IN CONVERSATION WITH HEIDI ENGERMAN

interview by JANA LETONJA

With the second season of Ransom Canyon arriving on 23rd July, Heidi Engerman is poised for a major breakout. After being teased in the season one finale as Yancy’s mysterious wife, her arrival promises to shake up the lives of everyone in town while uncovering secrets from his past. Beyond Ransom Canyon, she has also wrapped a supporting role in the upcoming Baywatch reboot, leads the indie feature And Out Comes the Wolf, and continues to build an impressive career that began with booking her very first screen audition in Candyman. 

Congratulations on joining Ransom Canyon. How excited are you for audiences to finally meet your character properly in season two?

I've always wanted to be part of a western, so getting to step into the world of Ransom Canyon was already a dream. On top of that, Sidney is such a layered, unpredictable character that I've been counting down the days for audiences to finally meet her properly. I don't think everyone is going to agree on her, and honestly, I love that. She brings such a fresh, fun, and dangerous energy to the season, and I can't wait to see everyone's reactions.

Your character was introduced with a huge cliffhanger at the end of season one. Without giving too much away, how would you describe your character and the energy she brings to the story?

Sidney is incredibly intelligent, observant, and always a few steps ahead. She has this confidence that makes you wonder whether you should trust her or run from her. Everyone immediately labels her as a con artist, but I actually think what makes her so fascinating is that she's obsessed with truth. She's always asking, "What aren't you saying? What are you hiding? What story are you telling yourself?" That's what makes her so dangerous and I can't wait for everyone to finally see how she fits into the larger story. Sidney's definitely going to keep people guessing.

What drew you to this character, and what aspects of her did you connect with the most?

What drew me to Sidney was that I never saw her as "the con artist." I saw her as someone who's trying to survive. I believe every character is fighting for something, and once you understand what they believe they have to do to survive, even their most morally complicated choices begin to make sense. Sidney is incredibly perceptive and constantly studying people, and that's what fascinated me. I'm always drawn to characters who make me ask "why" instead of "how." I wasn't interested in how she conned people, I was interested in why she felt she needed to. That search for understanding gave me so much empathy for her, and I think that's one of the most rewarding parts of being an actor.

Ransom Canyon blends romance, family drama and mystery. What do you think makes the series resonate with such a wide audience?

At its heart, it's about people trying to protect the things and the people they love. Those themes are universal, no matter where you're from. I think there's really something for everyone. 

Did you feel any pressure joining a show that had already become such a global success?

Not at all. Honestly, I felt like I had manifested Ransom Canyon. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I helped a friend prepare an audition for season one. I remember talking with my manager afterward saying, "I'm going to be in season two." So when the audition came in, it didn't feel intimidating, it felt incredibly exciting. It was one of those rare auditions where everything just clicked. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

Your first professional screen audition was for Candyman, and you booked it. Looking back, how did that experience shape your confidence as an actor?

That was my first audition for a film. I went in there having no idea what I was doing. Working with Nia Dacosta, Jordan Peele, and that entire team was surreal. The cast was, and still is, packed with some of my favorite actors, including Colman Domingo. I remember sitting in Video Village next to Jordan Peele and asking him about his journey. I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring introduction to this industry. Without it, I honestly think I would have gone to law school. Instead, it gave me the confidence to move to Los Angeles after graduating from college and bet on myself. I truly don't think I'd be where I am today without that experience.

You were incredibly determined from a young age, travelling alone for ballet training and later attending Walnut Hill. How did those experiences prepare you for the entertainment industry?

I think resilience is a muscle. It's not something you're born with, it's something you build every time things don't go your way and you choose to keep showing up anyway. I've been building that muscle since I was a little girl. Dance taught me resilience long before I became an actor. I was traveling on my own at a young age, training for hours every day, learning to accept criticism without taking it personally, and understanding that improvement comes from consistency, not instant results. 

Then, Walnut Hill challenged me in a completely different way. I had to convince my parents to let me go, and when I got there, I wasn't the brightest star. I was surrounded by incredibly talented performers, many of whom had been studying theater for years. Looking back, that was one of the greatest gifts I could have received because it taught me to stop comparing myself to everyone else and focus on just becoming better than I was yesterday. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my acting career. I've never believed success comes from being the most talented person in the room. I think it comes from showing up consistently, staying adaptable, and refusing to quit when things get hard.

After an injury ended your dance training, acting became your focus. Do you think your background as a dancer still influences your performances?

Absolutely. Ballet is one of the most physically and mentally demanding art forms there is, and I still carry that into every role. Dance taught me body awareness, storytelling without words, and how much emotion can be communicated through movement alone. Even something as simple as the way a character walks into a room tells the audience who they are before they ever speak.

You’ve just wrapped filming the upcoming Baywatch reboot and starred in And Out Comes the Wolf. How different were those projects from Ransom Canyon?

They're completely different worlds, and that's exactly what excites me. Baywatch is such an iconic series, so getting to be a part of that was really special. And Out Comes the Wolf let me step into the raw energy of the 90s punk rock scene. That's what I love most about acting, every project lets you step into a completely different world. 

Is there a particular genre or type of character you’re especially eager to explore next?

I'm really drawn to physically demanding roles like dancers, athletes, fighters, or race car drivers. I crave roles that ask you to transform emotionally and physically, where your body becomes just as much a part of the storytelling as the dialogue. I'd also love to be part of a YA or fantasy book adaptation. And if we're talking specific characters, Poison Ivy has always been one that really interests me because she's such a layered, misunderstood character.

As your career continues to grow, what qualities do you look for when choosing a role?

It always starts with the director because great directors create an environment where actors can take risks. After that, I'm looking for people I don't immediately understand, characters that challenge my assumptions, force me to ask questions, and leave me seeing the world a little differently. I want every role to expand my toolbox, not just as an actor, but as a human being.

What keeps you grounded outside of acting?

What keeps me grounded is actually a philosophy more than a hobby. I'm a huge believer in saying yes to life. I want to experience as much of the world as I possibly can because every adventure, every conversation, every challenge becomes another tool in my toolbox as an actor. Whether it's learning to drive race cars, wake surfing, hiking, dancing, traveling, or simply spending summers back home in the Midwest, I'm constantly looking for experiences that expand the way I see people and the world. I think the best actors are students of life. The more you live, the more empathy you have, and the more truth you can bring to a character. I never want to stop collecting experiences because that's where inspiration comes from. Life is the greatest research an actor can do.

TEAM CREDITS:

photography BRANDON M. YOUNG
hair and makeup GINA DEANGELIS