She has also quickly become a holiday movie regular, thanks to her frequent collaborations with Lifetime.
I love working with Lifetime because they’re such great partners.
This one fell into my lap.
They’re like, “Hey, there’s a Mario Lopez movie.
It involves some dancing.”
I was like, “How fun.
Let’s do it.”
They said I could [executive produce] it.
Then, it was filming in Nashville, so the boxes were all being checked.
Then Mario’s dimples …
I was like, “I’m in.
Let’s do it.”
You have such great chemistry with Mario Lopez.
What was it like working with him?
I have a lot of respect for him.
He works really hard.
He’s on every hotel TV too.
He’s constantly working, and I have a lot of respect for him.
We had this respect for each other [that] grew into great chemistry.
The dance routines made “Steppin' Into the Holiday” different from other Christmas movies.
Was it difficult to nail those routines?
Oh my gosh, I don’t have enough time."
But that’s the movie magic.
We had a great choreographer,Spencer Liff, who helped choreograph all the routines.
Again, having Mario, we worked together.
He helped me; I helped him.
To have that friendship and that support was amazing.
The kids in the movie were the true stars.
In one of the scenes, I started to get emotional.
I felt insecure because it’s not something that I’m used to.
One of the dancers was like, “You got this.”
I’m like, “Oh my God, you guys are amazing.”
They were the best support group ever.
Do you enjoy working behind the scenes?
Are you planning to produce more projects in the future?
Yes it’s so fun.
I love to be able to get my hands on things, mold, and create.
That’s something that I’m looking forward to stepping into more of.
I am like, “Okay, I love to get people together and scripts together.”
That’s a big piece of what I’m moving into in the producing world.
My brain loves trying to fit everything together and make something happen.
I’m the kind of person where I say to my team, “I got this script.
Let’s find financiers for this, that, and the other.”
They’re like, “You work so hard.”
Your music career has been really successful so far.
Can you tell us what you have coming up?
I’m going to put an EP out next year.
I’m excited about that because it’s my first non-single project that I’m putting out.
I definitely want to step it up with the touring stuff.
I have every other weekend off, so that’s what I told my manager.
I was like, “Let’s do it.”
Joining One Tree Hill
You were incredible as Alex on “One Tree Hill.”
That can’t have been easy.
I thought, “How do I make her lovable?”
I always have a go at see the good in people.
Alex had her downfalls.
She was a very broken person.
Equally, I’m a mess in my own right.
I have my own brokenness; I’ve got stuff.
We all have our stuff.
Being able to find the balance and work around it was super fun.
It was a great show, and it was a great experience.
My goal is to get back on a show like that again.
Are you still in touch with any of the cast?
She and I were not actually close during the filming.
She’s a legit soul sister.
I just saw her in New York.
She’s definitely the one.
My closest guy friend [from the show] isAustin [Nichols].
We’ve been friends for years.
But I’m glad you’re able to speak out about it now.
The thing with those sets is that everyone was really young.
The show was on for nine years, and we were so young.
I’m aware, but I still put my head down.
What’s it like balancing your personal life with your professional life?
What’s it like being a single mom and having a busy Hollywood career?
I love working for companies like that because it’s hard, and it’s not easy.
As people know, I’m better when I have my kids with me.
In order for me to do good work, I need my babies.
Dreaming of Charlie Hunnam
You’ve made quite a few holiday films now.
Do you have a favorite Christmas film?
My favorite Christmas film of all time is probably “The Holiday.”
I love “The Holiday” so much.
It’s such a great movie.
I’ve been wanting to recreate it on Lifetime because it’s so cute.
I want to fall in love with an Englishman.
I would love that.
Looking forward, who would you like to work with that you haven’t yet?
There’s so many amazing people that I would love to work with.
I’m definitely thinking big.
I would love to get Charlie Hunnam in a Christmas movie.
Is there anything else you want viewers to know about “Steppin' Into the Holiday”?
“Steppin' Into the Holiday” premieres November 25 at 8:00 p.m.
ET (7:00 p.m. CT) on Lifetime.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
