How to Get Cast in a Hallmark Movie

Penny Perry, who oversaw Hallmark Media’s casting for nine years, told us, “We generally cast the leads from film, or from some knowledge or relationship with them. The rest of the cast is read from the location casting director, or I hire a casting director to read and cast the roles.”

As someone who was involved “from script development through the completion of each project,” Perry—a seasoned pro—was also “responsible for conceiving and developing big-picture, long-term casting strategies.”

Perry said, “Generally speaking, our projects shoot outside the U.S., mostly in Canada, which requires that a certain percentage of the cast are Canadian. I work with talent managers and agencies in Canada, and domestically in the United States, to identify actors who have good chemistry and who strike the right balance for each specific project and location.”

Benjamin Ayres, star of “Long Lost Christmas,” told TV Fanatic he was asked to relocate to British Columbia for filming and said the Hallmark casting process moves at lightning speed: “I made a joke the other day about it being the Batman signal. You’re just going about your day, and then a phone call happens, and the next week you’re in Vancouver starting a movie.”

Tyler Hynes, now one of the network’s most popular leading men, began his partnership with Hallmark in 2018 when he was cast opposite country singer LeAnn Rimes in “It’s Christmas, Eve.” As Hynes told TV Goodness, “My agent called me while I was on my motorcycle. I don’t know what compelled me to pick it up while on my bike. I do that sometimes. And she was like, ‘Hallmark.’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ She said, ‘LeAnn Rimes!’ And I said, ‘Huh?’ And I got to the restaurant [for] dinner with some people and she needed an answer right now because it shot in the next four days. So I texted my mom and she was already reading the script because my mom does that. My mom has access to my emails. You better watch what you say in my emails because mom is watching.”

Hynes continued, “So I said, ‘Mom, do I sing?’ And she said, ‘A little bit.’ And I said, ‘You need to clarify, because this will decide this.’ So she described it to me and I asked, ‘Am I gonna be okay?’ And she said, ‘You’ll be fine.’ So I got on a plane the next day to Vancouver.” That “yes” forever changed Hynes’ career, as he’s starred in more than 20 films for the network (so far). “And I had no idea what was going on or what I was in for,” he added. “And there were sentences like, ‘Once you do one, you’re in the family.’ And I thought, ‘What is this? Is this the mafia? What is going on right now?’ ” Part of the family, indeed.

CD Liz Lewis (“Mystic Christmas,” “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story”) echoed Hynes’ sentiment. “Hallmark is like a family, and once you get working with them, it’s a warm, comfortable place,” she told Casting Networks. “They treat you as somebody that really knows the people that belong in these projects.” That’s probably why she’s always focused on making the audition experience as relaxed as possible.

“Everybody gets nervous,” Lewis added. “A lot of times I talk to people about things before we even get started, because it’s a relaxing mechanism, and if you’re really prepared, you’re open to hear changes, small changes, things like that. A lot of times, if it’s a first time, I’ll ask all kinds of other questions that have nothing to do with the audition. Who they are, where they’re from, family, what are some of their hobbies, and these things relax [them]. Everybody is worried about making a mistake.”

Hallmark isn’t actively filming any new movies at this time, but that will likely change after the holiday season concludes. After all, Hallmark shoots an average of 40 Christmas and winter holiday-related movies per year—and that’s not including the regular flow of rom-coms and original series that debut throughout the remainder of the year. But with a relatively modest $2 million budget per film and an incredibly quick production schedule (the average movie only takes 15 days to film), it’s no wonder the network puts out a seemingly endless supply of entertainment. And the more movies Hallmark makes, the more chances you’ll have to land your dream role!

“The Chicken Sisters Season 2” Credit: Hallmark Media/Photographer: Craig Minielly

Currently, there are no open casting calls available at Hallmark. In most instances, leads are chosen from actors who already have a relationship with the network. So, if you want to get in good with Hallmark, it’s imperative that you find an acting agent if you have not done so yet. Agents often have inside knowledge on what’s casting long before the public ever does, so having one in your corner could be the leg up you need to succeed. (But it can’t hurt to bookmark our main casting page for reference, too.)

