Erin Krakow has been starring as teacher Elizabeth Thatcher in the Hallmark show “When Calls the Heart” since 2014, but before she took on that role, she cut her teeth in the Lifetime series “Army Wives,” one of her first TV gigs.
Premiering in 2007, “Army Wives” follows a group of military spouses as they navigate life’s various trials. Inspired by Tanya Biank’s book “Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives,” the show was a hit for Lifetime, running for seven seasons to become the network’s longest-running series. Krakow played Specialist Tanya Gabriel, who appeared in 18 episodes between seasons four and six. While she wasn’t an original cast member, her story arc was full of the heart-wrenching drama that made the show popular.
“I loved getting to play that character, it was a real honor to play an army medic,” Krakow told Sidewalks Entertainment. “Just putting on that uniform and stepping into those boots, it was a pretty unique experience.” She also revealed that she’s still close with Catherine Bell, who starred as Denise Sherwood, along with some other cast members.
Despite being canceled after seven seasons in 2013, “Army Wives” has remained popular not only with its original fans, but also with new viewers, who continue to fall in love with its complex storylines over a decade later. For those who’d like to reminisce or check it out for the first time, the series is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
If you’re a longtime fan still holding onto the hope that “Army Wives” might make a comeback, don’t hold your breath: According to Sally Pressman, who played Roxy LeBlanc (the wife of second lieutenant Trevor LeBlanc), she and series creator Katherine Fugate approached ABC execs about rebooting the series, but they didn’t get far.
“We came up with what the show might look like today,” Pressman said in a June 2026 Instagram video. “We had a meeting with I think one or two executives at ABC Studios. Well, they said no. I really believed in it and I wanted to do it, not just for me getting to play one of the best roles of my life more, but for you guys, because of my connection to you all, and hearing how much you love the show.” Pressman explained that, because ABC produced and owns the rights to the show, it’s hard to do a reboot without them. Despite this setback, “Army Wives” fans seem determined to see more of their favorite characters: That same month, a fan launched a petition hoping to convince ABC to revive the series.
Much like her “When Calls the Heart” character, Erin Krakow has been on quite the journey over the years when it comes to her physical appearance, and her stunning transformation has truly been a sight to see. Since she first began playing the role of Elizabeth Thornton on the Hallmark Channel period drama in 2014, Krakow has been through numerous different phases in terms of her hair, makeup, and fashion, both on the show and behind-the-scenes.
In November 2025, Krakow announced that she was expecting her first child with husband Ben Rosenbaum, who is just one of the real-life partners of the “When Calls the Heart” leading ladies. The pregnancy brought out a whole new glowing look for the actor. Leaning into a more natural appearance at the time, Krakow seemed to be embracing her bouncy curls more than ever, and was posting plenty of makeup-free Instagram selfies to highlight her raw, unfiltered beauty.
When Erin Krakow was rising to fame in the early to mid-2010s, her hair, makeup, and styling were very representative of the trends at the time. Taken in 2014 during one of Krakow’s earliest red-carpet photo-ops, she sported an outdated eyeliner trend of dark black liner on both her upper and lower eyelids, leaving an overpowering effect on her bright blue eyes. Her brunette hair was also long and wavy at the time, though she would soon end up chopping it off for a shoulder-length cut.
Early on in her career, Erin Krakow leaned into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, as seen during a 2017 red-carpet outing. The actor donned a body-hugging gown with a plunging neckline for the event, while opting for a full-glam makeup look at the time. Krakow had a very bronzed look and she was wearing heavy, full-coverage face makeup and dramatic smokey eyeshadow. Meanwhile, her hair, reaching just below her collar bones at that point, was perfectly straight and sleek.
Erin Krakow had undergone another major makeover by 2018, when she cut her deep brunette locks into a chin-length bob. Around the same time, the “Wedding Cottage” actor replaced her usual eye makeup routine with a milder, softer approach. Instead of the harsh black eyeliner she had sported before, Krakow’s lower liner is a warm shade of brown, and her eyelids are defined with more neutral eyeshadow tones, giving her eyes much more room to pop without being literally overshadowed.
In 2021, Erin Krakow looked totally different from her “When Calls the Heart” character, rocking thick bangs. This snap was taken during a visit to Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family,” when Krakow’s hair was a rich shade of brown with deep auburn undertones. She was seen with this same hairstyle in the 2021 romance film “It Was Always You,” and she kept the fun look for several months even after filming wrapped.
In a major departure from her earlier fashion moments, Erin Krakow slowly but surely evolved her style into a dreamy, cottagecore aesthetic. During recent years, Krakow has frequently worn stylish modern prairie-inspired looks: think plenty of flowing dresses, soft colors, and traditional patterns. A photo taken in 2021 perfectly embodies the actor’s appreciation of romantic, vintage-inspired fashion. It seems she was at least a little inspired by her “When Calls the Heart” wardrobe.
After spending a few years experimenting with different cuts and colors on her hair, Erin Krakow eventually decided to lighten things up. Throughout 2022 and 2023, Krakow ditched her dark brunette tresses for a highlighted caramel color, and the resulting look is seen in a number of her social media pics. Among them is a car selfie posted on Instagram in June 2023, when Krakow let her natural curls take center stage.
After she shared the news of her pregnancy on social media in late 2025, Erin Krakow seemed to be leaning into her natural look more than ever. An increasing number of her Instagram snaps at the time showed the actor embracing her naturally coily hair rather than sticking to the smooth and loosely-curled locks viewers were used to seeing her with on “When Calls the Heart.” She posted a photo to Instagram in January 2026, snapping a selfie as she watched the sunrise from the beach and showed off her natural hair, makeup-free face, and undeniable pregnancy glow.
In the midst of embracing her natural beauty and sharing many makeup-free social media photos, Erin Krakow still had some glamorous moments throughout her pregnancy, including a red-carpet outing in March 2026. Attending a celebratory Hollywood event for “When Calls the Heart” and the spinoff prequel series “Hope Valley: 1874,” Krakow stepped out with her curly tresses on full display, marking one of her only red-carpet appearances with her natural hair. She also sported a soft-glam makeup look, and wore a vibrant, figure-hugging magenta dress that showed off her baby bump at the time.
Erin Krakow welcomed her daughter in April 2026, and just a few months later, the actor was seen wearing a very special new accessory: a baby carrier. A few months later, Krakow snapped some candid photos with her family in the airport where her little one was strapped to her body in a cozy blue carrier. The sweet pics, which were posted to Instagram in July 2026, feature little to no makeup and are Krakow’s first official social media selfies as a mom.
