Virgin River (Netflix): Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel) opens up about her relationship with Martin Henderson (Jack)
Are Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson as close in real life as they are in fiction? Although they are not a couple like in Virgin River, the two actors do seem close…
It’s hard not to succumb to the charm of Melinda “Mel” Monroe when this touching nurse arrived in Virgin River three years ago to escape her painful past, before unexpectedly finding romance and a new sense of community in this friendly little town. Three seasons later on Netflix, it is the couple she forms with Jack Sheridan that the public has become attached to. In real life, the bond that unites the two actors – Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson – is stronger than a simple working relationship, as the actress explained in an interview with the American magazine Parade. “We know each other very well. We don’t talk much in the off-season, but I still miss him because I spend so much time with him,” Alexandra Breckenridge confided.
“A handsome, tough, sincere, romantic man…”
“We spend so much time together for four months of the year that between seasons, I think, ‘Where is my friend?'” the actress who plays Mel continued, before adding: “He tends to be in New Zealand a lot and it’s hard to reach him because of the time difference.” That’s for the actor, as for the character she describes Jack as “the archetypal romantic man”: “He’s a handsome, tough, sincere, romantic man. But he’s not without his flaws. He has a hard time connecting with his personal past and his PTSD.” In fact, as Alexandra Breckenridge explained, “it becomes a big issue for both of them in season 4. Mel is really trying to help him deal with his PTSD, but he’s very reluctant to go down that path with anyone other than himself and a bottle of whiskey.”
Virgin River: What’s in store for Jack and Mel in season 5
Does Jack’s troubles threaten his and Mel’s relationship? “We have these romantic ideals […] but in reality, we all have baggage,” the actress said, emphasizing, “We all have to navigate a relationship with each other with our baggage. That’s the reality of romance, right?” she concluded. While Jack and Mel ended season 4 of Virgin River feeling more serene, it remains to be seen what impact Charmaine’s cliffhanger revelation and the obstacles to come, as well as Cameron’s character, will have on their relationship in season 5, which is already being filmed.
