He Gets the Girl! Marcus Rosner Talks Love on Harbor Island, Taking Flying Lessons, Quarantine Rituals and More

Author:
K.L. Connie Wang
Aug 7, 2020

For years it's become a running joke among Hallmark movie fans that Marcus Rosner's character never gets the girl. He's often cast as the other guy or the jilted boyfriend fiancé.

Take for instance his role as Charles Kensington, the family friend and would-be suitor to teacher Elizabeth Thatcher on When Calls the Heart. Hearties were rooting for Elizabeth and Mountie Jack, so Charles' appearance in Hope Valley was not a welcome one.

Things change in his latest movie, Love on Harbor Island, when *spoiler alert* Rosner gets the girl! He plays an aptly named seaplane pilot named Marcus (more on that later) who falls for Lily, an interior designer who returns to the island to help her aunt update her inn.

Parade.com chatted with Rosner about the film, pets, role models, rituals, childhood games and more.

You're a pilot in Love on Harbor Island. You were also a pilot in another Hallmark film. Are you afraid of being typecast?

Haha. Just trying to typecast my way into the Top Gun sequel.

Have you ever taken flying lessons?

I have actually. My fiancé has a history of getting me some really cool birthday presents and one year she got me flying lessons. It was really great. I got to fly this little plane around over Vancouver.

I thought you'd be a shoo-in for a character named Marcus. Was that the character's name before you were cast?

That's funny. My friend and rising filmmaker Lucie Guest wrote the role with me in mind so when it came time to do the movie, I think we just thought it would be funny to not change the name she had been using. I think being referred to by my own name during the shoot inadvertently made this character feel more like who I actually am than anything else I've done. I just figured, "Yeah, I'm just Marcus..."

Your character runs an organization called Pilots for Pups. Do you prefer dogs or cats? Have you ever volunteered at a shelter?

Definitely dogs. I need my affection returned. I've never officially volunteered at a shelter but an old roommate of mine ran one back in the day in Vancouver, and I'd go in with him and help out a bit here and there.

Do you have any pets?

I don't currently have any pets. My fiancé and I travel all the time so it's just not a practical option right now. But once we "settle down" a bit we've got our eyes on a hypoallergenic golden doodle.

For the Hearties out there, would you be game to return as Charles? What kind of storyline would you want to see for him?

I'm not sure. I guess it would be dependent on the plan for the character. I had a good time on that show but it was kind of strange the way things were left with the proposal. From what I can tell, people didn't love the character, and I don't really blame them. So, for me, it would depend on what the plan was.

Tell us something we may not know about your co-star, Morgan Kohan.

We bonded over hip hop music. She even showed me some stuff I hadn't heard yet which surprised me.

As an actor, who is your role model?

Clooney, Gyllenhaal, Penn. I think the actor who actually made me want to act was Tom Cruise—believe it or not. I loved Jerry Maguire.

How do calm down during hectic times? Do you have any rituals that you follow?

During this pandemic, it has really opened my eyes to how much I need working out, not just for my physical health but also for my mental health. I was going a little crazy while the gyms were closed. It's a great time to just exert all your anxious energy and walk away in a positive mindset.

As far as being on set, if I start bugging out, I just remind myself that this whole life is icing on the cake and that if it all goes wrong I can always walk away and go back to my hometown where all my friends and family would greet me with open arms. (Not really, I'd go crazy there, but it's a thought that comforts me.)

What was your favorite game from your childhood?

Games were my life as a kid so there's too many to count. My friends and I were major competitors with everything we did. If we're talking sports, it was probably rugby or volleyball. If we're talking video games, it was definitely Halo. If we're talking board games, it was Monopoly.

What's your favorite summer cocktail/drink?

Definitely margaritas. All the greatest foods/drinks come from Mexico, in my opinion.

Who was your favorite teacher?

An acting coach in Vancouver named Andrew McIlroy, who is responsible for many careers in that city.

Do you have a useless or hidden talent?

I learned to play harmonica over a weekend in my hotel room by watching YouTube videos for a role I was going to play. When I got to set, they cut the harmonica part out so yeah...I'd say that qualified as a useless talent.

What was the last show you binge-watched?

Love on the Spectrum. It had a profound impact on my mindset. Especially in these times.

What is your go-to song to sing in the shower?

This literally changes by the day.

What is your all-time favorite book?

The Long Walk by Stephen King.

Name a song that would be on your summer playlist.

"Hussle and Motivate" by Nipsey Hussle.

Love on Harbor Island premieres Saturday, August 8 at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.

Next, How Well Do You Know Classic Hallmark Movies? Take Our Quiz.