You know that feeling when you're flipping through Lifetime or Lifetime Movie Network during a December blizzard, and you see a face that makes you go, "Wait, wasn't she on that show with the talking dog?" or "He looks like the guy from that 90s medical drama." That’s exactly what happens when you watch the 2013 holiday staple Christmas in the City. It’s a movie that relies heavily on nostalgia. While it might not have the massive budget of a theatrical blockbuster, the cast of Christmas in the City is actually packed with TV royalty and veteran character actors who know exactly how to sell a heartwarming story about a struggling department store.
Honestly, the movie is a bit of a time capsule. It captures a specific era of cable television movies where the stakes are small but the emotions are dialed up to eleven. We’re following Wendy Carroll, a single mom whose small-town candy shop is failing, so she heads to the big city (NYC, obviously) to work at a massive department store called Wolmans. But wait, there’s a corporate villain! There’s a love interest! There’s a lot of tinsel! To make that kind of plot work without it feeling like a cardboard cutout, you need actors who can actually act.
Ashley Williams: More Than Just "Victoria" from HIMYM
If you’re looking at the lead and thinking she looks incredibly familiar, it’s because Ashley Williams has been in your living room for decades. In the cast of Christmas in the City, she plays Wendy Carroll. Williams is basically the queen of the "earnest, slightly stressed but ultimately optimistic" archetype. Most people recognize her immediately as Victoria, the baker from How I Met Your Mother. You remember, the one fans actually liked before the show went off the rails? She brings that same "girl next door" energy here, which is vital because if the audience doesn't root for Wendy to save Christmas, the whole movie falls apart.
Williams isn't just a sitcom guest star, though. She’s a Hallmark and Lifetime veteran with a massive filmography including The Jim Gaffigan Show and Good Morning Miami. Her performance in Christmas in the City is grounded. She has to play a mother who is terrified of losing her livelihood while trying to keep the magic alive for her daughter, Grace. It’s a balancing act. Too much saccharine and it’s unwatchable; too much drama and it’s not a holiday movie. She hits the sweet spot.
Interestingly, Ashley comes from an acting dynasty of sorts. Her sister is Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Father of the Bride). That kind of professional pedigree shows in her timing. She handles the corporate-clash scenes against the "ice queen" antagonist with a level of charm that makes the movie feel more expensive than it probably was.
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Ashanti as the "Anti-Santa" Teanna Musk
Now, let's talk about the casting choice that actually surprised people back in 2013. Ashanti. Yes, the Grammy-winning R&B superstar who dominated the early 2000s with hits like "Foolish" and "Always on Time." In the cast of Christmas in the City, she isn't playing the sweet heroine. She plays Teanna Musk, the high-fashion, ruthless consultant brought in to "modernize" the department store.
Basically, she’s the Grinch in a designer power suit.
Ashanti is great here because she leans into the campiness of the role. She replaces the traditional, jolly Santa Claus with a "sexy male Santa" and fires the old staff. It’s a classic corporate villain role. While she’s primarily known for her music, Ashanti has a solid acting resume including John Tucker Must Die and Coach Carter. She brings a certain "diva" energy to Teanna that makes her the perfect foil for Wendy’s down-to-earth vibe. Seeing an R&B icon play a holiday villain is a weirdly specific joy of 21st-century cable movies.
The Supporting Players: Jon Prescott and Beyond
Every holiday movie needs a guy. You know the guy. The one who is handsome, slightly rugged, and definitely going to fall in love with the protagonist by the time the credits roll. For the cast of Christmas in the City, that guy is Jon Prescott. He plays Tom, the store’s warehouse manager. Prescott has done the rounds in the TV world, appearing in everything from The Good Wife to Rescue Me. He provides the necessary romantic tension, but more importantly, he acts as the bridge between Wendy’s traditional values and the cold reality of the city.
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Then there’s the kid. Kylie Price plays Grace, Wendy’s daughter. Child actors in holiday movies can be hit or miss—sometimes they’re a bit too "rehearsed." Price, however, does a solid job of being the emotional anchor. She’s the reason Wendy is fighting so hard.
