks in advance. We’re sitting around, and I start reading it. I’m in shock. I had a feeling because everybody insisted, we needed them together.
Sheryl Anderson and I had spoken before, and I told her last season that I felt he needed to rescue her from something. It had to be like a snowstorm, and something had to fall down.
I remember mentioning that to her. And then she said to me, “There’s going to be a storm, and Erik is going to come to her rescue.”
I forgot about that. So, I got the script, read this thing, and thought this rain scene would be fun. But then I remembered thinking, “Oh, I have to do that.” I don’t like the cold. I don’t want to be wet all night. This is going to be crazy.
It was the first time we had done anything like that, so it was intricately done with care and love. I remember it was late at night, and there was rain. We were cold, but they kept us warm.
We had our costumes. People had blankets and warmers and stuff to make it happen. I’m grateful to them because the crew, wardrobe, makeup, and hair went above and beyond, even with my hair.
I remember talking about how the water would curly my hair and all this stuff. Dion Johnstone was soaking wet for three hours.
Yeah, he looked hot.
He had been soaking wet for three hours, and it had to be about 40 degrees. They were blowing water on us. But we knew, under the care of Norman Buckley, our resident director, that it would be a beautiful scene. It was the perfect scene and the right thing for these two to reunite.
Needless to say, I did not see all of it happen until much later, but I’m happy with it. It looks great, and I think the women will swoon.
I did. That kiss was hot.
(laughs) The women will swoon. I think the women will all go outside, get their chainsaws, try to cut down trees over their cars, and be like, rescue me. It’s a sweet scene. It was tough because it was cold, rainy, wet, and everything else. But it was fun. Everybody made it easy to do.
Why do you think Helen and Eric’s relationship is stronger this time?
That’s a great question. I’ve discussed it with the writers and explained why this time is their time and if anyone will mess it up.
People disagreed with Helen’s choice of Ryan over Eric last season. They were sending me messages, and they were upset. Some of those people were my mother. Many people were upset about the choice.
But I remember telling the writing team that Helen does not need to pick Eric yet. She needs to go with Ryan. I know that is controversial. And maybe you’re not happy about waiting another season yourself, Laura? But here’s the deal.
We needed to see that she and Ryan were over this time. You know how those things are sometimes. You always have this thought in the back of your head about what if we could have been together.
Helen needed to get that slate cleared. Even when she went into it with Ryan, she had all these thoughts and doubts.
So, I think this time that Erik and Helen are stronger. They’ve spent a year pining after each other and going separate ways. Even Erik needed to leave, be with somebody else, and figure out you’re not the one. It’s still Helen.
I think they have longevity this time. Hopefully, no one will mess it up.
If we get a fifth season, will we see a wedding?
If you get a fifth season, you’ll see a wedding. I wouldn’t doubt it. All the other girls have had weddings. Why shouldn’t Helen?
It should be huge. I told them that if Helen had a wedding, she would be at the front of the church, and her train would still be in the car.
[laughs] I love it.
Maddie and Dana Sue should still be in the car trying to get it out, and she should be at the front of the church with it still rolling in. So yeah, the other two girls have had a wedding. I would hope that she would get one, too. We’ll see how the happy ending goes.
What else do you want to see for Helen in a potential fifth season?
There’s so much. It would be interesting to learn more about why Helen stayed and the history of Helen’s family.
We need to know a little about why she stayed, like with her mom, Bev Decatur (Janet Hubert). Her father’s dead. What made Helen return to Serenity?
If the fifth season showcases the wedding, It will be getting ready for that, and nothing is ever easy for Helen, so there will be drama.
If you think about it, Laura, all of Serenity has been waiting for Helen to get married. She’s been the single spinster to some extent.
Maddie has had two weddings now. Dana Sue has had a wedding, a breakup, a divorce, and a vow renewal. She is the other Magnolia who will do it. It would be a big deal that she is getting married and that the town wants to come and celebrate, as well as all the drama that might bring.
I don’t necessarily need to see Helen with kids. I always say that because there are women in our world who don’t have the gift of having children. But they are great aunties and great godmothers.
It would be a good example of somebody being fulfilled, either adopting or being a godmother to those kids.
I don’t think she wants to be mayor, but she’ll take on something. She might run some company or buy something else. It’s time to buy something else. She’ll buy the Corner Spa and purchase something else.
It’ll be a great season for her. I love the drama. This is awful, but I never want Helen settled because, like the drama, I tell them not to temper that water and shake it up.
So, I suggest giving her something to do whenever she gets settled. Let her have some problems. Yes, hopefully, she’ll have some happiness with a bit of drama.
I love it. Before we end, I want to say that I loved hearing you sing again.
Oh, thank you. It was good singing. Brooke Elliot sang this year, and she sounded beautiful. I remember going through the script again, and it was Christmas.
I knew we would end with Christmas, and I just had this feeling that somebody would sing, and it wouldn’t be Joanna Garcia Swisher.
We hope it won’t be Joanna and Brooke who have already sung, so I think I’m up. It was a lot of fun.
I love Christmas, and I want to record a Christmas album. I’m hoping to do one this year. It was a joy to sing Christmas songs on the show again.
It was entertaining, and Paster June’s pregnancy, her delivery, and the whole place coming together made it even more fun.
It’s always a joy to talk to you, so thank you so much for your time. I’m sure everybody will love the season, and Team Helen and Eric fans will be so happy with me leading the charge.
I know. I’m so happy for them.
I’m happy for me.
It’s three or four seasons overdue, so I’m glad. It’s going to be fun. We’ll see what the people say. As I said, They were not happy with me last season. So, hopefully, this year, they’ll be a little happier.
Well, thanks for your support of the show. We always appreciate it.
Sweet Magnolias Season 4 is streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned for more exclusive interviews with Dion Johnstone and Anneliese Judge.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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