By using our website, you agree to the use of our cookies.
Columns

TV Movie Goodness Interview: One Starry Christmas’s Sarah Carter [Exclusive] 

Photo Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/ Crown Media United States, LLC
Photo Credit: Christos Kalohoridis/ Crown Media United States, LLC

[Warning: Includes minor film spoilers and comments on next season of Falling Skies.]

Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries dive headlong into Christmas this weekend with the launch of their nonstop festive film season. First out of the gate for Hallmark Channel, on a Countdown to Christmas slate that will premiere a dozen new holiday movies, is One Starry Christmas, which follows a young woman about to embark on her dream career in astronomy who realizes maybe the dream guy in the picture isn’t as perfect for her as the dream guy she just met.

We had the chance to interview the film’s star, Sarah Carter, over e-mail, about the movie and wrapping up Falling Skies. A lot of viewers know Carter best from her role as the fierce resistance soldier Maggie on that TNT series, but she’s been around for a good while. I started watching her way back on The WB’s one-and-done Black Sash–opposite Rookie Blue‘s Missy Peregrym and Cedar Cove‘s Corey Sevier. She’s worked consistently across film and TV ever since, but One Starry Christmas is her first Hallmark project, and her first holiday film.

“I’d never done a Christmas movie. The script was sweet, which was a welcome change from most of the work I’ve done in the past [five] years,” she explains. “I was a bit surprised I was offered the role, to be honest, but when I was, I thought it might be a fun opportunity to test out my softer side. I hope everyone enjoys the film as much as we enjoyed making it.”

Photo Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg/ Crown Media United States, LLC
Photo Credit: Ben Mark Holzberg/ Crown Media United States, LLC

Holly is definitely a softer, and if you will, “girlier” character than Maggie. We see Carter in full makeup, with curled hair and a fancy dress and high heels, and it’s a little jarring. She says she enjoyed the switch with Holly, and she loves Maggie, too. “Play[ing] Holly was a lot easier, for sure, and it was certainly fun to smile in every scene,” she points out. “[But] I have to say, I’ve enjoyed swimming in deeper waters with Maggie.”

It’s the nature of the beast that holiday movies rarely shoot during the holidays, and Carter says she tapped into the childlike wonder of the season. Her favorite memory of the film came during one of the scenes on the bus. “The best moment was waking up on the bus squished beside a huge cowboy and his saddle,” she says. “I loved imagining what that would really be like and that it’s something I could totally see happening to me.”

We caught up with Carter while she’s shooting the fifth and final season of Falling Skies, and it’s the longest amount of time that she’s spent breathing life into one character. Wrapping up that relationship is bittersweet. “It’s so sad to say goodbye to Maggie. We’ve had an awesome journey together. She’s taught me a lot about the human heart and it’s strength, which has actually been valuable in my personal life,” she says.

“I want to leave Maggie with her heart open at the end of the series, which I think the writers are on board to do. We’re in the middle of shooting season [five] right now, and although it’s complicated for her at the moment, it seems she’ll prevail a warrior with a deeply loving heart.”

Photo Credit: James Dittiger/TNT
Photo Credit: James Dittiger/TNT

Outside of acting, Carter is a musician with her band, SanguinDrake, and she says they’re equally important to her. “I need both acting and music. They come from different places and reach people in different ways. I value both,” she says. “I guess the truth is, acting puts food on my table and a roof over my head, music feeds my soul and blows my heart and mind to the stars…I’m grateful to have success in both.”

One Starry Christmas premieres Saturday night at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel and repeats throughout the holiday season.

Here is a sneak peek:

Related posts

16 Comments

  1. Ronda Pelkey

    Can you please tell me who makes the red and blue pom pom hates Sarah wears in the movie and where I can purchase one? Thanks!

    1. Heather M

      Hi Ronda,

      We’re not directly affiliated with the network. I’d suggest you Tweet your question to them at @hallmarkchannel or contact them here: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/faq.

      Good luck!

    2. Michelle Streeter

      Did you ever find out where the Pom Pom hats are from?

      1. Heather M

        Hi Michelle. Please see my earlier replies about contacting Hallmark. We are not affiliated with the network. Thanks for reading!

      2. kelly

        I emailed Hallmark Channel but did not receive a response. If someone finds the poem hats please let me know!

        1. Heather M

          Try them on Twitter as well.

          According to IMdB, the costume designer was Bernadette Croft. She is a member (http://www.caftcad.com/member-list/) of the trade group CAFTCAD. You can reach out to them and see if they can put her in touch with you. http://www.caftcad.com/contact/

          Good luck!

          This one looks close but it’s only in white: http://www.nastygal.com/cold-weather-shop/pom-needer-beanie

          1. kelly

            Thanks! Loved the movie and the fashion!

  2. kelly

    Yes please tell me where I can buy those prom hats! Thank you

    1. Heather M

      Hi Kelly. Please see response above to Ronda on tips for tracking that down. Thanks for reading!

  3. Barbi

    This movie is awesome! The characters were great! Such a sweet love story. The two Cowboys were just adorable too. And the jerky lawyer, well, he’s a jerk. Can’t compete with a real man. I know… I married a real man…..stole my heart from day 1 🙂

  4. Jeanette Moore

    I am looking for the blue coat Holly wore to go Christmas shopping, skating, and riding. I will hand knit the scarf and hat to match if I can ever find the coat.

    1. Heather M

      Hi Jeanette – I’d suggest Tweeting the Q to Sarah on Twitter. She might be able to point you to the (likely Canadian) retailer.

  5. Sarah

    Does anyone know what purse Holly (Sarah Carter) has in this movie? I have loved it since I first saw the movie last year and haven’t had any luck searching the web for the brand name, style, or where I can find it!

  6. Bristol

    I am looking for the song that plays at the Christmas Eve party after Holly gets engaged. The lyrics are “snow is falling lightly on the ground, people smiling, love is all around, theres a feeling in the air tonight.”
    If you could help me out, I’d really appreciate it.

    1. Sally

      Christmas Once Again by Kenny Munshaw

  7. lucien schoenecker

    this is a wonderfull Christmas movie….I liked it so much… Please, can i know the tittle of the song about wild Bill fairy tale? and the name of the singer ?

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.