Alison Sweeney says she has no regrets leaving Los Angeles for Arizona

Alison Sweeney said she has no regrets about leaving Los Angeles for Arizona.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, the 49-year-old actress discussed her latest Hallmark movie, Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, which she wrote and executive produced. The film is based on the Hannah Swensen mystery series by Joanne Fluke.

Sweeney said she moved to Arizona to create a better environment for her children. She added that she does not regret the decision.

One of the first changes she noticed was a drop in her stress level. She said the constant energy of big cities had become too much for her.

She described life in Arizona as more laid back. Sweeney said she can now work from home more often instead of traveling to a studio each day for projects such as Days of Our Lives.

Sweeney and her husband make a point of enjoying the slower pace. Their children attend local schools, the family goes to school events, and they have taken up golf and travel. She still travels to Canada for work, but she said the overall atmosphere is peaceful.

The new film is the 14th installment in the Hannah Swensen series. Sweeney called the success of the movies lightning in a bottle and said she sometimes cannot believe how fortunate she has been as an actor.

She said Hallmark films focus on stories where viewers know things will turn out well, which makes them easy to rewatch. She contrasted that approach with shows that feature violence.

Sweeney said she enjoys hearing fans quote favorite lines from the films, even years later. She said the longevity of the franchise lets people approach her about movies from four or five years ago and recall specific moments.

Her earlier film Romance at Hope Ranch was the most-watched cable entertainment program on its Saturday premiere and for the week in key demographics. Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery reached the top spot on Saturday and second place for the week in the same groups.

In the new movie, Hannah, a baker turned amateur detective, investigates the murder of a key witness in a high-profile forgery case and the disappearance of the lead prosecutor. She and her love interest, prosecutor Chad, work to solve the case before the killer strikes again.

Best Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery premieres Saturday, May 16 at 8 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel and streams the next day on Hallmark+.

Sweeney said the film shows growth in the relationship between the two leads. She said she wanted this installment to focus on Chad and his courtroom work rather than follow the series' usual plots.

Sweeney has written the last four Hannah Swensen movies. She told Fox News Digital she loves developing characters that viewers can relate to and adding small details that feel familiar.

The film also stars Victor Webster and Barbara Niven. It was produced by Sweeney, Craig Baumgarten and Lighthouse Pictures.