Actor Jocelyn Hudon secured a prominent role as paramedic Lyla “Lizzie” Novak on “Chicago Fire” during Season 13, according to reporting by TVLine. Hudon joined the procedural drama to replace departing cast member Kara Killmer, quickly winning over viewers with a lively attitude. Before stepping into the Firehouse 51 uniform, however, Hudon headlined the inaugural spin-off of Hallmark’s long-running Western drama “When Calls the Heart,” titled “When Hope Calls.”
Origins on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart
“When Calls the Heart” premiered on the Hallmark cable channel in 2014, making it the network’s longest-running series, as reported by TVLine. Adapted from Janette Oke’s book series, the historical drama follows a teacher moving to a 20th-century Canadian mining town. According to TVLine, Hudon and co-star Morgan Kohan entered the franchise during the Season 6 Christmas special in 2018, playing long-lost orphan sisters—Lillian and Grace—who reunite in Hope Valley.
The Launch and Transition of When Hope Calls
That 2018 holiday special served as a backdoor pilot for the franchise’s first expansion, “When Hope Calls,” according to TVLine. The new series tracked Lillian and Grace as they moved back to Brookfield to operate an orphanage while navigating personal romantic entanglements. Unlike the parent series airing on cable, Hallmark deployed the spin-off on its streaming platform, Hallmark Movies Now (now rebranded as Hallmark+), to drive subscription conversions. Performance metrics for this streaming launch were never publicly disclosed by Hallmark, and episodes eventually transitioned to the cable network.
Did you know? Rival family-friendly network Great American Family later acquired “When Hope Calls,” producing a Christmas special in 2021 that allowed the series to continue despite scheduling hurdles, according to TVLine.
Behind-the-Scenes Scheduling Conflicts and Cast Changes
According to TVLine, the acquisition by Great American Family brought immediate creative adjustments. Because Hudon could not participate in the 2021 holiday special, writers constructed an off-screen narrative where her character, Grace, traveled to England to assist Helen in locating a grandfather, eventually establishing a new orphanage in London. When “When Hope Calls” Season 2 debuted in 2025, the original leads had transitioned to other projects, resulting in fresh characters taking center stage, per TVLine’s reporting.
Expanding Across the Chicago Franchise
Hudon did not issue a public statement regarding her exit from “When Hope Calls,” according to TVLine. Following that departure, she took on roles across various television series, including “9-1-1” and “Dave.” However, her casting on “Chicago Fire” marks her most stable television tenure to date. Hudon expanded her footprint within the broader “Chicago” franchise by making guest appearances on “Chicago Med” in 2025 and “Chicago P.D.” in 2026, as noted by TVLine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Jocelyn Hudon play on Chicago Fire?
Hudon plays paramedic Lyla “Lizzie” Novak, joining the cast in Season 13 to replace Kara Killmer, according to TVLine.
What was Jocelyn Hudon’s role in the Hallmark franchise?
Hudon starred as Grace alongside Morgan Kohan in “When Hope Calls,” a spin-off of “When Calls the Heart,” per TVLine.
Why did Hudon leave When Hope Calls?
Scheduling conflicts prevented Hudon from filming the show’s 2021 Christmas special, leading to her character being written off as moving to London, according to TVLine.
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