Pursuing background acting may also be an ideal way to become part of Hallmark’s orbit, as the network often seeks extras for its films. According to WGRZ, there were numerous roles available for “A Newport Christmas,” which filmed in spring 2025 and will debut as part of the network’s Countdown to Christmas event. While this background gig roundup features projects that are casting right now, you might find our guides on how to audition for background work and what it takes to be an extra helpful as you prepare.

Courtesy Hybrid

Perry joined Crown Media Family Networks (now Hallmark Media) as vice president of casting in the fall of 2016. She later expanded her scope, serving as senior vice president of talent, casting, and programming for the team that produces all of Hallmark’s original content. Prior to joining the network full-time, she cast more than 150 original films for Hallmark Channel as an independent contractor. Perry also worked with big-name directors, including Ron Howard, Carl Reiner, and Robert Redford.

As someone with decades of experience, Perry knew exactly what every Hallmark project needed to succeed. “Each project is different,” she explained. “Talent that is right for one movie or show may not be the right fit for other projects. Finding the best pairing for the lead roles is also critical—some actors instantly click. In general, it has a lot to do with chemistry, screen presence, and image. I stay on top of talent in Canada and the other locations where we shoot.”

But what does it take to make an impression on someone at the executive level? For Perry, it was “someone [who] stays connected to the other actor and brings themselves through the role. I love actors and try to advocate for them always.”

“When Calls the Heart” Credit: David Dolsen

Ryan Paevey (“Unleashing Mr. Darcy,” “A Timeless Christmas”) told Digital Journal, “In acting, you need to be able to identify your emotions, you need to give yourself permission to feel them, and you need to allow other people to watch you feel them. There is a vulnerability to that, and that introspective journey is very valuable.”

But in an industry chock-full of rejections, being in touch with your feelings can begin to take a personal toll. Nikki DeLoach (“Love Takes Flight,” “Five More Minutes”) wrote that actors often do “crazy, unhealthy things” in pursuit of their craft—and she knows its toxic impact firsthand. Now, she recommends prioritizing yourself, putting the emphasis on “developing positive self-worth, self-love, strong personal boundaries, and creating a supportive and loving community around you.” 

“As hard as you work to grow your artist self, you should be working equally as hard on your human self,” said DeLoach. “In my opinion, they are one and the same, but we often devote every second of our being to acting class, auditioning, trying to get auditions, complaining that we can’t get auditions, meeting with agents and managers, trying to get an agent or manager, complaining that we can’t get an agent or manager, and so on and so on. What we sometimes forget along the way is the person who was worthy long before the dream of becoming an actor was born and the person who will still be worthy long after the dream of becoming an actor has been achieved.”

Autumn Reeser (“The Wedding Veil,” “Christmas Under the Stars”) believes that, amid the inevitable rejection, one should maintain personal goals. “You have to audition for yourself; set a goal for yourself, and that’s the only thing that’s important,” Reeser told us. “You’re not going to get every part, so you can’t base your sense of self-worth around whether or not you actually land the job. You have to set your own goals, even if it’s just, ‘Go in there and don’t shake.’ ”

Taylor Cole (“Matching Hearts,” “Long Lost Christmas”) echoed this sentiment, telling Authority Magazine that rejection is part of the job and suggesting actors look at auditions as an opportunity to hone their craft. “Use auditions as practice because there’s no practice like the real thing,” she said. “You can be at home doing all the acting classes and all the prep work as much as possible. But walking into the room will never be replicated as walking into the room. So use it as a free class. As opposed to looking at it as rejection, it’s a free practice in auditioning for when you do work, and that builds that confidence. And you can build your confidence just by going in and doing your very best, even if the role is not suitable for you.”

“I’ve auditioned for tons of different kinds of things. I just wanted the casting director to know me,” Cole added. “I didn’t think I would necessarily get the role. I expected a no. But later on, it served me with a yes.”

After all, as Lacey Chabert (“Christmas in Rome,” “The Wedding Veil”) told Bustle, success boils down to being yourself: “Embrace the thing that makes you different. All of our differences, that we sometimes view as flaws, really are the things that end up setting us apart. They become our superpowers.”