Christmas has come early for Benjamin Hollingsworth’s loyal legion of fans. On December 19, 2024, they get a double dose of him in two new feel-good projects: Netflix premieres season 6 of his hit Netflix show “Virgin River” and Hallmark+ begins streaming his new holiday rom-com, “Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane.”
“I always equate it to apple pie,” the actor told EntertainmentNOW of the kinds of shows and movies his fans have an insatiable appetite for. “You know, it’s nothing new. It’s nothing revolutionary. However, when it’s done right, it’s comforting, it’s delicious, and it’s so good any time of the year. If I’m (the face of) apple pie entertainment, I’m okay with that.”
But Hollingsworth is quick to credit his fans, colleagues, and screenwriters as key ingredients to his success. After more than a decade of starring in Hallmark movies and nailing his bad-boy-with-a-good-heart role as Brady on “Virgin River” since 2019, Hollingsworth says that “community” is at the core of everything he does.
Ben Hollingsworth Isn’t Surprised Fellow ‘Virgin River’ Stars Have Found Their Way to Hallmark
“Virgin River” centers around the romantic and family dramas that unfold in a remote, northern California town where an LA nurse, played by Hallmark alum Alexandra Breckenridge, moved to in the first season.
“If I were to identify one thing that really attracted me to the project and, I think, makes it successful to the masses,” Hollingsworth told EntertainmentNOW, “it’s this idea of community and the warm, fuzzy feeling of what that is, what that used to be, and the potential of what that could be in the future.”
“It’s this town where everyone’s there for each other and, you know, everyone kind of knows your name,” he continued. “The story of this community is something that, in today’s day and age, is almost a fairytale. It gives people hope. It’s a little bit of a nostalgic feel. But it also comforts us, (reminding us) that we’re not alone.”
Calling the Netflix series “Hallmark with a bit of spice” given its storylines around hard-hitting topics from fentanyl to gun violence, Hollingsworth said there’s lots of synergy among the “Virgin River” and his Hallmark projects.
“They both have that warm, fuzzy, happy ending kind of vibe,” Hollingworth told EntertainmentNOW. “I think that a lot of my fans (blend with) one another. A lot of people who are familiar with me on Netflix will tune in to Hallmark when I have a movie coming out, which is really, really great — and vice versa.”
Hollingsworth, who attended his first Christmas Con in mid-December to meet many of his Hallmark fans, said he’s not surprised other “Virgin River” actors have found their way to Hallmark, too. He said colleagues like Colin Lawrence and Marco Grazzini are attracted to the same kinds of positive projects he is. And with fewer rom-coms released at theaters and a lack of feel-good TV shows like he grew up watching, Hollingsworth said Hallmark and “Virgin River” are now “filling that void.”
Benjamin Hollingsworth is Excited to Showcase His Acting Range This Season
On season 6 of “Virgin River,” Hollingsworth teased, his character Brady goes through a bit of a transformation that he thinks viewers will love. It’s the kind of acting challenge he adores, which is why he’s also excited about making Hallmark movies with unique storylines and perspectives. That’s become much more feasible, he acknowledged, given that the network has intentionally expanded its offerings in recent years to incorporate more diverse storylines and cultures.
One of Hollingsworth’s recent favorites was 2022’s “Romance in Style” co-starring Jaicy Elliot for giving them a chance to “confront body image issues” and November’s comedy “Christmas at the Singhs” about the dynamics of nurturing a multicultural relationship.
“What we’re all longing for is to feel like we belong and within both worlds of ‘Virgin River’ and the Hallmark movies, there’s a sense of that — like, all are welcome, we open our arms to all of you, everyone belongs.”
In the ensemble movie “Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane,” one of three sequels to 2023’s hit “Christmas on Cherry Lane,” Hollingsworth said he relished getting to play a serious, single guy in 1966 whose neighbor, played by Chelsea Hobbs (whom Hollingsworth said is “absolutely terrific”), wins a contest to host a party on TV — but needs to do it at his house.
“It’s a different kind of role for me,” the Hallmark hunk told EntertainmentNOW. “I loved every aspect of it: he’s clean-shaven with a comb-over hair part, high-waisted pants, and little bifocals that he wears. He’s very shut down and not very charismatic. But I slowly get to, like, open him up throughout the movie.”
Hollingworth said he based his character on Mr. Wilson — the grumpy, elderly neighbor in the “Dennis the Menace” comic and movies — saying it was “a lot of fun to play a fairly young guy who’s like a crusty old man, getting to stretch my range a little bit.”
As for his future, “Virgin River” has already been renewed for a seventh season and Hollingsworth would love to remain part of the Hallmark family.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be busy enough in that world, and as long as there’s a story that resonates for me in some way, then I’m more than happy to do it,” he said. “I love the fan base, I have a lot of fun shooting these movies and, you know, and the rom-com world (is) a really fun place for me to be. I love using my comedic chops and I love romance.”
“Virgin River” season 6 is now available to watch on Netflix, and “Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane” is available to stream via Hallmark+.
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EXCLUSIVE: For Benjamin Hollingsworth, Double Premiere Day is Sweet as Apple Pie