If you watched Hulu’s Find Me in Paris or Family Channel’s The Next Step, Jessica Lord is probably a familiar face as she danced and (in the case of Paris) time-traveled her way across your television screen. For the rest of us, she is a brilliant and fresh talent about to entertain and delight audiences in the Hallmark holiday movie Christmas in the Spotlight, debuting on Lifetime TV on November 23.
In Christmas in the Spotlight, Jessica plays Bowyn, the world’s biggest pop star (known for writing songs about her break-ups), as she prepares to solo a holiday season only to be tackled by love when she meets Drew (Laith Wallschleger), a football star from a boisterous, close-knit family. Hmmm…
Geek Girl Authority caught up with Jessica Lord via Zoom from her home in Los Angeles to discuss the experience.
The following transcript has been edited for clarity.
The Last One to the Party
Diana Keng: Christmas in the Spotlight is such a fun holiday romp. With the love story clearly inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kence, how did you feel about the final product?
Jessica Lord: I haven’t watched it. Which is so crazy because everyone else is watching it, and I haven’t! The reason is because my mum and dad are coming to town next weekend and I don’t want to watch it on my own. I want to watch it with them because they’ve been my biggest fans and supporters.
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This is a big moment in my career. It’s my first lead of a film. Even Laith [Wallschleger] and his wife reached out to let me know that they love the film and we did a great job and I haven’t even seen it!
Falling in Love With Bowyn
DK: What was your initial impression upon reading the script?
JL: As soon as I read it, I remember [thinking], “This is SO fun. It’s so feel-good.” I immediately fell in love with Bowyn. I felt like I could immediately connect with the person she is. I’ve been a dancer since I was four, so I love performing. She aspires to inspire others. She loves her non-profit work. That’s really important to me as well.
[Then there’s] her love for people, life, what she does, her focus on her career… I was like, “Wow, this feels like me.” It was fun reading the script. I love the comedic aspects of it. When I met the producers on Zoom, their energy was so refreshing. It was exciting knowing I could potentially work with this team of strong women.
DK: Did you do your own singing?
JL: No, I wish! Unfortunately, they’d already pre-recorded all the music before they cast me. They didn’t know if I could sing because they didn’t need that. Some of the scenes, like the one where she’s creating music, is actually me playing and singing. I was like, “Can I go into the recording studio and do it? Cause I wanna do it!” So, no, it’s not me, unfortunately, but it was so fun miming everything.
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Christmas in the Spotlight
DK: What do you think about relationships that have so much attention on them? What do you think the pressures are for those people involved?
JL: When it’s something that’s in the limelight, you are getting the opinions of the press and the paparazzi that are constantly wanting to capture moments and get information, but also fans, right? I think it’s hard to navigate when the outside world is speaking on a personal relationship. That must be so challenging.
There are “What ifs” in a relationship without that added aspect, so when the rest of the world comments on your relationship, it can be overwhelming. It takes strong people to know how to find that balance of what they’re going to keep private and what they’re going to share with the world. That’s something Bowyn and Drew really try [to do].
Haters Gonna Hate
DK: What do you think Bowyn would say if given the chance to address the press who make flippant, cruel remarks about her life?
JL: It’s hard because people are entitled to their opinions. It is really difficult when you don’t know someone on a personal level, especially when you’re seeing someone in a specific light. You don’t know what happens behind closed doors. You don’t know their journey to get there, or if you do, you might not be tapped into that because you’re just focusing on what is right in front of you.
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Bowyn is such a strong woman, but she’s also very kind and giving and leads with her heart. So, if anything, she’s probably so used to people commenting on her life because she does have a past of different relationships — maybe not necessarily one that was so much in the limelight as Drew. I feel like she’d leave these people to say what they need to say.
At the end of the day, she knows her truth. It’s between her and Drew as long as they’re okay. For Bowyn, it’s hard to hear those things on TV, but she’s more concerned about Drew. I don’t know if she would address it or if she would have anything to say. She would probably stand up for her and Drew, but I don’t feel like she’d explain or fight for herself.
Family Is the Heart of Christmas in the Spotlight
DK: What are your thoughts on the contrast between Drew’s large and boisterous family and Bowyn’s relative isolation?
JL: That’s something that draws Bowyn to Drew and his family. Right away, when she meets Drew, he’s with his niece [Aileen (Madeleine Cox)]. That’s something she’s always lacked and makes her very strong and independent because she has had to go through these things in her life on her own and fight her own battles. I think that that is something she loves about Drew, that the family aspect comes with [the relationship].
