Newfoundland and Labrador is having a moment, b’y!
As Netflix’s hit supernatural series Below continues to make waves, its international stars are making sure the world knows just how much they love the province where it was filmed.
British actor Charlie Heaton, best known for playing Jonathan Byers in all five seasons of Stranger Things, traded in his camera for a fishing rod to star in the six-part miniseries, filmed in various communities like Brigus South, St. John’s, and Pouch Cove.
Since premiering on Oct. 8, Below has reeled in 17 million views, which Netflix says is the most-watched debut of a Canadian title ever. It remains the number one show in over 50 countries and is leading the way in having more homegrown content on the platform.
Heaton plays Wade (the son of Josh Hartnett’s character) in a close-knit fishing community terrorized by a mysterious sea creature. Much like his American co-star, Heaton has also fallen for Newfoundland and can’t stop singing its praises.
While appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show, Heaton gushed about his time filming in the coastal province.
“It’s beautiful,” he said, before bringing up Come From Away, the hit Broadway musical inspired by the Newfoundland community that welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers on 9/11.
“We all know Canadians are the nicest people in the world, and they say that that niceness was born in Newfoundland.”
Heaton also said he’d never felt so welcomed by a community, describing how locals were eager to share their culture and invite the cast into their homes for supper.
“I was really touched by that place,” he said.
The Drew Barrymore Show
Barrymore, meanwhile, revealed that she and her daughter have been watching the show together.
“I’ve always fantasized about going to Newfoundland,” she said, describing it as a world unto itself.
“If you ever get a chance to go, it’s beautiful,” Heaton told her, before, coincidentally enough, the host gave away a free trip to Newfoundland and a stay at the swanky JAG Hotel in St. John’s to a lucky member of the audience.
It’s funny that both Barrymore and the show’s sidekick Ross Mathews have their own way of pronouncing Newfoundland. They all seem to say “new-fin-lind,” with a hard D at the end, while locals typically pronounce it more like “newf-in-land.”
Regardless of pronunciations, fans are loving the attention Below is bringing to their homeland, even praising the cast for their spot-on accents.
“Wade is the epitome of a Newfie. Solid acting, solid accent,” one user commented on Netflix Canada’s Instagram post.
“Coming from someone who grew up in the neighbouring community where this was filmed, I was so happy and excited to hear the cast speaking our lingo,” another said.
Meanwhile, on the talk show’s YouTube page, locals were quick to share their excitement about their home getting global recognition.
“Born and raised in Newfoundland, not so secretly loving all the love for my home,” wrote one user.
“I am a Newfoundlander, and it makes me happy how Below is getting folks talking about my beautiful province on these talk shows,” another commented.
If you haven’t watched Below yet, all six episodes are streaming on Netflix Canada now. Best get crackin’!