Stephen Huszar has quickly become a favorite among Hallmark Channel fans. The star of the Ruby Herring Mysteries (on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) and last year’s Return to Christmas Creek with Tori Anderson and Steven Weber, Huszar is quickly climbing the ranks of favorite leading men on Hallmark’s various channels.
This season, Huszar stars with Laura Osnes in A Homecoming for the Holidays about a military veteran who falls for a singer.
Parade.com sat down with Huszar to chat about his movies and his Christmas favorites.
You’ve done several Christmas movies (Christmas Wedding Planner with Jocelyn Hudon was favorite of mine!), what keeps you coming back for more?
I’m glad you liked Christmas Wedding Planner, we sure had fun filming that one! Well, I really enjoy making people laugh and I love Christmas, so when there’s an opportunity for comedy in a Christmas story, I get pretty excited about it!
Related: The Best New-ish Christmas Songs to Add to Your Playlist This Year
What does Christmas mean to you?
First and foremost, it’s a time for family. It’s also a time for reflection, gratitude and sharing. It’s that rare time of year when our hearts guide us, which brings us closer together.
I see you’re in another Christmas movie this season called Mistletoe Magic. Will that air in the U.S.?
You did your research! Yes, it’s a hilarious romantic comedy about reunited friends on a hunt to find a lost mistletoe before Christmas, starring the amazing Jessica Sipos. We’re still waiting for confirmation of U.S. airdates. At this point, we do know it is playing on Super Channel in Canada.
Related: The 60 Absolute Best Christmas Movies to Watch This Year
In A Homecoming for the Holidays, you play an ex-soldier who is working to help other vets in his community. Did you draw on any personal experiences for this role? Did you meet any vets during filming or research for the role?
I had played a sergeant in a show call Fringe, which was helpful in preparing for this role. I also spoke to vets before we started filming to get a sense of what their life was like after serving. In A Homecoming for the Holidays, the writers incorporated a real organization called Operation Homefront into the story. It’s a respected national charity that provides housing and living assistance to military families, so they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect, which I thought was a beautiful touch to our film.
You’ve starred in two Ruby Herring mysteries so far—can #Sleuthers expect more?
We did hear that more episodes are being written, so we’re hopeful that will translate into more movies to come in this series!
What do you like about the Hallmark mystery movies vs. the straight Hallmark Channel romances like My One and Only?
Mysteries are kind of fun because it allows for the audience to engage with the story a little bit more as they try to solve the mystery with us. Many of the cast did a live tweet during the U.S. premieres of Ruby Herring, which is fun for us to see how the audience reacts. I’m also partial to romantic comedies. Sometimes there’s nothing better than watching a Hallmark Channel romance, where the audience can get lost in heartfelt stories. My One and Only (also starring Pascale Hutton and Sam Page) was definitely one of my mom’s favorites!
Related: All the Hallmark Christmas Movies To Watch This Year
What type of holiday cookie would you definitely bake every season?
Gingerbread cookies.
Do you prefer white or colored lights?
Colored!
Would you rather have a real or artificial tree?
Real.
Did you have a favorite present you received as a child?
Smurfs.
What was the worst present you ever received?
Winter gloves that didn’t fit.
Was there something you really wanted as a kid (or as an adult) that you never received?
A ride in Santa’s sleigh as he dropped off presents around the world.
Is there a holiday movie you can watch over and over again?
The Polar Express.
What one thing are you most grateful for this holiday season?
Spending it with my mom and sister.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?
To me, the best gift is to be with family, so it was flying my family out to meet me when I was working abroad.
What song is definitely on your holiday playlist?
“Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.
Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Eve.
Do you have any family holiday tradition(s)?
Goose dinner, opening presents by the fireplace, then watching The Polar Express!
If you had to choose—hot chocolate, egg nog, or mulled cider?
Egg Nog.
Do you prefer a California Christmas (sun and sand) or a Canadian Christmas (snowy drifts and fire on the hearth)?
Snow drifts all the way! To me, it’s not Christmas without the snow.
Would you rather participate in a snowball fight or would you prefer making snowmen/snow angels?
Snow angels.
Do you have a favorite ornament? Family ornament?
My sister loves horses, so we have a lot of horse ornaments decorating our tree!
Enjoy a first look from A Homecoming for the Holidays below. A Homecoming for the Holidays premieres Saturday, December 7 at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Return to Christmas Creek will re-air on Monday, December 2 at 3 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.
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