You know that feeling when you're flipping through the Hallmark Channel in December and you stumble upon a town that looks entirely too perfect to be real? That’s Homestead. It’s the fictional Iowa town where the 2016 holiday hit Christmas in Homestead takes place. Honestly, the movie works so well not just because of the fake snow and the cozy sweaters, but because of the specific chemistry of the Christmas in Homestead movie cast. It's one of those rare instances where a superstar-meets-small-town-guy trope doesn't feel completely exhausting.
The movie follows Jessica McEllis, one of the world's most famous actresses, who heads to Homestead to shoot a period film during the holidays. She’s a "it girl" dealing with the usual paparazzi nonsense when she runs into Matt, a local innkeeper and a single dad who is also—conveniently—the mayor. You’ve seen the plot before, sure. But the actors actually sell it.
The Leading Lady: Taylor Cole as Jessica McEllis
Taylor Cole isn't just another face in the Hallmark rotation; she’s basically royalty in this genre. In Christmas in Homestead, she plays Jessica. She brings this weirdly relatable vulnerability to a character who is supposed to be an untouchable Hollywood elite. Cole has a background that explains why she's so good at this. Before she was a holiday movie staple, she was a recurring powerhouse on CSI: Miami and played Rachel Hurst on The Originals.
What's cool about her performance here is how she handles the "fish out of water" aspect. It’s not played for cheap laughs. Instead, Cole portrays Jessica as someone genuinely tired of the artifice of her real life. If you look at her filmography, she often plays these high-achieving women who just need to breathe. Think about her roles in Ruby Herring Mysteries or One Winter Weekend. She has this specific way of smiling that makes you think she actually likes the small-town life she’s being "forced" to endure in the script.
Michael Rady: The Mayor with the Heart of Gold
Then we have Michael Rady playing Matt Larson. He’s the innkeeper. He’s the mayor. He’s a widower. Honestly, he’s doing a lot.
Rady is one of those actors you recognize from a dozen different places but maybe can't always name immediately. He was Kostas in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants—yeah, the guy who broke Lena's heart in Greece. He’s also been in Timeless and Greek. In the Christmas in Homestead movie cast, he functions as the grounding force. While Jessica is all glitz and "let me check with my publicist," Matt is dealing with a town that expects him to be everything to everyone.
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The chemistry between Rady and Cole is the reason people still re-watch this movie nearly a decade after it premiered. It’s subtle. They don't just fall in love over a single cup of cocoa; it feels like they’re actually talking. Rady has this "guy next door" energy that feels earned. He’s not a caricature of a small-town man. He’s just a tired dad.
The Supporting Players Who Make Homestead Feel Real
A movie like this lives or dies by its supporting cast. If the townspeople feel like cardboard cutouts, the whole thing falls apart.
Brooklyn Rae Silzer as Sophie
Sophie is Matt’s daughter. Usually, kids in holiday movies are either way too precocious or just there to be cute. Brooklyn Rae Silzer actually acts. She was a regular on General Hospital (she played Emma Scorpio-Drake), so she knows how to handle a camera. In Christmas in Homestead, she provides the emotional bridge between the two leads. She’s the one who isn't intimidated by Jessica’s fame.
Jeff Branson as Vince
Every movie about a movie needs the "ex" or the "manager" or the "co-star" who complicates things. Jeff Branson plays Vince, Jessica's co-star and former flame. Branson is a veteran of the soap opera world, having spent significant time on The Young and the Restless and Guiding Light. He plays the "Hollywood guy" perfectly—a little bit arrogant, a little bit disconnected, but not a total villain. He represents the life Jessica is considering leaving behind.
Brandi Alexander as Zoe
Zoe is Jessica’s assistant, and honestly, she deserves a raise. Brandi Alexander plays her with a mix of efficiency and genuine care. You might recognize her from The 100 or Grand Central. In this film, she’s the one trying to manage the chaos of a film production in a town that barely has enough hotel rooms for the crew.
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Why This Specific Cast Works Better Than Others
Hallmark churns out dozens of movies every year. Many are forgettable. This one sticks because the Christmas in Homestead movie cast isn't playing "holiday characters"—they're playing people.
Take the scene where Jessica has to navigate a local festival. In a lesser movie, she’d be wearing heels and complaining about the cold. Here, Cole plays it with a sense of wonder. The casting directors, including people like Penny Perry, who has a massive history of finding the right faces for these "comfort" films, clearly looked for actors who could handle both the romantic comedy beats and the slightly more dramatic "single parent" subplots.
The movie was filmed in Dahlonega, Georgia, standing in for Iowa. The cast had to deal with shooting "winter" scenes in a place that wasn't actually that cold during production. You can't tell. That’s the pro-level acting of people like Michael Rady, who can look cozy in a heavy wool coat while probably sweating in the Georgia humidity.
The Deep Cuts: Smaller Roles You Might Have Missed
Look closely at the background and the secondary roles. You've got Katrina Norman playing Kristy, and Edward Gelhaus as the paparazzo, Ben. Ben is actually a vital part of the tension. In many holiday movies, the conflict is internal—someone is afraid to love again. Here, the conflict is external. The paparazzi represent the intrusion of the real world into the "bubble" of Homestead. Gelhaus plays Ben not as a monster, but as a guy just doing a job, which makes the stakes feel a bit more grounded.
Practical Insights for the Hallmark Superfan
If you're planning a re-watch or just getting into the Taylor Cole cinematic universe, here are a few things to keep in mind about the production:
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- Watch the background: The film production within the movie is called "Christmas on the Homestead." It’s meta. The cast is essentially acting like they are making the movie you are currently watching.
- Check the dates: This premiered in 2016. It was part of the "Countdown to Christmas" lineup.
- Follow the actors: Both Taylor Cole and Michael Rady are incredibly active on social media and frequently do "behind the scenes" throwbacks.
The Christmas in Homestead movie cast succeeded because they didn't wink at the camera. They treated the story of a movie star falling for a mayor with the same sincerity they’d give a prestige drama. That’s the secret sauce.
When you sit down to watch it, pay attention to the small interactions between Michael Rady and Brooklyn Rae Silzer. The father-daughter dynamic is actually the heartbeat of the film. Without that, Jessica’s choice at the end wouldn't have any weight. It’s a solid ensemble that understands exactly what kind of movie they are in, and they deliver it with zero irony.
To truly appreciate the performances, look for Taylor Cole’s other Hallmark work like Making Spirits Bright to see how she’s evolved her "leading lady" persona since 2016. Or, if you want more Michael Rady, his turn in A New Year's Resolution offers a similar charm but with a different romantic energy.
Keep an eye on the credits next time. Most of these actors have decades of experience in theater and television that they bring to these ninety-minute holiday escapes. It’s why Homestead feels like a place you actually want to visit, even if it only exists on a backlot and in your television screen.