But will Leah manage to help the town achieve its Christmas dreams in time?
Making Christmas magic with Lifetime
“Record Breaking Christmas” has such a cute premise.
How did you get involved?
This is actually the third time I’ve been on a Lifetime lineup, which is awesome.
I absolutely love working with that internet.
This year, they asked me to do it again with “Record Breaking Christmas.”
I was really thrilled to be able to [work with them] again.
She’s very particular about that, and they call her the Scrooge of the movie.
Eventually, she melts when she meets Dr. Devan [Andrew Bushell].
Different things pulled together for me in my real life and on camera.
That was really nice.
[My character in “Record Breaking Christmas”] spoke to me, essentially.
What a huge moment, to be shutting down a company and then taking on this role.
You must have been busy.
I was tired that month.
When you take on these movies, we shoot them in a very short period of time.
We have maybe 120 or 130 pages to memorize.
Being shiny for 16 hours a day isn’t easy.
It was a big undertaking, and then I took a little break.
I have had the best break ever.
But like I said, every movie I’ve been handed is always the perfect movie for me.
I’m always very grateful when I land a film and the story really speaks to me.
Kissing her Christmas co-star
You had such great chemistry with Andrew Bushell in the movie.
What was it like working with him?
Andrew is the sweetest, most prepared actor on set.
Andrew knew all of his lines inside and out before we even started the movie.
I re-read it over and over again to understand the character and what’s going on in each scene.
Then [I] take it day by day and literally moment by moment.
Because we need that support.
So the fact that Andrew knew his lines was very helpful.
Do you have any favorite moments from the set of “Record Breaking Christmas”?
The kissing days, of course!
And he would laugh.
It’s always so nice, whether it’s a kiss or a hug or an intimate moment.
It’s nice to look into somebody’s eyes and just be there with them.
You don’t even have to say much.
So even if you mess up lines, it doesn’t matter.
I don’t like it to be too structured.
Joining General Hospital
Are you a fan of Christmas movies?
Of course, yes.
I love Christmas movies.
These movies are something I think we need right now.
It’s such a great time of year.
Do you have a favorite Christmas movie that you re-watch every year?
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”
Funn[il]y enough, I’m called “Scrooge” in “Record Breaking Christmas.”
I’m attracted to those Grinch-, Scrooge-jot down films.
The Grinch would be my number one, with Cindy Lou Who.
It’s such a cute movie.
You were also on “General Hospital.”
What was it like being on such a classic show?
You get one take.
At least in the Christmas movies, we get two takes, and maybe three if we’re lucky.
On “General Hospital,” you get one take.
I had my main storyline with Alexis, [played by] Nancy Lee Grahn.
I was so intimidated at first because she would learn the lines and just spew them out.
As you get going and you relax, you’re able to start enjoying your character …
It’s a really cool experience.
And you don’t work past eight hours.
Often, I would do 15 pages in about two hours, which is crazy.
Then you’re done for the day.
That was nice, because on Christmas movies you’ve got 16-hour-plus days.
Embracing her darker side
How about “Shadowhunters”?
What was it like being part of that show?
That would be the best role I could ever land because [of] that magic.
Faeries are also very interesting, and we haven’t [dived] into faeries that much on TV.
We do vampires, and we’ve gone into other ones, but faeries are actually fascinating.
I had an absolutely wonderful experience on “Shadowhunters.”
I wish it [had gone on] longer.
It was sad that the show ended.
Playing Kaelie on “Shadowhunters” was a dream.
So I don’t know what I’m bringing to the table.
I definitely have a dark side.
If we just had a light side, life would be boring.
I enjoy those characters, so I can express that.
When I do, I feel the audiences can understand it because we’ve all got it.
What are you working on next?
I was writing a treatment for a series I’d like to do.
It [has] the elements you were just touching on.
It’s very dark.
It won’t be a Christmas movie.
It’ll probably be more of a “Queen’s Gambit” meets “Bates Motel” very psychological.
It will have a female, dominant character who is the anti-hero.
Without going into too much detail, it will be predominantly female-led.
I would like to have an all-female team telling it because it’s a very female story.
Oftentimes, women don’t get to play [darker characters].
We can be the bad guy; we can handle that.
I’d love to start producing.
Dreaming of Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron
Who are your dream collaborators?
If Angelina Jolie could do this part … she’d be great.
That would be a dream.
Charlize Theron is obviously the most badass actress, period.
She nailed that role.
I would love to work with her as well.
I’m sure [there are] many others, but those two came to mind.
Anything else we need to know about “Record Breaking Christmas”?
It was directed by Max McGuire, who did a fantastic job.
Watch “Record Breaking Christmas” on Lifetimeon Thursday, December 15 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
