Northern Rescue’s Kathleen Robertson talks her ‘really different’ role

Northern Rescue star Kathleen Robertson speaks about how the Netflix series is different from any other role she’s played before.

Kathleen Robertson is taking on a new adventure in Northern Rescue. The actress is known for her tough, complicated roles in shows like Murder in the First and Boss, but her part in the new Netflix drama is going in a whole other direction.

The Canadian series stars William Baldwin (Gossip Girl) as John West, who moves his family back to his hometown after his wife’s sudden passing. His sister Charlie (Robertson) helps them try to rebuild their lives, while John takes over the local search and rescue team.

It’s a combination of family drama and adventure —because while John is saving the lives of other people, he and his family also have to figure out their own. And Kathleen Robertson is showing TV fans a side of her they haven’t gotten to appreciate before.

Learn more about Kathleen and Charlie in our interview below, then stream the first season of Northern Rescue now on Netflix.

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Netflix Life: What was it about Northern Rescue that spoke to you initially?

Kathleen Robertson: This came to me at a time where the last two shows that I’ve done were both very dark shows; they were very gritty characters. I played a cop for three years [on Murder in the First] and before that, I was playing this really dark, really messed up character and every week was emotional and kind of curled up in a ball crying kind of stuff.

This came to me at a time where I was like you know what, I don’t think I want to do that right now. I think I want to do something a little more hopeful and a little more fun.

I love the fact it’s something my kids can watch and it just felt really different than anything I’ve ever done before. I’ve never done anything in this space, and I thought the script was really well-written and the character just felt different for me. It was just like I’ve never been offered a role like this, I’m going to do it.

The core of the show is the family, so the actors have to have that familial chemistry. How did you gel together?

We were all really fortunate, because it is a very natural, effortless relationship. Billy is hilarious and funny and we all just loved listening to him tell stories. The kids are all really smart and sweet and lovely kids and come from great families, so it’s been really kind of a joy in that regard.

You never know what you’re getting into, and we were lucky that everybody really had their heart in the right place and was excited to come to work every day. It was a really amazing experience.

The premise of Northern Rescue is about John and his children, but do we get to know more about Charlie as the season progresses?

Once the show kind of gets into its groove, then we get to see Charlie’s story and her backstory, and her journey is an interesting one. She doesn’t have any kids, she’s single, she kind of always puts everyone before her and her focus is kind of always on everybody else.

We get an idea as to why that is, and we learn some things about her past—things that happened to her and why she is the way she is. We meet a guy that she’s had a past relationship with, and we learn what their connection is. They sort of have this secret that no one really knows about.

There’s some secrets about Charlie’s past and things she’s kind of processing and dealing with emotionally. This guy comes to town and it’s revealed how their relationship is, and where that relationship ends up going at the end of the season is definitely shocking.

So there’s still a little bit of drama going on with her. Other than that, does she compare at all to any of your past roles? Do you see any similarities?

I do think that on the surface she appears to be very different than a lot of things I’ve done. But then when you delve into her character and we get a chance to follow her journey, she’s not as healthy as we first initially think she is. She has some demons and she has some dark stuff that she’s working through as well.

I signed on thinking this is going to be fun and a really sort of big departure for me, but once we got into the season, I was like I’ve got a lot of emotional stuff to unfold here and a lot of baggage too. I thought I was getting off, but I was doing a lot of crying and emotional stuff on this show too.

Your last few TV roles have shot in different cities like San Francisco and Chicago. How does filming Northern Rescue in Canada compare?

One of the huge draws for me when I got offered this show is, it’s Canada. Muskoka, on the water, during the summer—it’s heaven. It’s honestly like the most heavenly place you’ve ever been. I brought my boys and my husband came, and we were living literally on the lake with a boat and kayaks and canoes. It was truly like summer camp heaven.

This area where we filmed is like the Hamptons of Canada, Justin Bieber has a place, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have a place up there, Cindy Crawford. It was the most beautiful place to film. It certainly beat Chicago in the wintertime. (laughs)

Canada is where I’m from, my family’s all there, so I have a soft spot for anything that films in Ontario especially. It feels like going home for me; it’s special for me to work there.

Fans may not know you’ve also been writing for several years now. What’s going on in that part of your career?

I have quite a busy writing career. I’m writing a big movie right now for Julia Roberts for Amazon based on a book called Little Bee, and I’m writing a movie for Jason Reitman, and I’m working with Charlize Theron on a TV project. I’m very busy as a writer.

Northern Rescue season 1 is streaming on Netflix now. For more on this and other Netflix original series, follow the Netflix Originals category at Netflix Life.