Kim Matula thrilled to be making her Hallmark debut

Kim Matula is thrilled to be making her Hallmark debut in the Countdown to Christmas movie Ghosts of Christmas Always

Soap star Kim Matula will make her Hallmark debut in the new movie Ghosts of Christmas Always. In an exclusive interview with TV Cheddar, the Emmy-nominated actress said she is thrilled to be part of the Countdown to Christmas lineup.

“Hallmark movies are so beloved!” she said. “I’m thrilled to finally be in one. To quote my aunt, an avid Hallmark movie viewer, ‘There’s no nasty language and people are just nice.’ It’s hard to be inundated daily with the tragedies of the world. These films are a reminder that not everything has to be so dark. These movies fill you with cheer and immediately make you feel cozy.”

Hallmark debut

In Ghosts of Christmas Always, Matula plays Katherine, who works for the Department of Restoring Christmas Spirit as a Ghost of Christmas Present.

According to a synopsis from Hallmark, “Katherine loves her job, visiting Earth every Christmas to help one unsuspecting soul rediscover their Christmas spirit. But this year has something unusual in store for her. Along with her co-workers, Ghost of Christmas Past Arlene (Tan Chinn) and Ghost of Christmas Future Roy (VelJohnson), their assignment is a man named Peter (Ian Harding). They’re not sure why they’ve been assigned to him because, unlike their typical cases, Peter’s Christmas spirit is on point. When it appears that Katherine and Peter just might be fated for each other, their assignment starts to head down an unusual path toward none of them could have expected.”

Kim Matula

Kim Matula is best known for playing Hope Logan on the hit soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. In 2014, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the series.

Matula has appeared in the movies Spilt Milk, Dawn Patrol, and Fighting With My Family. She has also appeared on the TV shows Leverage: Redemption, Impeachment: American Crime Story, and The Sex Life of College Girls. She recently finished filming Tapawingo, a comedy featuring Billy Zane, Jon Heder, Gina Gershon, and John Ratzenberger.

In an exclusive interview with TV Cheddar, Matula talked about her work, her passion for advocacy, and what it was like to make her first Hallmark movie.

TVC: You were on The Bold and the Beautiful for six years and you were even nominated for an Emmy for your portrayal of Hope Logan. What did working on a soap opera teach you, both about acting and about show business?

Kim Matula: Working on B&B was such a wonderful introduction into the world of acting. It provided so much. The best thing I got from it though is after seeing myself on screen day after day, I learned what I needed to work on as an actor. Sometimes what I’d be feeling inside, wouldn’t translate onto the screen the way I thought it would. Particularly feelings of anger. I remember seeing an episode pretty early on where I had to be really angry and it just did not translate! I was shocked. It was a wake-up call that I guess I suppress those feelings! So, it was all a big learning process and a great way to hone my acting skills.

TVC: Your social media accounts show that you are a passionate advocate for animal welfare and the Black Lives Matter movement. Why is advocacy so important to you?

Kim Matula: I am a huge advocate for everyone being treated with dignity and respect. No one is better than anyone else. We all have families and friends that we love more than anything and the grief we feel when a loved one is taken, is the same grief. It’s deep and it lasts forever. I often look around and am so disheartened by the world. To ignore the realities of the lives around us that are brutally kept at a disadvantage, especially so the lives of a select few can be propped up, is not a reality I can accept. We have to be a more empathetic society.

TVC: You have tackled some serious material in your career as an actress, from your work on The Bold and the Beautiful to your work on 9-1-1 Lone Star. But in the film Tapawingo — and on your social media feed — you prove you are a skilled comedienne. What was it like putting those skills to use with some of the best in the business?

Kim Matula: Comedy has always been my first love. The decision to leave Bold was not easy but ultimately I did it so I could pursue comedy. And I’ve been very fortunate to have gotten to explore and play on comedies like LA to Vegas and Tapawingo. And even a little bit in Ghosts of Christmas Always! Having other skilled comedians to work off of truly brings me a sense of joy that can be hard to find.

TVC: Hallmark Christmas movies have become an institution. They are watched by audiences around the world and have inspired many imitations. Why do you think people find these stories so compelling? Was there anything that surprised you about working on a Hallmark movie?

Kim Matula: Hallmark movies are so beloved! I’m thrilled to finally be in one. To quote my aunt, an avid Hallmark movie viewer, “There’s no nasty language and people are just nice.” It’s hard to be inundated daily with the tragedies of the world. These films are a reminder that not everything has to be so dark. These movies fill you with cheer and immediately make you feel cozy.

TVC: Is there any particular message you hope audiences take away from Ghosts of Christmas Always?

Kim Matula: I think a good takeaway from this movie is that love can present itself at any time and in many different ways. Especially when you least expect it. Sometimes you just have to loosen the reins and let life come to you. It can surprise you in all sorts of beautiful ways.

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