Michelle Morgan on ‘Heartland’: Family, Flaws, and the Secret to TV’s Longest-Running Drama

Heartland has been on TV forever — it’s already in its 17th season! The show follows life on a ranch where people and horses find healing. It’s been a comfort show for so many families because you can watch it with kids, grandparents, everyone. There’s love, drama, and tough moments, but it never goes too far for a family show.

Michelle Morgan, who’s played Lou since day one back in 2007, says she’s amazed by the messages she gets from fans about how Heartland helped them get through hard times.

“It has helped people through illnesses. Through hard times. Through breakups,” Morgan says. “It is very much appreciated by families who want to watch a good show that drives them in and has an exciting story that they can watch with the whole family.”

Michelle believes the reason Heartland has lasted so long is a mix of good stories, actors who click, and those beautiful Alberta landscapes. Even though they’ve broken records for how long they’ve been on the air, she says what matters most is that it’s a show anyone in the family can enjoy together.

And a lot of people really do watch it — it’s the longest-running drama in Canadian TV history and streams in more than 120 countries. Fans have spent billions of minutes watching.

Michelle also shared how important it is that the characters aren’t perfect. She admits Lou is super flawed, and that’s what makes the show feel real.

“We are all flawed. Everybody’s flawed,” she says. “No one wants to watch a show about a bunch of perfect people.”

She says it’s tricky coming up with fresh stories after so many seasons, but everyone’s goal is to make each episode the best they can. She’s even stepped up to direct some episodes herself, which she loves.

Outside of Heartland, Michelle has been acting since she was a teen, and she’s also passionate about helping women. For years, she’s volunteered at women’s shelters and worked with organizations that support people affected by domestic violence. She says it gives her life meaning beyond acting.

New Heartland episodes are dropping every week on UP Faith & Family. There’s a short break planned after episode five, but during that time, they’ll release new bonus content for fans. You can also watch Heartland on Netflix and Hulu.