Rachael Leigh Cook in ‘Caught by Love.’ Photo Credit: Dominic Catania, Hallmark Media.
Rachael Leigh Cook chatted about starring in the new Hallmark rom-com “Caught by Love” opposite Luke Macfarlane.
The synopsis is: While on a journey of self-discovery, a resort guest Annie (Rachael Leigh Cook) gets swept into an undercover investigation for stolen jewels that turns into an unexpected and adventurous romance. Macfarlane plays private investigator Jake.
Cook on starring in ‘Caught by Love’
On starring in the movie “Caught by Love,” Cook stated, “I think there is so much adventure in this film! Nobody has ever asked me to help solve a fictional crime on a beautiful tropical island before.”
“So, when I got the call about doing this movie with Luke in Malta, I told them ‘absolutely.’ I am so happy that call came in. I am going to solve the heck out of this crime,” she noted.
Working with Luke Macfarlane as her leading man
On working with Luke Macfarlane as her leading man, Cook remarked, “Luke was a total rock star in terms of just being able to bring it every single day on set with his effortless charm.”
“Luke is a natural leading man, and he has that grounded confidence and ability as an actor. His pacing is incredible, so I feel like to have worked with Luke on this project, and I would do it again in a heartbeat,” she elaborated.
Playing Annie in ‘Caught by Love’
On playing her character Annie in “Caught by Love,” she said, “I don’t want you to think I’m lazy, to be honest, but it felt like it was an easy fit.”
“It felt really natural to who I am, being Midwestern and unapologetic. As someone who is a recovering people pleaser, it felt really familiar to me,” she noted.
Lessons learned from the ‘Caught by Love’ screenplay
On the lessons learned from this screenplay, Cook reflected, “I still have a fear of heights; that is still true! When they put me in the harness and told me to go over the 100 foot cliff, I had some feelings and they were nervous ones, but I did it!”
“I did not do the ascent because we didn’t have a month to film that scene, and I just couldn’t. So, I did my best,” she attested.
“Also, I learned a lot about Malta. That was a cool place to go,” she added.
2025 Christmas Con
Cook recalled being a part of her first-ever Christmas Con this past December, which was held in Edison, New Jersey. “That was so much fun,” she exclaimed. “It was very interesting and wonderful.”
“I only had one regret about Christmas Con… I didn’t get to eat any of the treats,” she admitted. “I thought the whole thing was going to be covered in peppermint bark,” she said with a sweet laugh.
“I hope that they will invite me back to Christmas Con next year… It will be fun,” she enthused.
Working with Leonidas Gulaptis in ‘Sisterhood, Inc.’
Cook starred alongside actor Leonidas Gulaptis (as her leading man) in their 2025 Hallmark movie “Sisterhood, Inc.“
“Leonidas was great! He is such a movie star,” she exclaimed. “Also, Leonidas is a really good improviser. Some of the audience’s favorite jokes in the movie actually came from him. He is just so funny. He has such an impish sense of fun about him.”
“Leonidas’ timing is impeccable too. I am so lucky. Similar to working with Luke, I would work again with Leonidas in a heartbeat,” she added.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Cook revealed, “The Next Gear.”
“I feel like when you’re on a bike and you change gears, you would hear it and you would feel it.” she said. “That would be a little bit uncomfortable because you’re getting to one that is going to be a better fit for where you are.”
“So, I would say that I’m changing gears in a lot of ways, and it feels good,” she added.
Superpower of choice
If she were to have any superpower, it would be “invisibility.”
“I don’t need to fly, that’s what airplanes are for. I’m very nosy though so I would love to be invisible. This way, I would be spying on everyone all the time,” she explained.
Success
Regarding her definition of the word success, Cook said, “Success means being closely aligned with my values.”
Message for her fans about ‘Caught by Love’
For her fans and supporters, Cook expressed, “I hope they watch my new Hallmark movie ‘Caught by Love.’ So, thank you to the fans. Getting this movie was such a gift. I feel so lucky and that I’ve been rewarded far beyond my abilities and worth,” she expressed.
“I hope that the fans get the good escape adventure that they need, especially people in New York, where they are about to be face blizzard,” she said.
“The fans should come to Malta with us from the comfort of their living rooms. We got you, all! It’s going to be a good time,” Cook concluded.
To learn more about Rachael Leigh Cook, follow her on Instagram.
