Alexandra Breckenridge's Son's Health Scare Deepened Her Understanding of Mel's Miscarriage
Alexandra Breckenridge reveals how her personal experience with her son's health scare deeply connected her to Mel's heartbreaking miscarriage story line in season 5 of 'Virgin River'
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Alexandra Breckenridge drew on her own personal experience with her son as she approached a tragic story line in season 5 of Virgin River.
In the latest season of the Netflix series that premiered in September, fans watched as Mel (Breckenridge) experienced a miscarriage with her fiancé Jack's (Martin Henderson) baby while in the middle of delivering someone else's baby. Breckenridge, 41, later shared that her previous health scare with her son Jack, now 7, helped her relate to the tragic event. The actress has two children - Jack and daughter Billie, 5 - with her husband Casey Hooper.
"I have personal experience; one of my children was very, very sick when he was young and could have died, so I have a personal connection and understanding of the emotional loss of a child," Breckenridge told Deadline on Monday, November 27. "When you're a parent and you come so close to that edge of not having them anymore, I already experienced that in a different way, so I came into that scene reliving that experience. That's how I approached it, because that's what I know."
Breckenridge expressed that she allowed herself to revisit the intense emotions of almost losing her own son. "I didn't have to pretend or act in that moment," she told the outlet. "It all felt very authentic to me."
Breckenridge added that the story line was an important one for the show to cover.
Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays Mel Monroe in the Netflix series "Virgin River," explained to Deadline that the decision to explore her character's struggle with infertility was made out of a sense of duty to the many women who face similar challenges. She expressed her belief that portraying this storyline in a genuine and impactful manner was crucial in order to accurately represent the real experiences of women dealing with fertility issues.
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has emphasized the importance of incorporating Breckenridge's character's infertility struggles into season 5 of Virgin River. Smith expressed that this was an opportunity to delve deeper into a defining aspect of Mel's character. He explained that the show has focused on her trauma and this shared experience with Jack adds another layer to their relationship, as they navigate this loss together. Smith mentioned that it was crucial to address this topic and integrate it into the storyline in a natural and organic way.
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Smith was determined to depict the reality of a miscarriage on screen, showing Mel discovering blood in her underwear and performing a self-ultrasound. "The network didn't hesitate. We considered whether there was a gentler way to portray such a traumatic event, but ultimately felt it was important to show it as it is," Smith told Glamour. "We also wanted to make it clear what was happening to her in that moment. It was an opportunity to depict a specific experience that women go through, and if we were going to do it, we had to do it right."
