Lacey Chabert. Rodin Eckenroth/Caruso Getty Images
Lacey Chabert has earned her spot as Hallmark’s newest “Queen of Christmas,” but it didn’t happen overnight.
The 42-year-old actress made her Hallmark Channel debut in 2010’s Elevator Girl. Two years later, she appeared in the network’s first holiday special in Matchmaker Santa.
“These films mean so much to me,” Chabert exclusively told Us Weekly in October 2021. “This is more than just a job, and I want to make the best films I can for the audience. I feel a responsibility to
Chabert expanded his portfolio in 2015 with the first film in the “All of My Heart” trilogy. The following year, Chabert went behind the camera, producing and starring in 2016’s A Christmas Wish.
Lacey Chabert and Ryan Merriman in “Elevator Girl.” Justin Rubin/2009 Crown Media
The Mean Girls star has since produced 22 movies and one TV series (Celebration with Lacey Chabert – but more on that later) for Hallmark.
Chabert became a mystery master in 2019 with the first installment of Hallmark Mystery’s crossword mystery series. There are five movies in this series that also star Brennan Elliott.
“Crossword Mystery, I really enjoyed it,” Chabert told Barron’s exclusively in August, adding that although reviving the series is out of her hands, “I certainly love telling those stories.” It was,” he said.
“Crossword Mystery”. Shane Mahood/Crown Media LLC
In 2021, she became a screenwriter for Hallmark, penning the story for the heartwarming film Sweet Carolina. The following year, Chabert worked on the Wedding Veil trilogy with Hallmark favorites Alison Sweeney and Autumn Reaser, which has now reached six films.
In addition to establishing himself as one of the network’s biggest stars that year, Chabert was cast in the role of “Queen of Christmas” that holiday season after Candace Cameron Bure leaves Hallmark in April 2022. took over the role.
Cameron Bure, 48, left the network to join Great American Media, along with Danica McKellar and other major Hallmark personalities. (Cameron Bure was previously known by fans as the “Queen of Christmas” for all of her Hallmark projects.)
That fall, Chabert became the face of “Countdown to Christmas” promotions and commercials for the first time. While Chabert has previously appeared in ads for the annual holiday show lineup, Cameron Bure traditionally “flipped the switch” for Hallmark in the ad that marks the official start of the holiday show.
Hallmark Channel/Facebook
“I’m so excited to launch Hallmark’s ‘Countdown to Christmas,'” Chabert said in the station’s video aired in October 2022. “Ladies and Gentlemen, when I flip this switch, the Countdown to Christmas officially begins!” Polaha started the countdown with some familiar faces.
Two months after Cameron Bure claimed Hallmark became a “completely different network” after former CEO Bill Abbott resigned in 2020 amid controversy over the removal of ads featuring same-sex couples Afterward, Chabert defended Hallmark. Mr. Abbott is currently President and CEO of Great American Media.
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“I’m never going to give up on what Hallmark means to me, which is that everything is centered around the heart,” Chabert said in December 2022. “I don’t see any plans for that to change anytime soon,” she said. “I feel more like myself here than anywhere else I’ve ever worked.”
Over the next month, Chabert doubled down on his love for Hallmark. “When I created my first film, titled ‘Elevator Girl,’ many years ago, I had no idea it would find a home like this here at Hallmark,” Chabert said in a January 2023 production. He spoke on “Live With Kelly and Ryan.” .
“Haul Out the Holly” by Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown. Hallmark Media/Fred Hayes
With Cameron Bure’s departure, Chabert and Hallmark will only have more work to do. She appeared in 14 holiday movies from 2014 to 2024, totaling over 30 movies throughout her career.
However, Chabert raised some eyebrows when it was announced in May that he would star in this season’s Netflix holiday movie. “Hot Frosty” will premiere on Wednesday, November 13th, and her centerpiece holiday feature, “Christmas Quest,” will be released on Sunday, December 1st.
Dustin Milligan as Jack Snowman and Lacey Chabert as Cathy Barrett in “Hot Frosty.” Provided by Netflix
“Everyone knows that I love Christmas, so I was very excited to be starring in both Netflix’s ‘Hot Frosty’ and ‘Christmas Quest,'” said Chabert. spoke exclusively to the Moon. “I really hope people like them both. They’re both very different movies, and especially with ‘Christmas Quest,’ this is the first time I’ve done something like a treasure hunt.”
In September, Chabert became the first actress to direct her own unscripted series on Hallmark’s new streaming service, Hallmark+, allaying fears among Hallmark fans that she would be abandoned. Celebrations with Lacey Chabert focuses on hosting surprise parties across America in just three days for deserving heroes.
Chabert made headlines earlier this month when news broke that a former Hallmark casting agent had filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company. Penny Perry claimed in an Oct. 9 filing that network executive Lisa Hamilton Daley wanted to stop casting “old men” like Chabert and Holly Robinson Peete.
Marisa Reiner, Lacey Chabert, and Lisa Friedman in “Celebrations with Lacey Chabert.” Hallmark Media/Kim Nunnelly
According to court documents obtained by Variety, Perry cited Chabert Peete and Robinson Peete, 60, as examples of “older talent” that Hamilton Daly thought should be “replaced.” listed. In the complaint, Hamilton Daily allegedly said that Chabert “is getting older and as she gets older, we have to find someone like her to replace her.”
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Hallmark said in a statement on Thursday, Oct. 24, “Lacey and Holly own a home at Hallmark. We typically do not comment on pending litigation, and we do not support these outrageous lawsuits. We deny the allegations, but we do not intend to discuss employment relationships in the media.”We have reached out to Chabert Peete and Robinson Peete for comment.
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Prior to production on the drama, Chabert exclusively said in August that he was an “all-season watcher and supporter” of Hallmark after working there for nearly 15 years.
“I love them so much, and every film I make for them has special meaning,” she exclaimed. “Not just because of the movie itself, but it was also what I was going through at that point in my life. And, you know, I was pregnant with my daughter, and the first movie I shot after she was born. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that. My daughter was on set with me. So when I watch movies and I watch reruns of movies that I’m in, I see the individuals attached to the movie. It reminds me of memories.”
