As the redwood-lined hills of Virgin River prepare to welcome viewers back for another season of love, loss, and second chances, the woman at the heart of Netflix’s beloved small-town saga is speaking from a very different setting — her sunlit kitchen in rural Georgia. Alexandra Breckenridge, who has embodied Mel Monroe since the series’ 2019 debut, recently reached out to fans with a candid message — one part pride, one part longing — just days before Season 5’s much-anticipated premiere.
Her words, shared in a short video to her one million Instagram followers, came wrapped in the bittersweet reality of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Bound by union rules that forbid actors from promoting current projects, Breckenridge acknowledged the unusual quiet leading up to Virgin River’s September 7 return.
“I just wanted to say hi and remind everybody that because SAG-AFTRA is still on strike, I am not allowed to do any promotion for the things that I would normally be promoting at this time,” she said, the faintest sigh in her voice. “It’s really unfortunate. I wish I could.”
While her statement was careful not to directly name the show, the timing — mere days before the new season dropped on Netflix — left no doubt about which “things” she meant. Yet even without the ability to hype up plot twists or tease Mel’s next chapter with Jack Sheridan, Breckenridge’s pride in her colleagues was unwavering.
“I’m really proud of the work that my cast and crew have done last year,” she continued warmly. “And I would love to be able to promote the work. That’s really what it’s about.”
A Silent Season — But Not Without Love
The strike has been a seismic shift for Hollywood, halting production on multiple shows, including Virgin River’s already greenlit Season 6. Fans eager for updates have instead been treated to glimpses of Breckenridge’s off-screen life: home-cooked recipes, cozy afternoons, and candid chats from her Georgia home.
Her recent Instagram Stories carried a clear message: connection matters, even when promotion is impossible. “I have to see you on the other side of this, and maybe we can talk about it then,” she told fans with a hopeful smile.
She wasn’t alone in that sentiment. Co-star Zibby Allen (Brie Sheridan) shared a warm snapshot of herself alongside Breckenridge and Martin Henderson (Jack Sheridan), all three beaming in a casual restaurant moment that radiated off-screen camaraderie. “I’m very proud to be a member of SAG-AFTRA,” Allen wrote in her caption. “And so so proud of the insane talent, hard work, and perseverance of my fellow creatives & union members.” The hashtags — #SAGAFTRAstrong and #WGAstrong — underscored their united front.
When Cooking Videos Replace Character Teases
For Breckenridge, the pivot away from work talk has been both strange and grounding. “I’m trying to do something fun and creative with my time,” she admitted, explaining her recent string of cooking videos. “Because SAG is on strike and I can’t go back to work and I can’t even talk about work.”
It’s a sentiment many actors have echoed in recent months — the urge to keep creating, to keep sharing, even when the stage (or in this case, set) is dark.
Looking Ahead
While Season 5 streams to millions, cameras for Season 6 remain idle. Annette O’Toole (Hope McCrea) has confirmed production will only resume after the strike’s resolution, with industry insiders hinting at a possible fall start. For now, fans will have to savor what’s already been filmed — and trust that the spirit of Virgin River is alive and well behind the scenes.
Breckenridge’s closing words captured that spirit perfectly: pride without promotion, love without loopholes, and the unwavering belief that the town of Virgin River — both on-screen and off — will weather this storm together.
