Alexa PenaVega on Love, Fans and Ms. Matched

The Hallmark Channel kicks off June Weddings, a month of original movies celebrating saying “I Do”, this weekend with the premiere of Ms. Matched, starring Alexa PenaVega and Shawn Roberts, on Saturday, June 4 at 9/8c.

Ms. Matched is a sweet story of two people who are, you guessed it, seemingly mismatched but find themselves falling in love anyway. Alexa plays Libby, a wedding planner whose specialty is turning her clients’ dreams of fairy tale weddings into reality, no matter the cost. Shawn plays Ben, a proponent of all things budget-friendly when it comes to the big day. Sparks fly, but can they overcome the differences in their views on life to make a relationship work? Well, this is a Hallmark Channel movie, so I don’t think the outcome is in doubt, but Libby and Ben’s path to true love is certainly entertaining to watch.

We had the opportunity to chat with star Alexa PenaVega – you’ll recognize her from Spy Kids, Dancing with the Stars, and about a million other projects – about what drew her to Ms. Matched, unexpected love, and interacting with fans.

NGTV: What was it about Libby that grabbed you when you first read the script?
Alexa: I loved how hard Libby worked to give her clients everything they wanted, even if that meant putting her own love life on hold. Watching her fall in love throughout this process and being in denial about it was just so fun!

NGTV: In real life, are you more of a Libby or more of a Ben?
Alexa: Ben, hands down! I think I am like Libby in the sense that I really enjoy making people happy and I try really hard in everything that I do, but I am much more budget conscious than she is.

NGTV: What do you hope viewers take away with them after watching Ms. Matched?
Alexa: That love comes when you least expect it. I think Ben was the last person Libby ever thought she would end up with. But he was exactly what she needed. I always joke that my husband Carlos was everything I never knew I wanted. I think Ben is that for Libby.

NGTV: What’s the nicest thing a fan has ever done for you?
Alexa: We have some truly amazing fans. There is one fan Hannah who – along with her mom – has been making us a quilt. I think that is so awesome and personal. But I also love the fans who reach out and just talk about how we have impacted their lives. It is so encouraging to read messages like that. I love my job, but at the end of the day what I love most is the platform that it gives us to be positive examples for people. So if we can be a light for someone in any way, then I feel like we have succeeded.

NGTV: Acting is obviously your first love – your extensive filmography attests to that! – but what is your second love?
Alexa: I have always loved everything surrounding film making, so I think I would always end up in this industry one way or another, whether it is in front of or behind the camera.

Don’t miss Alexa PenaVega in Ms. Matched, premiering Saturday, June 4 at 9/8c on The Hallmark Channel.