Exclusive: Catherine Hicks Opens Up About 7th Heaven on Its 15th Anniversary
Has it really been 15 years since we first met the Camden clan of 7th Heaven? In an exclusive interview with Snakkle, Catherine Hicks reminisces about her days on the set with a young Jessica Biel, Barry Watson, and more! By Carita RizzoIt became the longest-running family drama in history and Aaron Spelling’s longest-running show, but when Catherine Hicks was offered the role of matriarch Annie Camden on 7th Heaven, she did not jump at the chance.
“I was dragged kicking into the first season, because I really wanted to be free for film,” laughs Hicks. “I was doing a film with Ray Liotta and I thought, ‘I’m back in cinema!’ Of course Turbulence came out and it was a horrid film. Meanwhile, I had fallen in love with the cast [of 7th Heaven] and realized the fun of acting. Our scenes were mammoth: It was like doing a play every day. On a lot of shows you go, 'Freeze! Book 'em!' but these were long, emotional scenes. So I thought, ‘Wow, this is really acting.’”
For 11 seasons, creator Brenda Hampton brought viewers the trials and tribulations of Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) and his family as they tackled real-life issues like bullying, teenage pregnancy, and addiction. The message was as clear as the show’s theme song: No matter what you do in life, you can always return home.
For those who grew up with the show, separating the TV family from the actors who played them has become virtually impossible, as witnessed by fan reactions across the globe. “I’ve been in tiny waterways off Lake Como in Italy and the Italian boys with their legs dangling over a high bridge looked down and screamed ‘Annie Camden,’” says Hicks. “It’s amazing!” But frankly, it’s not a far-fetched concept, as even the actors who played the Camdens formed a special bond.
“It did feel like family,” says Hicks. “I don’t know if that’s good casting or if Brenda wrote for us, but I think they picked sensitive, nice people, and we all wanted and needed to love each other.”
To this day, Hicks is amazed at the massive following the show had and continues to have worldwide. “The audience was loyal and huge. The industry was ignorant of its popularity, so they never noticed it, but the world did,” she says. “We fed the people what they craved, which was real drama and love and real issues that we dealt with that were troubling real kids, and parents would tune in to learn how to parent. We were strict, and people were learning that it’s okay to say no to your kids. I really feel that because of what Brenda served up, we really served people full meals for 11 years, and that makes me happy.”
June 19, 2022 at 2:48 am, The Cast Of '7th Heaven' Have Revealed What It Was Really Like To Make The Show - Billionairesmind said:
[…] was initially reluctant to star in 7th Heaven since she wanted to make movies, she reveals how much she grew to love her co-stars and making the show. “I had fallen in love with the cast [of 7th Heaven] and realized the fun of acting. Our scenes […]