A Degrassi and Drake reunion for Niagara’s Melissa McIntyre
It was a call former Niagara actress Melissa McIntyre never expected to get: A reunion of her former “Degrassi: The Next Generation” co-stars.
Including the biggest star of the bunch, ‘Drake’ Aubrey Graham, now one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
The occasion was a video shoot for Drake’s new single “I’m Upset,” gathering 19 former Degrassi cast members along with guest stars Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes for good measure (the stoner duo appeared in six episodes).
“It was strictly confidential, but really, it was so much fun,” says McIntyre, who now lives in Toronto. “It was a bit of a time warp in the best way.”
McIntyre, who played popular teen Ashley Kerwin on the show for seven seasons (2001 to 2008), says she got the call two weeks ago about the reunion.
Though she has retired from acting (Degrassi was her last TV or film work), she jumped at the
chance to re-join her fictional classmates.
“It was a pretty immediate yes for me,” she says. “It just sounded like such a cool opportunity. But I didn’t get how incredible it was going to be until we were on our old set and then until the video dropped. My phone has been blowing up for 48 hours.”
Filming took place on Sunday, and the video was released just three days later.
“I’m Upset” is expected to appear on Drake’s upcoming album Scorpion, scheduled for release June 29.
The Toronto-born singer appeared in 145 episodes of “Degrassi: The Next Generation” as Jimmy Brooks, a former high school basketball star who was disabled after he was shot by a classmate. His last episode was in 2007, three years before his debut album topped the Canadian charts.
All four of Drake’s albums have hit number one in both Canada and the U.S. He also has three number one singles in both countries (“One Dance,” “God’s Plan” and “Nice for What”).
Sunday was the first time McIntyre has seen Drake since filming the series.
“There was always that hope I’d be able to give him a hug and say ‘I’m proud of you, buddy. Well done.’ It was really nice to be able to do that. He’s the exact same person I remember him to be, in the best way.”
McIntyre got her acting start as a child in Niagara theatre, and returned to local stages after Degrassi, starring in a handful of musicals at Oh Canada Eh in Niagara Falls.
She now manages at a Toronto restaurant and hasn’t performed on stage in years.
“I’m retired (from acting), so this was an even bigger undertaking,” she says. “I never in a million years thought I’d be in front of a camera again. I figured if I’m going to do anything it’s going to be stage work, so I said farewell to that part of my life. Or so I thought!”