Honestly, if you've spent any time scrolling through the Hallmark Channel during the "Countdown to Christmas" marathon, you've definitely seen her. LeAnn Rimes. She isn't just a cameo or a background singer here; she is the literal engine of the 2018 movie It's Christmas Eve. Most people search for the It's Christmas Eve cast because they recognize a face but can't quite place the name, or they're wondering if that guy from Revenge is actually the love interest.
He is.
It’s a specific kind of holiday magic. You know the vibe. Small-town budget cuts, a school music program on the chopping block, and a high-powered interim school superintendent who has to decide between the bottom line and the "heart" of the town. It’s formulaic, sure, but the chemistry in this specific lineup is why people keep coming back to it every December.
The Powerhouse Duo: LeAnn Rimes and Tyler Hynes
Let's talk about LeAnn Rimes first. She plays Eve Morgan.
Rimes wasn't just acting here; she was an executive producer. That matters. It’s why the movie feels like a massive music video at times, featuring her original songs like "It's Christmas Eve" and "You and Me and Christmas." She brings a sort of polished, slightly weary energy to Eve, a woman who has spent her life moving from city to city fixing broken school budgets. She’s the "Grinch" with a spreadsheet, at least initially.
Then there's Tyler Hynes.
If you're a Hallmark devotee, Hynes is basically royalty. In It's Christmas Eve, he plays Liam Westin, the single dad and music teacher who—shocker—challenges Eve’s cold, hard numbers with the power of song. Hynes has this specific way of acting where he feels like a real person who just happened to wander onto a movie set. He's understated. He doesn't do the over-the-top "jolly" acting that ruins some of these films. He’s the grounding force.
When you look at the It's Christmas Eve cast, the sparks between Rimes and Hynes are the only reason the "will they, won't they" trope actually works. They don't feel like cardboard cutouts.
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Why the Supporting Players Actually Matter
A movie about a school music program lives or dies by its kids and its mentors.
Gwynyth Walsh plays Nell, Eve's mother. You might recognize Walsh from Star Trek: The Next Generation (she was B'Etor!) or a dozen other TV movies. She provides the emotional tether that keeps Eve in town. Then you have Eden Summer Gilmore, who plays Liam’s daughter, Abby. Child actors in holiday movies can be hit or miss—sometimes they’re written to be way too precocious—but Gilmore plays it sweet without being grating.
There's also Antonio Cayonne, who plays Ray. He’s a staple in the Vancouver filming scene. He brings a warmth to the "best friend" archetype that often gets overlooked in these reviews.
Beyond the Names: The Musical Identity of the Cast
This isn't your average "town saves the gazebo" plot. Well, it is, but with a recording studio.
Because LeAnn Rimes is the lead, the music isn't just background noise. The cast had to lean into the "performance" aspect of the film. Most Hallmark movies use generic royalty-free jingles. This one used a full soundtrack that Rimes actually released as an album.
The plot revolves around a website Liam sets up to crowdfund the music program. It feels very 2018. It’s a snapshot of a time when "viral videos" were the solution to every narrative problem in cinema. But watching the cast interact during the tree lighting ceremony or the final performance—there’s a genuine sense of community that the director, Tibor Takács, managed to squeeze out of a tight shooting schedule. Takács is an interesting choice for a movie like this, by the way. He’s the guy who directed The Gate (1987), a cult classic horror movie. Going from demons in the backyard to LeAnn Rimes singing about mistletoe is quite the career pivot.
The Full Roster: Who’s Who?
If you're looking for the complete list of who showed up in Franklin Park (the fictional town), here is the breakdown of the primary players:
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Eve Morgan is played by LeAnn Rimes. She’s the lead, the singer, and the person everyone is either mad at or falling in love with. Liam Westin is Tyler Hynes, the guy with the guitar and the heart of gold. Nell is played by Gwynyth Walsh, providing the "mom wisdom" that every Hallmark lead desperately needs. Abby Westin is Eden Summer Gilmore.
