Chicago Fire’s Jocelyn Hudon Previously Starred in This Hallmark Hit

Jocelyn Hudon may be winning over Chicago Fire viewers as the upbeat Lyla Lizzy Novak, but longtime Hallmark fans have another reason to recognize her. Before she became a familiar face at Firehouse 51, Hudon played Grace Bennett in When Hope Calls, the spinoff connected to When Calls the Heart. Her move from period drama to first-responder television comes with a bittersweet twist: while Novak has become a bigger part of her career, Grace was missing when When Hope Calls returned for its long-awaited second season. So what happened? The timeline offers some clues, though one important question remains unanswered.

Jocelyn Hudon Had a Devoted Fan Base Before Chicago Fire

For viewers who discovered Hudon through Chicago Fire, her earlier connection to the Hallmark universe might come as a surprise. Before joining the One Chicago franchise in 2024, though, she had already stepped into another television world with passionate fans and an established identity.

Her character, Grace Bennett, first appeared on When Calls the Heart, the drama set in the early-1900s community of Hope Valley. That introduction paved the way for a larger role in a series about family, belonging, and second chances.

Grace Bennett Helped Launch When Hope Calls

In 2019, Hudon brought Grace to When Hope Calls, starring alongside Morgan Kohan as Grace’s sister, Lillian. The sisters had been orphaned and separated as children before finding each other again as adults.

Their reunion gave the series its emotional foundation. Determined to help children facing circumstances like their own, Grace and Lillian established an orphanage and took on the challenge of keeping it running. Hudon was central to the original premise, which helps explain why her absence from the returning cast stood out.

Joining the Hearties Universe Came With Pressure

Joining a beloved television franchise can be exciting, but viewers already feel protective of that world. Hudon was initially nervous about becoming part of the When Calls the Heart family and introducing its audience to a new chapter.

Fortunately, she described the experience in overwhelmingly positive terms. Rather than recalling an intimidating environment, she talked about a welcoming production and a cast that helped her feel at ease.

A Surprisingly Memorable First Impression

Speaking with Pop Culture Principle in 2019, Hudon singled out an unexpected detail: the makeup trailer. She remembered it as welcoming, bright, and decorated. It was a small behind-the-scenes touch, but clearly made an impression.

She also praised the town set, the smooth-running production, and the kindness of her fellow performers. For an actor arriving in an established franchise, those details mattered. The enthusiastic response from Hearties, the franchise’s devoted followers, gave her another reason to feel that Grace belonged.

The Long Wait for Season 2 Changed the Picture

Although the first season of When Hope Calls found an appreciative audience, its continuation was far from immediate. Fans waited a long time for the next chapter of the sisters’ story.

The show eventually moved from Hallmark to Great American Family. Its second season went into production in late 2024 and premiered in spring 2025, but Hudon wasn’t among the returning cast.

Grace’s Absence Made the Comeback Bittersweet

A revival is usually cause for celebration, especially after years of uncertainty. But viewers who loved the original sister pairing also had to take in the news that one of its key performers wouldn’t return.

The franchise also drew attention for another notable television return: Lori Loughlin appeared in When Hope Calls following her jail stint. Still, fans invested in Grace had a more personal question about the story they’d followed. Why was Hudon missing? She has not publicly explained her decision, according to the supplied report.

Chicago Fire Arrived Before the Spinoff Returned

The clearest clue is Hudon’s career timeline. By the time When Hope Calls began filming its second season, she had already taken on a new role in a major network drama.

Hudon first appeared as Novak on Chicago Fire in April 2024, during Season 12. Two months later, she was promoted to series regular, making that role a much bigger commitment.

A Bigger Role Could Explain the Scheduling Puzzle

That promotion matters when considering why another television series might no longer fit into an actor’s working life. A regular role can raise questions about availability for other projects, especially when production schedules overlap.

However, a plausible explanation is not the same as a confirmed one. The report suggests Hudon’s Chicago Fire schedule likely made another show difficult to accommodate. It doesn’t establish that scheduling was definitively the reason for her departure, and Hudon hasn’t confirmed it herself.

Novak Is More Than Firehouse 51’s Cheerful New Face

Meanwhile, Hudon’s current character has given viewers plenty to discuss. Novak arrived with a bubbly personality and easy charm, bringing a welcome lift to Firehouse 51.

But Chicago Fire has gradually shown that her sunny exterior doesn’t tell the whole story. Beneath those smiles is trauma, giving the character an emotional complexity beyond simply being the upbeat addition to the team.

Two Different Roles With Emotional Stakes

Grace and Novak inhabit very different television worlds, yet both have stories shaped by painful experiences. Grace’s childhood separation from her sister helped drive her commitment to vulnerable children, while Novak’s past has emerged more slowly.

That contrast gives fans a reason to explore Hudon’s earlier work without expecting the same performance in a different costume. One role helped anchor a hopeful period drama; the other has made her a growing presence in a long-running ensemble.

The Missing Answer Fans Still Want

For now, the facts tell a clear story, with one detail still unresolved. Hudon helped introduce When Hope Calls, later joined Chicago Fire, and became a series regular before the spinoff’s second season entered production.

What remains unknown is why she didn’t return as Grace. Until she offers an explanation, the scheduling theory is just that. Fans may miss her in the earlier series, but her rise at Firehouse 51 shows her television journey is still going strong.