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The Hallmark Channel’s newest movie, “Leah’s Perfect Gift,” premieres on Sunday, December 8, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. The movie stars Emily Arlook, Evan Roderick, and Barbara Niven. Read on to learn all about the new movie, including where it was filmed and behind-the-scenes cast stories.
‘Leah’s Perfect Gift’ Was Filmed in Canada
“Leah’s Perfect Gift” was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, according to 4filming, which noted that some of the scenes were filmed in downtown Vancouver. It was also filmed in Abbotsford, the city shared on Instagram. Abbotsford is just about an hour away from Vancouver.
Barbara Niven took to Facebook to announce the title and date of the movie, and added that the cast was “phenomenal.”
In an Instagram post, she shared that she was traveling to Vancouver to film on September 5.
Actress Robyn Ross said on Instagram: “…if you’re an actor and ever get to work with the multi-talented and funny #PeterBenson consider yourself so SO lucky. It was a dream finally getting to work with you in this capacity after all these years of knowing and adoring you. 🥰”
Actress Sidney Quesnelle posted a trailer selfie on Instagram on September 26, but couldn’t mention the title of the movie just yet! She did share that they had just wrapped filming.
Meet the Cast
Hallmark’s synopsis reads: “Leah Meyer is a bonafide lover of Christmas – the trees, the ornaments, the eggnog! But she has always admired the holiday from afar because she’s Jewish. Though her family celebrates Hanukkah, Leah has longed to experience a traditional Christmas. When her boyfriend Graham invites her to spend the holidays with his classic Connecticut family, she eagerly accepts. Excited to dive into the quintessential Christmas she’s always dreamed of, Leah quickly discovers that fitting in with Graham’s uptight family and his not-so-welcoming mom (Niven) is easier said than done. As holiday traditions clash and awkward moments pile up, it is not quite the cozy Christmas that she expected.”
Barbara Niven plays Barbara. According to her bio, she’s known for her roles in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, as well as TV series like “Pensacola: Wings of Gold” and “Chesapeake Shores.” She starred in the independent film “A Perfect Ending” and is also a motivational speaker, animal rights activist, and National Ambassador for American Humane.
She has a daughter, Jessica, and three grandchildren.
Niven battled bulimia for 30 years before seeking help after her daughter fainted at cheerleading practice due to similar struggles, she revealed in an interview eight years ago. She credits breaking the secrecy around her disorder as key to her recovery and now speaks publicly about eating disorders.
She also appeared in She4ME supporting marriage equality and the anti-bullying short film “Love is All You Need?”
Emily Taryn Arlook, who plays Leah, is known for roles such as Nomi Segal in “Grown-ish,” Kate Harris in “Big Time Adolescence,” and Kim Glassman in “You People,” according to her bio.
She made her acting debut in the 1998 mockumentary “20 Dates,” playing a fictionalized version of herself alongside her sister Rachel and father Richard. In 2024, Arlook took on the role of Rebecca in Netflix’s series “Nobody Wants This.”
Graham is played by Evan Roderick. According to his bio, he developed a passion for performing arts after attending a Rolling Stones concert when he was 10. A former hockey player, he earned a Division 1 scholarship to the University of Massachusetts Lowell before retiring at 19 due to injuries. Roderick transitioned to acting in 2015, appearing in commercials, short films, and TV series like “Arrow” and “Spinning Out.”
He recently appeared in Hallmark Channel’s “A Tale of Two Christmases” and “Autumn in the City.”
Also starring, according to IMDb, are:
Robyn Ross
Barry W. Levy
Sidney Quesnelle
Jade Pattenden
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