Hallmark has selected the first-ever Finding Mr. Christmas winner. This new reality series hosted by Jonathan Bennett, and Melissa Peterman has enchanted fans of holiday romcoms. Now, this lucky contestant will star in an upcoming Christmas movie, Happy Howlidays. Did this experience help this new Hallmark Hunk prepare for his first leading role in a Christmas romcom?
Please note, there are major spoilers including the name of the winner below.
Ezra Moreland Won Finding Mr. Christmas
On Thursday, Hallmark+ judges chose Ezra Moreland as the winner of Finding Mr. Christmas. Jonathan Bennett, who hosts the reality series, and who created it, shared on Instagram that Ezra had the “it factor.” He also shared that they always “leaned forward” when the 31-year-old model Ezra was the focus.
Now, Ezra is starring in Happy Howlidays with Jessica Lowndes. After the win, Entertainment Weekly spoke to the winner. The former Navy rescue diver admitted that filming his first Hallmark movie was as challenging, “if not more,” as Navy Rescue Swimmer school. However, the network got him ready before he went to Vancouver to film.
Firstly, after winning, Ezra had less than two months to prepare for his role a Max in Happy Howlidays. He met the producers, Gina and Grant. Next, he got the script. Most importantly, he took acting classes. There, they broke “the script down scene for scene.” This was a new experience for him.
However, unlike most Hallmark stars who get the call a few days before they start filming, he had “ample time to prepare and study the script.” This helped him get to know his character. Eventually, Ezra met aJessica Lowndes, who portrays Mia in the movie. Soon, it was time to start filming. But, he revealed it was not easy.
As much as I got to prepare with the script, nothing could’ve been able to prepare what it felt like to start filming for the first time.
The winner of Finding Mr. Christmas admitted that this was the hardest thing he has ever done. Yet, he concluded, “it was amazing and I can’t wait for everybody to see it.”
Finding Mr. Christmas Prepared Ezra Moreland To Film Christmas Movie
When Ezra Moreland competed on Finding Mr. Christmas, he had survived a cornucopia of Christmas related challenges. The new Hallmark star shared that the reality series “absolutely prepared me to be open and showed me how much that receiving guidance would help me.”
However, he admits that the show did not prepare him for the grueling schedule. “I don’t think I’ve ever been more exhausted in my entire life–physically, emotionally, every way possible. I don’t think there’s anything that could have prepared me for that other than just doing it.”
Be sure to watch Ezra Moreland’s Hallmark debut, Happy Howlidays, on Saturday, December 21, at 8 p.m., Eastern, on the Hallmark Channel. In addition, Hallmark+ subscribers can stream this movie starting on December 19.
Hallmark viewers, was Ezra your top choice?