James Kot recalls his first taste of the stage vividly. At eight years old, he landed his first professional role in Medea, and the excitement he felt during each performance marked the beginning of his acting journey. “I knew at a very early age that I liked to play pretend,” he says, reflecting on his youth. “That interest grew very naturally into me asking my parents to take me to audition for this theatre company in my hometown.” But it wasn’t just the thrill of make-believe that captivated him—it was the rituals of live theatre and, notably, the dramatic power of storytelling. He remembers the final scene in Medea, where he played a character lying lifeless, doused in beet juice as a stand-in for blood. “The audience gasped in horror… How fun! I was hooked!” he exclaims.

His early passion for acting was paralleled by an equal enthusiasm for sports. But fate intervened in high school when a sports injury forced him to take a year off, igniting his focus on theater. “I suffered a pretty gnarly compound fracture of my elbow during a hockey game in 9th grade,” he recalls. During his recovery, he immersed himself in films and television, a shift that would ultimately reshape his aspirations. “I couldn’t feed myself with my dominant arm for months… When I returned to play high school football, I recognized that as an athlete I was a complementary player on a very good team, never a star.” But on the stage, he was different. “I knew I was one of the best at my school, and that gives you the confidence to really pursue it at the highest level,” he says with a smile.

By his senior year, he’d proven his talent in more ways than one. Winning first place in a musical theater performance at the Kiwanis Music Festival, Kot brought Fagin from Oliver to life in full Cockney attire. He remembers the details with warmth and pride. “Winning was a feather in my cap,” he reflects, describing the character performance as “a gateway for me to do what I love.” And his passion carried him to the University of Victoria, where he earned a BFA in Acting, setting him on a course for professional success.

Kot’s big-screen debut came in Passchendaele, a major Canadian war film that placed him among Canadian cinema’s notable talents. “It was a great first feature film credit,” he says. The film, which portrays the Canadian experience of World War I, resonated deeply with him and with Canadian audiences, even making it to the Toronto International Film Festival. “Its impact made me take pursuing acting professionally much more seriously,” he reflects, grateful for the confidence it inspired in him.

From Canadian war dramas to supernatural action series like Supergirl, Supernatural, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Kot’s range has broadened with each project. Reflecting on these roles, he explains his unique approach to each character: “I always try to source the behavior that is unique to the character first,” he says. “Once I’ve tracked that, it opens up my character exploration to a really empathetic place rather than one that passes judgment. I think that’s why I’ve been asked to play some villains!”

Another career highlight came in Dear Prudence, where he worked alongside legendary actress Jane Seymour. “I grew up watching her on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, so it was surreal,” he reminisces. Seymour’s warmth and professionalism left a lasting impact on him. “She treated me with the same respect as a 30-year pro, and that’s something I really understood as a great gift to give a young actor.”

Today, Kot stars in The Chicken Sisters, a series on Hallmark’s streaming service, H+, where he portrays Frank Jr., a Southern restaurant owner caught up in a family feud over fried chicken. “The Chicken Sisters is a family dramedy dipped in Southern charm,” he says, describing the series as a fresh take on Hallmark’s typical feel-good fare. “There’s a lot of drama and humor for a story about a centuries-long family feud over fried chicken!” In the role of Frank Jr., Kot embraced the chance to explore a character who, despite his ambition, is flawed and struggling. “He’s doing his best, even though he’s falling short because of the emotional pain he’s in on a daily basis,” he reflects. He describes Frank Jr. as a man who “really tries hard,” a quality he empathizes with, adding, “The audience may not like Frank Jr. very much in Season 1, but there’s an amazing road to redemption possible for him in Season 2.”

Transitioning to a Southern accent was another aspect of the role that surprised him. “I’d never done Southern on TV before,” he says with a laugh. Spending 12-hour days in character meant the accent became second nature—even affecting his conversations with his dog at home! “As I’m talking to her to do her business, the accent showed up!” he recalls with humor. “My dog now speaks Southern!”

With The Chicken Sisters on H+, Kot appreciates the platform’s ability to reach Hallmark’s loyal fanbase and introduce new audiences to a heartwarming series with deeper layers. “I love that we have more and more accessibility to new voices and stories through streaming technology,” he says, hoping the show “impresses and surprises the loyal Hallmark viewer, and brings in a new wave of fans.”

For those discovering him on The Chicken Sisters, Kot hopes viewers find both familiarity and novelty. “Come for the romance and signature Hallmark heart; stay for the comedic one-liners and the Southern family drama!”

Photography Credit: Jenna Berman