- - Erin Krakow Teases 'Never-Before-Seen' Elizabeth and Nathan Moments in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 13 (Exclusive)

Debra WallaceJanuary 3, 2026 at 7:34 PM

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Hallmark’s Erin Krakowhas a great deal to celebrate as the New Year begins. Not only will she kick off Season 13 of When Calls the Heart on Sunday, Jan. 4, she is also preparing to welcome her first child with her actor-husband Ben Rosenbaum.

Krakow, who portrays Hope Valley schoolteacher Elizabeth Thornton on the hit series, says that while she is nesting in her personal life, Elizabeth’s romance with Mountie Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) is also reaching new heights.

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Krakow exclusively tells Parade that everything went smoothly during the filming of Season 13. “I’ve been very lucky this pregnancy,” she says. “I’m grateful that I wasn’t hit with crazy morning sickness, and I’m enjoying all of the magical little flutters that I’m feeling.”

Initially, Krakow and Rosenbaum kept her pregnancy quiet during filming, but soon shared the joyous news with a few people in their inner circle. “I felt very supported the whole time. People were checking in on me and making sure that I felt good and safe.”

Season 13 wastes no time diving into new storylines, especially when it comes to Elizabeth and Nathan. “There’s so much richness that we’re digging into this season, and the way of emotion. We never really shied away from that on When Calls the Heart,” Krakow teased.

“There’s an awful lot of emotion and drama for Elizabeth as she’s navigating being a protective mom, a present partner, and friend, and really trying to be there for the nearby town of Benson Hills in their time of need. A lot is happening early on in the season,” she continued. "We pretty quickly dive into a very emotional mystery this season, as well,” she shared. “There’s just so much happening that we’re setting up for the rest of the season.”

Without spoiling what’s ahead, Krakow teases that Elizabeth and Nathan’s relationship “takes steps forward,” she revealed. “We see Elizabeth and Nathan in a way we’ve never seen them before. They step into new roles together. There's a lot of romance to look forward to.”

Related: Beloved Hallmark Channel Star Announces Pregnancy and Fans Are Crying Happy Tears

Kevin McGarry and Erin Krakow. Photo Credit: Sven Boecker/Hallmark

Krakow appreciates chatting about the series with the "Hearties" — the affectionate term for fans of Hallmark’s longest-running series — but usually keeps her personal life private.

That loyalty extends beyond this season. Hallmark has already renewed When Calls the Heart for Season 14. “It’s very meaningful that fans have supported me and my career for so many years,” she said. “That support carries over into these joyous personal moments as well, like when we announced our marriage and that we were expecting. All of this has been so heartwarming and lovely.

As for why fans return to Hope Valley year after year, Krakow believes the answer is simple. “I think the Hearties have really grown to love the relationships between the characters,” she said. “There’s something very special and magical about spending time in Hope Valley with these people. I think that the love we feel for one another makes its way through the screen to our viewers at home.”

Related: ‘When Calls the Heart’ Star Finds Romance in New Hallmark Holiday Movie ‘Christmas Above the Clouds’ (Exclusive)

The actor also realizes that Elizabeth’s journey in 13 seasons has been truly memorable. “Elizabeth started Season 1 as this fish out of water, trying to find her sea legs in a new town and a new role, with new people and flirtations. Now it just feels like she is a very grounded, capable, confident community member, mother, and partner. We’ve really seen her grow into a woman of confidence. So that’s what we’re seeing more of in Season 13.”

Erin Krakow as Elizabeth and Pascale Hutton as Rosemary in 'When Calls the Heart'

.Season 13 is being teased as a big one for Elizabeth. Krakow said when she read the new scripts, “I saw many surprises in store from our writers who are so skilled and inventive. They are just so creative and inventive at finding ways to build out Hope Valley, learn more about it, and create new opportunities for our characters to both struggle and shine.”

Related: Brooke Shields Will Make Surprise Return to ‘When Calls the Heart’

This season, Brooke Shields returns as Charlotte Thornton—Jack’s mother and Little Jack’s grandmother—for the first time in nearly a decade.

“It was wonderful welcoming Brooke back,” Krakow said. “She’s such a pro, so funny and present, and deeply invested in the story. And she knows how to de-bone a fish like a real pro,” she added with a laugh.

“You could tell that she took her job and her role in the show very seriously. That was super meaningful because I have been wanting Charlotte to come back into the fold for many years. I think especially for our viewers who loved Jack Senior, getting to spend more time with Charlotte is going to be incredibly meaningful.”

Jaeda Lily Miller, Kevin McGarry, Hyland Goodrich, and Erin Krakow Photo Credit: 2025 Hallmark Media Photographer, Jeff Wedde

Related: 3 Babies in 6 Weeks?! A Massive Baby Boom is Blessing the Cast of ‘When Calls the Heart’—See Which Stars are Expecting!

While she prepares for first-time motherhood, Krakow saidthere are lessons from the children she works with that could be helpful. “I have had the great pleasure of working with children for many years. I also babysat, was a nanny, and taught at summer camps and drama programs. So kids have always been a big part of my life. Obviously, playing the role of Elizabeth took me into the classroom, and what an honor it is to get to work with children every day!”

She said she learned a lot from working with children over the years, specifically with Hyland Goodrich, who plays Elizabeth’s son, Little Jack.

“He’s an extremely fun and funny kid. I think taking an interest in his interests and being curious about the things he’s curious about has been really meaningful in our relationship,” Krakow said. “So that’s something that I’ll carry with me into motherhood, is trying to support my child’s interests and meet them there with a comparable curiosity.”

When Calls the Heart Season 13 premieres on Sunday, January 4, at 8 p.m.ET/7 p.m. CT on Hallmark and thenext day on Hallmark+

Up Next, A New ‘When Calls the Heart’ Spinoff is Coming—Here’s Everything We Know About ‘Hope Valley: 1874’

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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