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Ashley Newbrough as Lottie Morgan. (Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/photographer: Courtesy Vortex Media)

Q&A: Christmas is in, but hot chocolate is definitely out, for Hallmark star Ashley Newbrough

by jmaloni

Mon, Jul 8th 2024 11:15 am

Newbrough brings fans ‘Christmas in July’ with ‘Operation Nutcracker’

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

@joshuamaloni

Ashley Newbrough’s characters are all about second chances.

But in real life, the in-demand Canadian-American actress can’t help but hold a grudge.

Against hot chocolate.

On set, Newbrough has come to appreciate writers (she played one in “Small Town Christmas” and “Snowmance”), science and skiing (with “Love in Glacier National”), and even golf (“Love on the Right Course”). A popular fixture in holiday movies, she’s worked all around the world – yet, despite all her travels, what’s usually a comforting and creamy concoction remains a Swiss miss for Newbrough.

As her new “Christmas in July” film debuts on Hallmark Movies Now, the aspirational ace explained her hot chocolate aversion – and shared more about “Operation Nutcracker” – in this edited Q&A.

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BTS: When it comes to this genre, I think you are the best. I have called you Michael Jordan in a past article. Certainly, it has a lot to do with your talent, but I also think your choice of projects has been really spot-on. Tell me about “Operation Nutcracker” and what appealed to you about this particular movie.

Ashley Newbrough: “Operation Nutcracker,” it's about an event planner, Lottie Morgan, who is given a lifetime opportunity to host the annual Warby Christmas charity auction, and proceeds go to the children's hospital. She's very nervous about it. She wants to do her best.

And so, she meets with Evelyne Warby (Jennifer Dale) and she lands the job, and this whole event is revolving around this nutcracker, which will be auctioned off at the event. She meets Tristan Warby (Christopher Russell), the son of Evelyne, at the airport. She doesn't know who he is. They have the same bags, so they kind of meet because of their mistaken bags. It was a bit of a bag mix-up at the airport. So, she meets him, thinks nothing of it, and then meets him again when she arrives to do her big interview.

They are working together to plan this event and soon find out that he does not have the nutcracker, and his bag has been swapped with someone they don't know. They have to find this nutcracker before the time runs out.

So, they go through this guy's bag and they're able to find his agenda. They try to track him down based on what he's doing throughout the week – and it happens to be all sorts of different Christmas activities. There’s a tree farm. There’s a Christmas market. There's a ballet. They go to these different places hoping to find him. And it's fun. It's a good time.

When an antique nutcracker set to be auctioned at the Warby family Christmas charity goes missing, a demanding event planner and the heir to the Warby dynasty try to track it down. Ashley Newbrough and Christopher Russell star in “Operation Nutcracker” on Hallmark Movies Now. (Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/photographer: Courtesy Vortex Media)

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BTS: You and I, when we’ve chatted before, it’s been about holiday films that have released at the holidays – but, if I'm not mistaken, I think you shot them in the summer or some other time of the year when you're not really thinking about Christmas. You mentioned you shot this one in November. I'm wondering, certainly Hallmark and the other studios you work with, they always do a good job of making it feel like the holidays; but to actually be filming this during that time of year, does that help?

Ashley Newbrough: Oh, it definitely helps. We shot this one, it was end of November and it went into December a little bit. And, oh yeah, it definitely helps to film within the season.

First and foremost, because of the weather – because there's nothing like wearing Christmas wardrobe in the middle of summer. It’s just a different feeling altogether, and it can be very distracting being that hot and trying to act cold and wear all these layers and sweaters and jackets.

It definitely helped to shoot this one in November and December. And plus, you're already in the Christmas mood, and it kind of just extends the celebration, and it's nice, for sure.

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BTS: So, we love “The Nutcracker” here in the Buffalo market. We actually have competing shows each December, if not a few competing shows. Did you ever participate in “The Nutcracker” as a child? Was that a thing for you when you were growing up?

