Amber Marshall Admits Playing Pregnant on Heartland Was "Not Fun"

For years, Heartland fans have watched Amy Fleming tackle everything from training wild horses to dealing with family heartbreak. But for many viewers, nothing topped Amy and Ty’s pregnancy storyline.

On screen, it was a sweet, emotional milestone. Behind the scenes, however, star Amber Marshall was dealing with an exhausting, sweat-soaked reality.

When asked if she enjoyed filming those months, Amber didn’t sugarcoat it: “Fun would not be a word I would use.”

The 10-Pound "Rubber Torso"

Heartland has always prided itself on keeping things grounded and real. That meant Amber couldn’t just tuck a soft pillow under her shirt. Instead, she had to wear a medical-grade, 10-pound silicone belly.

On the Hallmarkies Podcast, Amber explained that the suit felt like a thick, non-breathable rubber vest. It trapped all her body heat—and filming took place in the middle of a hot Calgary summer. Wearing a 10-pound prosthetic in a dusty field for 12 hours a day quickly took a toll.

Whenever viewers saw Amy Fleming look tired or constantly shift her weight to get comfortable on the ranch, Amber wasn't just acting. She was genuinely physically drained.

Getting Advice from Real Moms

Because Amber hadn't been pregnant in real life, she felt a big responsibility to get the role right. She didn't want to deliver a cheesy "TV version" of pregnancy—she wanted it to look real.

Between scenes, she turned the set into her own research lab. She asked moms on the crew and her co-star Michelle Morgan (who plays Lou) about the everyday, unglamorous realities of pregnancy:

• How does your balance and walking actually change?
• What does a contraction look like on someone’s face?
• What does morning sickness really feel like throughout the day?

Why the Struggle Paid Off

Even though the experience was miserable at the time, that discomfort is exactly why fans loved the storyline so much.

Instead of faking an easy "pregnancy glow," Amber leaned into the real exhaustion. By pushing through the heat and the heavy silicone suit, she gave Heartland fans a performance that felt completely honest and believable.