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But it’s overwhelming for her. She doesn’t understand at the beginning why he can’t keep it to himself because, reversing it, I, in real life, am really, really close with my family. I would find it difficult to keep something like that to myself so I, as Jessica, could understand where Drew was coming from. But I don’t think Bowyn could fully relate to that. That was where the challenges would come in. Ultimately, it’s what brings Bowyn and Drew even closer. She loves his family. They’re so lovely and endearing; it’s kinda hard not to. That Thanksgiving moment changes everything.
Pure Passion
DK: Since you were a dancer and performer from a young age, what was it like playing the role of a pop star performing on stage and making music videos?
JL: It’s like a dream of mine to combine my biggest passions — dance, acting and music. I don’t think they realized how much of a trained and professional dancer I was. To bring that to the role and elevate the role even more than they were expecting with the performance aspect was so much fun. It’s funny because even when we were on set and in the scene when I run out, and I’m like, “WHAAAAT’S UP!” to the crowd as if there’s thousands and thousands of people there — we were obviously in a studio on a set.
It felt so natural for me to just run out there. I didn’t hesitate. It felt good because I was so connected with the character. I do a lot of work beforehand to understand what that feeling might be like so that when I am on set, I can really resemble that. I love performing. It’s what drew me to dancing. My favorite part about dancing was being on stage. Even though I wasn’t on an actual stage in front of thousands of people, it was really fun.
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I had a really good time working with the dancers and the choreographer and being able to put my own creativity into it as well ’cause I’m 99 percent sure that it was me that [suggested], “I feel like she would call ‘Cut!’ because it’s her music video and she’s the artist. She’s probably directing her own music video on the shoot, wanting to have that creative control.” It was cool.
Michelle [Ouellet], Stephanie [Slack] and Margret [H. Huddleston] were very collaborative, too. Especially when it came to the performance stuff, they knew how much I loved that and how much it meant to me. So, we got to collaborate in those moments. I’m grateful for having that opportunity and being able to showcase those parts of myself.
Best Six Weeks Ever
DK: What was the timeline of this production?
JL: I found out I was going to be in a producers’ session on a Wednesday or Thursday, and they’re like, “You’re going to be in a producers’ session on Tuesday.” I didn’t even have the initial audition. Normally, you do a self-tape. You might get a callback and then go to producers or something like that. I went straight to the producers on Tuesday. I found out I booked it on the Friday. And flew out to Canada the next week! [laughs]
I had a fitting and started filming. The choreography and all of that was within the same time frame. I would do that on the weekends. I had a couple days off when they were doing all the football stuff. Those were the days I was in the dance studio learning the dances and working with the dancers. They were so great.
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Anytime I’d be done on set, I would be in the gym in my building practicing because I wanted it to look as believable as possible. I’m such a perfectionist. Then, in my free time, I would be learning the songs. I learned the guitar chords so I could play in that scene at the end. We were filming for four weeks. Altogether, booking it and wrapping was about six weeks, which is nuts. It happened really quickly, but I enjoyed every single moment.
Back on Home Ground
JL: I also grew up in Toronto. Born in the UK; grew up in Toronto. Now, my mum, dad and brother live in Vancouver, but all the girls I grew up with — my roommates from college, the girls I danced with, my high school friends — still live in Toronto. And I got to celebrate my birthday while I was there. They made it so special for me on set on my birthday.
It was such a lovely experience. Honestly, probably one of the best experiences I’ve had on a set. The vibes on set were always positive. Everyone was uplifting each other. Having fun. Laughing. All the cast were lovely to work with. Laith was such a treat to work with. Jeannie [Mai Jenkins] was amazing. We had the best time. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re having that much fun, you know?
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DK: What’s next for you?
JL: I’m hoping to make my directing debut very soon. Also, this project has inspired me to get back into music. I used to play guitar and sing when I was younger, so I’m back in the studio, creating some stuff. It’s a bit of a passion project. I’m excited to see what the future holds, but I love being on set. And I love working. I love performing. So, any opportunity to do that I’m grateful for.
From T-Swizzle to the Princess of Pop
DK: Do you have a dream role?
JL: That’s so hard to say. Margot Robbie is a huge idol of mine and the same with Viola Davis. I love Viola Davis’s role in How to Get Away with Murder. She is such a complex character and brings so much raw authenticity. I’ve thought that I would love to play a character like that. This boss lawyer who is involved with crime has to manage all these people.
I also love biopics. That could be meaningful and impactful, telling someone’s real story. There are rumors that Britney Spears might be doing a biopic, and I’m like, “You know how cool that would be to play Britney Spears and bring her story to life?” She was a huge part of my childhood. I used to sing along to all her songs. I love dancing to her music. She’s such an idol.
Christmas in the Spotlight, starring Jessica Lord, premieres on Lifetime TV at 8/7c on November 23 and will be available to stream the next day.
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