Ashley Newbrough: I wish. I wish I could have been a part of that; that would be incredible. But no, I didn't.

But, I was obsessed with this movie called “The Nutcracker Prince,” the cartoon. I haven't seen it in years and years and years, but I loved it. I absolutely loved it! My siblings and I still try to find it, because we were absolutely obsessed with the movie. So, when I read this script and saw what it was about, I loved the idea of being a part of it, because I think nutcrackers are such a staple for the season.

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BTS: How was it working with Christopher Russell?

Ashley Newbrough: It was great. We had a lot of fun with it. He's talented, and we laughed a lot. It was a great time making this.

David Weaver, our director, was also very funny and fun to work with. It was a great cast and crew. We had a good time.

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BTS: Since we last spoke, you made a film set in Scotland and another in Hungary.

Soundstages, or did you actually get to travel to those locations?

Ashley Newbrough: I actually got to go to those locations, which was incredible.

I love Scotland. I'm a huge fan of Scotland. That was magical. I really love Scotland. I'd love to go back.

And when I was in Budapest for “Love on the Right Course,” that was another incredible experience. I'd never been to Hungary, and so it was very new. Everyone spoke Hungarian, which is a very complicated language. At the hair and makeup, they were trying to teach us Hungarian words every day – and we caught on for a bit before it got too confusing to keep up with.

But yeah, Budapest was absolutely stunning. And we shot that one in July of last year – actually this time last year we were there, which is funny; and that was a great adventure.

BTS: How is your golf game these days?

Ashley Newbrough: (Laughs) Well, it's funny you ask, because I learned so much.

Prior to shooting that, I was at the driving range every day and taking lessons and learning everything I could, because I really hadn't golfed before shooting that movie. And I learned so much, thankfully, in a short period of time.

It was also incredibly nerve-wracking, because I didn't account for the entire crew to be watching me, plus the background actors, because I was playing a pro golfer. So, I really felt the pressure there. But luckily had a very supportive cast and crew behind me cheering me on, and helping me through the swings that I missed, or swung and hit the ball in the wrong direction – or sometimes the worst direction. I was in good hands there. But yeah, I really liked it.

Golf is so funny, because it’s fun, and it's relaxing, but it's also infuriating. And it requires you to think about everything, but then think about nothing at the same time. So, after we wrapped, I thought “OK, yeah, I'm going to golf all the time, and I want to keep this up.” But unfortunately – well, fortunately, but unfortunately – immediately coming back from Budapest, I started on (future Hallmark Channel project) “The Love Club,” so I actually couldn't golf right away. And sadly, I've only been golfing once since the wrap. But, I plan to rectify that and get out there again, because I would really like to continue golfing. It's a fun sport.

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BTS: Now, I seem to recall you telling me something fairly controversial in one of our past interviews. It's been a little bit of time since we've chatted, so, I've got to follow up: Are you still on the outs with hot chocolate?

Ashley Newbrough: (Laughs) Oh, that’s so funny; you remember.

You know, I need to try it again, I think. I think I need to give it a second chance – and maybe try it without milk, because the problem, for me, with hot chocolate, is it usually involves milk, and I don't drink milk. So maybe that's why it's not working for me. But, I'm willing to give it another shot. Maybe with water or oat milk or almond milk or one of those.

I do like chocolate. It doesn't make sense that I don’t like hot chocolate (laughs).

BTS: I mean, it is sort of one of those things: If you don't like it with milk, it could probably alter the whole complexity and experience of the hot chocolate.

Ashley Newbrough: Right.

BTS: I tell you, I have cut out the gluten, and I’ve found, like, this whole other world of things – so, who knows? I'm sure there's great hot chocolate out there with no milk. … I just, personally, have not found that yet.

Ashley Newbrough: There’s got to be! Well, I should make it my mission. Come December, I'll look for some hot chocolate that is dairy-free and then let you know.

“Operation Nutcracker” is streaming on Hallmark Movies Now. Visit https://www.hmnow.com/.

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