The irrepressible Ivonne Coll, who played the “abuela” in the award-winning show Jane the Virgin is back, this time as the Tik tok’ing grandma in the new Hallmark Channel’s original movie Love In The Limelight starring real-life husband and wife Alexa and Carlos PenaVega on the Hallmark Channel on Thursday, August 11 8/7c.
People Choice Award-Winner Coll was described as “A formidable actress as she continues to deliver breakthrough performances on television, film and theater” by Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune and has received a myriad of accolades for her performances during her illustrious career spanning more than three decades and her role as Grandma Rivera is no different.
“It was such a different and welcomed experience to play a modern grandmother part of an upscale family. My character is on TikTok and holds a glass of wine in her hand instead of serving food in the kitchen. Definitively a more realistic grandmother, not the usual stereotype,” said Coll.
Alexa PenaVega (Picture Perfect Mysteries, Spy Kids franchise) and Carlos PenaVega (Picture Perfect Mysteries, Big Time Rush) star in Love in the Limelight, a new, original movie on Hallmark Channel’s annual “Fall into Love” programming event. Inspired by the real-life love story of Willie Aames (Picture Perfect Mysteries: Exit Stage Death, Eight is Enough) and his wife Winnie Hung, with a script written by Aames, Hung and Rich Tabach.
The story revolves around Summer (Alexa PenaVega) who as a teenager, was a devoted fan of the popular boy band the Mendez Boyz, especially Nick (Carlos PenaVega), their lead singer. After receiving a sweet fan letter from Summer, Nick decides to respond with a phone call, sparking the start of a friendship that’s lasted to this day. When Nick’s manager books a gig for him at a small venue in Summer’s hometown of Salt Lake City where she now works in human resources at a local university, the two finally meet face-to-face. It’s clear their friendship has set the stage for romance. Summer breaks things and Summer’s Grandmother (Ivonne Coll) – a hip grandma with a TikTok following – encourages her to follow her heart.
Adding a rich, Latin sound to the movie’s soundtrack are six original Spanglish songs written by Carlos PenaVega: If You Let Me, Someday Somewhere, BASIC, Vamos Pasar La Bien, Fall Again and Por Ti. Pena Vega is currently on national tour as a member of the popular group Big Time Rush.
Love in the Limelight is from Crown Media Productions, LLC. James Wilberger is the executive producer and David Wulf is producer. Ron Oliver directed from a script by Willie Aames, Winnie Hung and Rich Tabach, inspired by real events.
Ivonne Coll is represented by Brave Artists Management and Espada PR & Entertainment.
