(Photo credit: Maria Jose Martinez)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
Eric Hicks has the best stories—and trust us, we heard a few. From his incredible adventures in Thailand to working on a beloved set like “Schitt’s Creek” to the intense new film “Girl Taken,” our conversation with the acclaimed Canadian actor was anything but ordinary. Hicks, known for standout performances in “Cardinal,” “Bad Blood,” and “Schitt’s Creek,” now takes on one of his most chilling roles yet in Lifetime’s upcoming psychological thriller, “Girl Taken.”
In the film, premiering Sunday, May 18 at 8/7c on Lifetime, Hicks plays Perry—a rugged, charismatic man whose smooth exterior conceals something much darker. Starring opposite Erica Durance (Saving Hope, Smallville), he navigates a tense and emotional story set in a rural town where secrets simmer just below the surface. As Perry’s carefully constructed world begins to unravel, viewers will be gripped by his emotional complexity and the haunting question: how far will he go to protect what he’s hiding?
Known for his seamless transitions between warmth and menace, Hicks delivers a layered performance that promises to keep audiences on edge. We had a blast chatting with him about his craft, his latest role, and everything in between.
Colleen Bement: Hi Eric. Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat, and congratulations on your new film “Girl Taken.” What can you share about the movie?
Eric Hicks: Thank you, I really appreciate that. “Girl Taken” is a tense, emotional thriller that explores trust, family, and the complex dynamics of relationships. At its heart, it’s about a mother’s love and the lengths she’ll go to protect her child, but the ripple effect of that journey touches everyone involved. It’s layered, suspenseful, and filled with emotional depth. What I love about it is that it doesn’t just rely on shock; it really leans into the psychology of its characters and the choices they make under pressure. I think audiences are in for a powerful, thought-provoking ride.
CB: What can you tell us about your character in the film?
EH: I play Perry, who’s in a committed relationship with Dani, played by the amazing Tavia Cervi. He’s a steady, grounded guy who’s trying to be a supportive partner as they prepare for a big chapter in their lives. Perry is someone who really values control and order—he likes to have a sense of stability in his world, but life doesn’t always work that way, especially under pressure.
What I found interesting about him was the emotional complexity just beneath the surface. He’s not a one-note character; there’s a lot going on internally, and navigating that tension was a rewarding challenge. It was about finding those subtle moments that reveal cracks in the facade, while still keeping him grounded and relatable.
CB: What was the audition like, and what was your reaction when you booked the role?
EH: When I read the audition sides, I immediately knew I could bring something special to this role. I had a lot of fun with the tape. I used a couple of props and played with lighting and wardrobe to really put myself into that world, and it translated beautifully to camera. My friend asked to watch the tape after and sent it to a friend of hers who auditioned for a different role on the film, and they both said, “If you don’t book this, then I don’t know what’s going on; it’s so brave and raw.” So I wasn’t so surprised when I booked it, a couple fist pumps and hell yeahs later, and I just wanted the script so I could get to work prepping.
Also… working with Erica Durance was a real career highlight for me. I was genuinely moved by her work on “Saving Hope.” She brought such heart and depth to that role, and it stayed with me for years. To share the screen with her in this film was both inspiring and surreal. And Paula Elle, our director, brought such clarity and flexibility to the set. She’s incredibly intuitive and created an environment where we could really dive deep and explore the emotional truth of every scene. I think the result is something raw and powerful, and I’m excited for people to experience it.
CB: How do you prepare for a role? How do you get into character?
EH: Well I was actually doing a stand in gig on an unnamed Benedict Wong and Jimmy O. Yang film for 5 days straight the week before we started filming but lucky for me they only used me for a couple hours that whole week and so I literally just hung out on a set, eating food, and getting inspired watching a couple pros doing phenomenal work while I memorized the entire script in chronological order. I read that screenplay a hundred times that week, and after that, I had so many ideas popping into my mind of how to arc the character and story. As we got closer to filming, script rewrites would come in and so I was continually refining what each scene needed to lend to the story without being too on the nose. So for me, it began intellectually, and then when I get on set, I just make sure to open my heart and be available in the moment to whatever surprises come my way. I think as an actor, when you do the prep work, then there’s a certain level of relaxation that comes into play where you can actually just listen to your scene partner and play off of them. That being said, these movies shoot exceptionally fast, so I was very grateful I did so much prep work because everything is shot out of sequence too, but as one scene was wrapped my brain was already editing it in my mind to adjust other scenes around it to make the puzzle pieces fit into place. It was such an exciting challenge, but that’s the kind of environment I thrive in… “Go Time!”
CB: I, for one, am grateful that you switched up your trip from Mexico to Thailand. After watching the latest “The White Lotus,” Thailand is officially on my bucket list! What were some of your favorite parts of your trip?