Let's not forget the veteran presence of Michael Durrell. He plays Harvey, the old-school Santa who gets unceremoniously dumped by Ashanti’s character. Durrell is one of those "I know that guy" actors. He was in V, Beverly Hills, 90210, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Having a seasoned pro like him play the "displaced spirit of Christmas" adds a layer of genuine pathos to the film. When he’s sad, you’re sad. That’s the power of a veteran character actor.
Why the Casting Works for the Brand
Lifetime knows their audience. When they put together the cast of Christmas in the City, they weren't just picking names out of a hat. They were looking for a specific blend of TV nostalgia and musical star power.
- Broad Appeal: Ashley Williams pulls in the sitcom and rom-com crowd.
- Star Power: Ashanti brings in a younger or more music-focused demographic who might not usually watch a Lifetime movie.
- Reliability: Supporting actors like Jon Prescott and Michael Durrell ensure the scenes move smoothly without any "stiff" acting moments.
It’s a formula. But it’s a formula that works because these actors treat the material with respect. They aren't "acting down" to the script. They play it straight, which is why the movie has remained in the rotation for over a decade.
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The Director’s Vision: Marita Grabiak
Behind the camera was Marita Grabiak. While she isn't part of the "cast," her influence on the performances is huge. Grabiak is a prolific TV director with credits on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Dawson's Creek. She knows how to handle ensemble casts. In Christmas in the City, she ensures that even the minor employees at Wolmans feel like real people with stakes in the story. This prevents the movie from feeling like it's just two people talking in a vacuum.
Behind the Scenes Tidbits
Most people don't realize that holiday movies like this are often filmed in the blistering heat of summer or the dead of spring. The cast of Christmas in the City had to wear heavy coats and scarves while pretending to be freezing in New York, even though much of the production was handled on sets and locations that weren't always in the Big Apple.
Ashanti has mentioned in interviews that playing the "mean girl" was actually a blast. It’s a departure from her real-life persona, which is famously sweet. That disconnect—the friendly pop star playing the ruthless consultant—is part of what makes the movie's "villain" scenes so watchable. You can tell she's having fun with the sharp dialogue and the over-the-top fashion.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re sitting down to watch it this year, pay attention to the chemistry between the "store family." The movie succeeds because the cast of Christmas in the City feels like a cohesive unit. Even when the plot gets predictable—and let’s be honest, you know exactly how it’s going to end—the charisma of the leads keeps you from changing the channel.
- Look for the cameos: Several veteran TV faces pop up in minor roles as customers or corporate lackeys.
- The Wardrobe: Teanna’s (Ashanti) outfits are a character in themselves. They contrast sharply with Wendy’s (Williams) modest, colorful "candy shop" aesthetic.
- The Music: Given Ashanti’s involvement, the soundtrack carries a bit more weight than your average low-budget holiday flick.
Practical Steps for Movie Lovers
If you've enjoyed the performances in this film, there are a few ways to dive deeper into the work of this specific group of actors.
- Follow Ashley Williams on social media: she is incredibly vocal about the "behind the scenes" reality of making these movies and often shares hilarious stories about the logistics of fake snow and holiday filming schedules.
- Check out "The Sister Series": Ashley and her sister Kimberly Williams-Paisley have actually starred in "Two Tickets to Paradise" and other projects together. Their dynamic is great.
- Stream Ashanti’s Discography: If you only know her as the mean boss from this movie, go back to her 2002 self-titled album. It's a classic for a reason.
- Look for Jon Prescott in "The Holiday": He has a small role in the 2006 Cameron Diaz/Kate Winslet film. It’s fun to see him in a big-budget theatrical holiday movie versus a TV one.
The cast of Christmas in the City represents a very specific niche of entertainment. It’s dependable. It’s comforting. It’s like a warm blanket. Whether it's the charm of Ashley Williams or the surprising villainous turn by Ashanti, the actors are the reason this movie didn't just disappear into the archives of forgotten cable specials. They gave it a heart, and in the world of holiday movies, heart is the only currency that really matters.