Heather Doerksen Talks ‘Charmed’ and Her Unexpected Return to ‘Van Helsing’ [Interview]

If you enjoy watching animated television shows or shows with gore, action, sci-fi romance, and looks to die for then, you’ve likely come across Heather Doerksen at some point during your watch.

Doerksen has done it all, from voice acting to video game acting to acting on the big screen. Whether it be Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, Pacific Rim, or a Hallmark original movie, she’s a triple threat, and her filmography proves it.

Heather Doerksen, who plays Michaela on Van Helsing and Aladria on Charmed, took some time to answer a few questions about her roles on both shows, including her unexpected return to Van Helsing.

Tell-Tale TV: What can you tell us about your character “Aladria” on Charmed? 

Heather Doerksen: Aladria is an other-worldly being that beams in with her partner Mo to help the Charmed Ones bring order back to a chaotic world by banishing monsters into the Tomb of Chaos. 

Tell-Tale TV: Should the charmed ones be skeptical of Aladria and Mo, or can they be trusted? 

Doerksen: The Perfecti are equal parts trustworthy and mysterious, so you never quite know what their intentions are. 

Tell-Tale TV: What made you excited to be a part of this project? And how did you come to be a part of it? 

Doerksen: I love the Syfy/fantasy world of Charmed, with all its magic and spells and mythical folklore.

The audition scene for Aladria was the burger scene. Before the day ended, I went out of my way to grab a burger and fries because I couldn’t possibly do the audition without the food. I had a whole burger/fries choreography for that scene. And I found out a week later I got the part. 

Tell-Tale TV: What was your reaction when you first read the script for Van Helsing Season 5 Episode 1 “Past Tense?” 

Doerksen: The first phone call from showrunner Jonathan Lloyd Walker was about my return to the show and if I’d be interested to shoot in Slovakia.

I wasn’t informed in detail about where Michaela was going. I just said yes and jumped. Got the script and loved it. Lots of action, great storytelling, and explains Michaela’s role in the origin of the Dark One. I love that they use flashbacks to tell that story. 

Tell-Tale TV: Did you expect to return to Van Helsing after your character’s death on “All Apologies” in Season 4? 

Doerksen: No! I was dead. Like dead, dead. So getting a call to come back to the Van Helsing fam was a special little gift. 

Tell-Tale TV: What was it like filming the death scene for Michaela on Van Helsing? 

Doerksen: My fight scene was with Jennifer Cheon Garcia and she’s such a pro. I was pregnant at the time, so they did some nifty camera work and stunt choreography to avoid anything in the belly zone. 

Tell-Tale TV: How do you feel now that we’re finally getting to see the origin story of Michaela and how she created the dark one? 

Doerksen: There was something unfinished about Michaela. I’m glad everyone can now see the whole story.

Tell-Tale TV: Is there anything you can tease for the remainder of the season? 

Doerksen: Once it leaves the flashback world with Jack and goes back to real-time, the rest of the season is full steam ahead!

Tell-Tale TV: How was your experience on Van Helsing different from Charmed?

Doerksen: My Van Helsing episodes were all filmed pre-covid, so working on set was different in that we could really be close with our castmates and get to know them. In a covid world, we sit so far from each other (or are placed in completely separate rooms) so you don’t get that same intimacy. 

Tell-Tale TV: If you could work with anyone on TV, who would it be and why? 

Doerksen: Dan Levy. He’s got a real finger on the pulse of comedy and what people want right now. 

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Van Helsing airs Fridays at 10/9c on Syfy. Charmed airs Fridays at 9/8c on The CW.

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