Nice Boy of the Week: Sean Faris Spends CHRISTMAS WITH HOLLY

This Sunday ABC airs a brand new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Christmas With Holly. Based on [easyazon-link asin=”B004Y6MTLE”]a novel by Lisa Kleypas[/easyazon-link], this holiday-themed movie has all the elements for a heart-warming tale: orphaned little girl, three uncles figuring out how to take care of her, a charming town, a dog, and romance. Sean Faris stars as Mark, the youngest of three brothers whose sister left him in charge of her little girl, Holly.

As Holly’s guardian, Mark is struggling to help her through her mother’s sudden death, while dealing with his own grief and less-than-ideal relationship with his brothers, Scott and Alex. Holly has selective mutism, meaning she hasn’t uttered a word since her mother’s death. Fed up with how Holly’s school and doctors in Seattle treat her, Mark packs up her very pink room and moves back to the tiny town of Friday Harbor. He owns a coffee shop there, and his oldest brother, Scott, is restoring a beautiful (if dilapidated) house. Before the first commercial break, Mark and Holly have moved into the rambling construction zone with Scott and Alex.

Adding some romance to the mix is Eloise Mumford as Maggie. Left at the altar by her fiance, Maggie is picking up the pieces and following a new dream – opening a toy store in Friday Harbor where she spent so many happy summers as a child. She and Mark keep bumping into each other, as one does in a small town, and before long romance is in bloom. Of course there are obstacles, but by Christmas Eve they have been overcome and this unconventional family is well on the way to healing and happiness.

I had the opportunity to chat with Sean Faris a few days after Thanksgiving, originally for an interview here at Nice Girls TV, but it quickly became clear that he deserved a different sort of feature – Nice Boy of the Week. When I asked him what brought him to Christmas With Holly, he quickly replied that, “Family is everything to me, and this is a story about family coming together.” Since he opened our conversation by happily telling me that his Dad and Grandma were in town with him for the holiday, it didn’t surprise me that “family” was a big draw for Sean.

We talked about filming in beautiful Nova Scotia, the script, and his experiences working on the movie, but the bulk of the conversation was Sean complimenting everyone else in the film. He noted how professional the girls who played Holly were throughout the production (Lucy and Josie Gallina, or “Juicy” as he liked to call them); spent some time praising Dana Watkins (oldest brother Scott) for his stage experience and willingness to share his insights; and talked about Eloise Mumford’s fun spirit and commitment to the role, even when it required Riverdancing (see below).

Sean’s generous spirit and innate cheerfulness are endearing, and make him the perfect lead for Christmas With Holly. Tune in with your family on Sunday, December 9 at 8/7c on ABC.