The secondary staff and townsfolk include:
- Antonio Cayonne as Ray
- Giles Panton as Brad (The "other guy" who is usually just there to be not-as-good-as-the-lead)
- Josh Henderson (Wait, no, that’s a different movie—people often confuse this with The Christmas Card or other Rimes projects, but stick to the Vancouver regulars like Panton here)
- Lara Gilchrist as Kelly
It’s a tight-knit group. Most of these actors have worked together on other projects in the "B.C. Hollywood" circuit. This familiarity helps. They don't look like strangers meeting for the first time on a soundstage; they look like people who actually live in a town where it snows perfectly on cue.
The Significance of Location and Casting Synergy
Did you know the movie wasn't filmed in a place called Franklin Park?
Standard industry practice: it was filmed in British Columbia, Canada. Specifically around Burnaby and Abbotsford. The It's Christmas Eve cast had to deal with the classic "fake snow in October" struggle.
The casting of Rimes was a strategic move by Hallmark to bridge the gap between their traditional audience and the country music fan base. It worked. The movie was one of the highest-rated premieres of its season. When you have a cast led by a multi-Grammy winner, you aren't just selling a story; you're selling a concert.
Misconceptions About the Movie
A lot of people get the title mixed up with Christmas Eve, the 2015 movie starring Patrick Stewart.
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That is a very different vibe.
In the 2015 film, people are trapped in elevators. In the 2018 It's Christmas Eve, people are "trapped" in their own emotional barriers until a blonde lady sings them into submission. It’s important to make that distinction when you're looking up the cast list, or you’re going to be very confused why Captain Picard isn't showing up to help LeAnn Rimes with her budget spreadsheets.
Behind the Scenes: The Directorial Influence
Tibor Takács is a name that pops up a lot in Canadian-filmed TV movies.
His presence in the It's Christmas Eve cast credits is vital. He knows how to move a camera in a way that makes a small budget look like a big one. He focuses on the faces. In a movie where "the spark" is everything, the close-ups on Rimes and Hynes during the piano scenes are what sell the romance.
The chemistry wasn't just luck. Hynes is known for being a very generous acting partner. In interviews, Rimes has mentioned how he helped her navigate the quicker pace of TV movie acting compared to the slower world of music videos or feature films.
Key Takeaways from the Casting Choices
- LeAnn Rimes brought the star power and the original soundtrack.
- Tyler Hynes provided the "Hallmark Hunk" credibility that ensures the core audience stays tuned in.
- Gwynyth Walsh added a layer of veteran acting gravitas.
- The Vancouver Casting Pool ensured the supporting roles felt lived-in and professional.
If you’re watching this for the first time—or the tenth—keep an eye on the background characters. Many of them are mainstays in the Hallmark cinematic universe. You'll see "Ray" or "Kelly" popping up in bakery shops or law firms in five other movies this season.
How to Enjoy the Performance
If you really want to appreciate what this cast did, you have to listen to the lyrics of the songs Eve is writing throughout the film. They aren't just random carols. They mirror her character arc. From "It's Christmas Eve" representing her hesitation to "You and Me and Christmas" representing her acceptance of the town (and Liam), the music is the dialogue Eve can't quite say out loud.
The It's Christmas Eve cast succeeded because they didn't wink at the camera. They played the "budget cuts vs. music" drama with straight faces and genuine emotion.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Soundtrack: Since the cast features a major recording artist, don't just watch the movie. Look up the It's Christmas Eve album. It includes the full versions of the songs you hear chopped up in the film.
- Follow Tyler Hynes on Social Media: If you liked his performance, he is one of the most active Hallmark stars on Instagram. He often shares behind-the-scenes "bootleg" footage from the sets of his movies.
- Verify the Schedule: Hallmark often moves these movies to their "Hallmark Movies Now" streaming service or the "Hallmark Family" channel after the main December rush. Check your local listings or the app if you missed the live broadcast.
- Compare Performances: Watch Tyler Hynes in Three Wise Men and a Baby right after this. It’s wild to see the range he has within the constraints of the holiday genre.
The movie remains a staple because it balances the gloss of a pop star lead with the grounded, "boyfriend" energy of a Hallmark veteran. It’s a specific alchemy. It’s why, years later, people are still searching for the names behind the faces in Franklin Park.