EH: Thailand is my kind of vibe to a “T.” Everyone’s riding 125cc scooters around without helmets, shirts or shoes. It really feels like a playground for adults with minimal rules other than complete respect and consent for others’ dignity, health, and safety. Oddly enough, Thailand actually reminded me of Mexico in a few ways but then again, it’s a whole different world. I felt very safe, though, Thai people are extremely kind. And the food, ahhh the food, half the cost of Canadian food and the fruits and veggies and curries are infinite in supply and deliciousness, absolutely heavenly, never been healthier in my life.
I started in Bangkok and then flew up north to Chiang Mai and Pai, which are more low-key nature-based towns. More of the hippy and laid back country living, slow pace of life. After a couple of weeks exploring these places, though, I was craving the beaches of the southern islands, which is where I spent my last two weeks. I ended up falling in love with Koh Phangan. It has a lot of people in their 30’s and 40’s with endless restaurants and events happening daily, but the best part was the ambiance, the lighting and the MUSIC was soooooo good. Everywhere I went, I couldn’t help but dance. I was worried my knees wouldn’t keep up, but healthy eats and good beats got me in the best shape ever.
If you or anyone reading is planning on visiting, just know, the islands in the south are very romantic, great place to live your own fairytale dream vacation. Honestly, I felt like I was living in a dream, pretty magical little land. I will definitely be back!
CB: Switching gears, your Instagram is definitely entertaining. You take your followers on the coolest adventures! What has been your favorite country to visit? What country would you like to visit next?
EH: I like outside-the-box experiences, and so for me, Thailand stole the top spot, which before that was Barcelona, which has such a rich history. I found Barcelona moves at such a fast pace, stunning weather, stunning people, great beaches, fresh fruits (I have a thing for fresh fruits- oddly, Rome had the least available fresh fruits and veggies of everywhere I’ve been) and overall just a very lively energy that felt contagious at times.
Ultimately, though, I’ve had a dream trip I’ve wanted to do for 15 years now. A motorbike trip down through Mexico, and Central America, then down the west coast of South America, and back up the east coast, and end it in Brazil. Managing all the different countries’ rainy seasons is the trick to that trip, but for me, the freedom of a motorbike to just get off the beaten path and find little local gem spots is really what I’m after when travelling. Also excited by those new AI language translators, making friends in foreign countries can be extremely tricky with language barriers, and so that for me will open up so many new doors for connection and deeper bonding!
CB: Growing up, who inspired your creativity, and when did you realize that you wanted to be an actor?
EH: We were so fortunate growing up to have both sets of grandparents around to really spoil us with arts and crafts and an endless array of creative outlets. My mom also really pushed for us to try new things and get outside our comfort zones, and dad was always supportive of whatever new avenue we wanted to explore. We had a very lucky childhood, which I’m forever endlessly grateful for.
But I would say working on a Jamie Foxx movie, “Held Up” was the first really strong pull into the film industry for me. Seeing a pro doing his thing first hand really just has a way of opening up a young boys mind and even though I didn’t take the leap into acting till I was 22, I always knew that’s what I wanted to do, storytelling is just so much fun, the possibilities are endless and that’s such an exciting outlet for a curious mind. Don’t think I’ll ever truly figure this art form out, and that’s what gives it its great appeal for me!
CB: We just have to chat “Schitt’s Creek” for a moment. It’s one of my absolute favorite shows. You had a spot on the series, and I’d love to know what it was like on the set. Would you happen to have a story for all of us “Schitt’s Creek” fans?
EH: Well, that makes two of us. I was so lucky to be on that series, and especially because it was the series finale episode, so the entire cast was present when I was working on set. I got to meet everyone. And when I wasn’t shooting, I secretly snuck around the studio and hung out on all the different sets… stuff like that is just so surreal.
I was hired to be the masseuse that gives Dan Levy a happy ending massage before his big wedding day and we shot the scene near the end of the day so all throughout the day people would come to me and say, “can’t wait to watch you do your scene,” or “we were wondering who was gonna do that part, good luck!” Haha. And so when we shot the scene it was in a studio stage and after each take when they yelled cut you could hear everyone laughing behind the walls from seeing me improv lines of dialogue hinting at how big and impressive Dan’s penis was, hahaha, still cracks me up just thinking about it, that was such a blast!
CB: Do you happen to have any projects in the works that you’re allowed to tell us about?
EH: I landed an awesome role getting to act the opening cinematics for the highly anticipated Gears of War: E-Day video game. It’s the next chapter in Xbox’s iconic franchise, and they made a diligent effort to showcase what they can do but putting a lot of extra love and attention into that sequence we shot. I was chosen by the production team because they needed someone who could display a wide emotional range along with stunt capability, and that’s just what I do so well. I started doing stunt stage combat training about a decade ago, knowing that those skills would come in handy down the road, and it really gave me the confidence to show up ready to throw down on set, and we had such a blast bringing that game to life. The two lead actors who watched the whole filming process both said to me that I had absolutely crushed it, and sometimes that’s a component of making art, there’s a little child in each of us just looking for a pat on the back and approval saying, “ya did good kid, ya did good.”
Check out Eric’s adventures in Thailand, and catch “Girl Taken” on Sunday, May 18 at 8/7c on Lifetime
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