Lea Thompson and Wendie Malick, stars of Hallmark’s “The Chicken Sisters,” credit the series with giving them the chance to model female empowerment on and off screen. In place of Hollywood’s long-standing “old boy’s network,” the actresses see a powerful “girl’s network” emerging — one where women lift one another up.
“The Chicken Sisters”: On-Screen Bonds That Extend Off-Screen
The show, which revolves around two competing fried chicken restaurants, stars Thompson as Nancy and Malick as Gus—once rivals, now reluctant business partners.
Much like their characters, the cast quickly grew close behind the scenes. Angelson, known for her roles in “Good Girls Revolt” and “Flack,” said she felt grateful to find such strong mentors in Thompson and Malick.
“I honestly feel incredibly grateful to have Lea and Wendie as role models,” Angelson told Parade. “It’s important to me to see women in Hollywood be the billboards for the life that I want to have. This shows me that it’s possible to be continuously and creatively turned on.”
Angelson’s admiration echoes Thompson’s own approach to her career. For Thompson, supporting other women has been both a personal mission and a key theme of the series. “I think women helping each other is extremely important,” she said.
Thompson and Malick on Female Friendship
Speaking with Parade, Malick also touched on the importance of female friendship, saying, “There are actual studies that show when you have a group of girlfriends, you live longer; you are happier, mentally and physically. So, I would say to get a bunch of girlfriends in your life, and you will have a better, richer life.”
That sense of camaraderie extends off-screen as well. The cast revealed they have a group chat called “The Ding Dang Dongs,” a playful nod to a line Thompson once famously flubbed on set. According to Angelson, the thread remained active between seasons, keeping the women closely connected.
“That text thread stayed extremely active all year, and it was the perfect way to get back to work for Season 2, and have Lea be our leader,” Angelson said.
“I think one reason people love and appreciate ‘The Chicken Sisters’ is the genuine love that we show for one another; it isn’t forced or at all pretended. We hang out all the time, and we are so blessed to have one another in our lives.”
Season 2 of “The Chicken Sisters” premiered August 10 and new episodes air on Sundays at 8 p.m. on Hallmark.
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Lea Thompson & Wendie Malick on the Bonds Behind ‘The Chicken Sisters’