Ali Sweeney plays a Jane Austen fan who comes face-to-face with her idol in the new movie Love and Jane. Not only does Sweeney get to meet Jane (played by Kendra Anderson), she gets help navigating a romance with Benjamin Ayres.
“I am beyond thrilled to share this movie with you all,” Sweeney wrote in an Instagram post. “I can’t thank you enough for being so supportive of me and these incredibly fun, dynamic and sometimes quirky characters I get to play. The role of Lily is so unique and special to me. I hope you love her as much as I do.”
New movie
In Love and Jane, Sweeney plays Lily, a woman who is so devoted to Jane Austen’s work that she runs a book club dedicated to discussing her work. When Jane Austen suddenly appears in her living room, Lily is shocked but soon turns to her idol for advice.
Jane helps her navigate a tricky situation at work and advises her not to ignore Trevor, the handsome tech billionaire (played by Ayres), she keeps running into.
As romance between Trevor and Lily grows, Lily becomes inspired to finish the novel she shelved years ago. But when Trevor makes a grand gesture that backfires, their love story may not get its happy ending.
Jane Austen
Hallmark announced late last year that all five new movies premiering during the month of February would have a Jane Austen theme.
“Jane Austen’s stories are timeless and continue to resonate with readers and viewers of all ages,” said Lisa Hamilton Daly, executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media. “Our movies will bring her beloved characters to life in fresh, new ways and honor the many women who continue to be inspired by them.”
The next film to premiere will be An American in Austen, starring Eliza Bennett, Nicholas Bishop, and Nell Barlow. In the movie, Bennett stars as a librarian who wonders if any man could ever live up to the romantic ideals set by Austen’s character Mr. Darcy. She gets to find out for herself when comes face to the face with him.
Finally, Hallmark will debut an adaptation of Sense & Sensibility. Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Bethany Antonia, Dan Jeannotte, and Akil Largie, the movie will be part of Hallmark’s Mahogany series.
Laura Vandervoort headlines new Hallmark movie Miracle in Bethlehem, PA
Benjamin Ayres and Laura Vandervoort will star in the new Hallmark movie Miracle in Bethlehem, PA. The film will premiere on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries as part of the network’s Miracles of Christmas lineup.
Ayres shared photos from the set of the movie on his Instagram page. He called the film “beautiful, touching, and very funny.”
New Hallmark movie
In Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, Laura Vandervoort plays Mary Ann, a successful lawyer who wants nothing more than to adopt a child and be a mother. Just before Christmas she gets called to Bethlehem, Penn., to meet her child, a baby girl named Natalie. But bad weather forces her to cancel her trip home. The local inn is full but the owner sends Mary Ann and Natalie to stay with her brother Joe (played by Benjamin Ayres), who has a spare room.
A confirmed bachelor, Joe tries his best to make his home welcoming for his guests. When the bad weather continues, Mary Ann extends her stay. She ends up taking part in Christmas activities at Joe’s church. As Mary Ann and Joe spend more time together, it’s becoming clear to them — and everyone around them — that an attraction is growing.
The two open up about their personal challenges. Mary Ann is afraid to tell her mother that she adopted a child. Joe is still reeling from the loss of his father, who was his best friend.
“As Mary Ann and Joe connect through their shared faith and become close, they could just be the unexpected blessing in each other’s life in surprising ways,” reads a synopsis from Hallmark.
About the cast
Benjamin Ayres had starring roles in the CTV series Saving Hope and the HBO Canada series Less Than Kind. (He was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for the latter.) He also appeared on the shows The Good Doctor, Suits, Burden of Truth, and JPod.
He has starred in the Hallmark movies Cranberry Christmas (2020), You, Me & the Christmas Trees (2021), Long Lost Christmas (2022), Color My World With Love (2022), and Field Day (2023).
Laura Vandervoort
From 2007 to 2011, Laura Vandervoort starred in the TV series Smallville. She went on to appear in Supergirl, White Collar, CSI: NY, Conman, Private Eyes, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Sullivan’s Crossing.
She has starred in the movies Desperately Seeking Santa (2011), Finding Mrs. Claus (2012), A Christmas Exchange (2020), Romance in the Wilds (2021), Christmas in the Wilds (2021), and A Christmas Together With You (2021).
Romance rules! Hallmark star leading new fundraising effort
A new fundraising effort by Hallmark star Benjamin Ayres has taken off, raising thousands of dollars for charities that help women and children.
The actor has designed hoodies, T-shirts, necklaces, teddy bears, and other merchandise featuring a distinctive Romance University logo. (If it looks vaguely familiar, it’s because it’s based on Harvard University’s logo.)
Now Hallmark stars from Ali Sweeney and Nikki DeLoach to Tyler Hynes and Andrew Walker have been seen sporting the merchandise.
Inspiration from fans
Last year, Ayres had a few buttons made for his fellow Hallmark co-stars featuring a “Hallmark University” logo. He took some along when he attended Christmas Con 2022 in New Jersey. At the event, he handed some out to fans.
“This was the first time that I had done one of these conventions, and it was great,” he said in an interview with Digital Journal. “Ultimately, I just could not have imagined how beautiful, strong, and heartfelt the community is for the movies that we make. It was an incredible feeling.”
Ayres created more merchandise and changed the logo from “Hallmark University” to “Romance University.” He began selling the apparel online with the goal of donating the proceeds to charity. The collection sold out in less than two weeks and raised more than $4,000, which Ayres donated to charities benefiting women and children.
On January 19, Ayres and his wife visited two of the organizations in Toronto that benefited from the fundraising efforts: Street Haven, a 50-bed emergency shelter, and Anduhyaun, the oldest Indigenous Women’s Shelter in Canada.
Three Wise Men and a Baby
In early February, Ayres made a mockup of a logo featuring Andrew Walker, Tyler Hynes, and Paul Campbell in their roles in the Hallmark hit Three Wise Men and a Baby. He sent it to Walker, who responded with enthusiasm. The new line made its debut in time for Valentine’s Day. Proceeds from the line are going to Alexandria House, an LA transitional home for women and children handpicked by Walker and his wife, Cassandra Troy.
“The RU Alumni raised $5000 in less than two weeks for @alexandriahousela !!” read a post on Romance University’s Instagram page. “Andrew and Cassandra visited the women and dropped off a donation on Valentine’s Day. Could we even wish for anything better than that?!Congratulations everyone! @awalkk35 @casstroywalker @tyler_hynes @paulcampbellofficial.”
Ayres plans on introducing new designs on a regular basis and he is getting lots of support from his fellow Hallmark stars.
“It all started with these warm wonderful humans one evening in Vancouver. I can’t thank them enough for their support and kindness,” he wrote in a social media post.
About Ayres
Ayres had starring roles in the CTV series Saving Hope and the HBO Canada series Less Than Kind. (He was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for the latter.) He also appeared on the shows The Good Doctor, Suits, Burden of Truth, and JPod.
In 2020, he co-starred with Nikki Deloach in the Countdown to Christmas movie Cranberry Christmas. In 2021, he co-starred with Danica McKellar in You, Me & the Christmas Trees. In 2022, he appeared in Long Lost Christmas and starred in Color My World With Love, a romantic drama featuring two actors with Down Syndrome.