He has charmed audiences in often chaotic holiday movies like Christmas with the Singhs, The Santa Summit and new flick The Christmas Ring. But now Benjamin Hollingsworth is gearing up for what could be his most movie-like Christmas yet!
The Virgin River star and his wife of 13 years Nila are preparing to take their sons (Hemingway, nine and Gatsby, seven) and five-year-old daughter Juniper on a festive adventure with Hollingsworth’s entire clan.
“This year, we’re getting my whole family together,” Hollingsworth tells Country Living. “I’ve got three siblings and they have their own kids now. My sister’s got two kids and my younger sister and younger brother each have brand new children, so we rented this big house and we’re all going to stay in it for Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after. It should be a lot of fun.”
Having wrapped filming season seven of Netflix’s Virgin River (which will premiere in 2026) and released The Christmas Ring in theaters and on-demand, Hollingsworth is excited for the festive break. We grilled the 41-year-old Canadian actor on holiday traditions, bringing his kids to set, and almost burning down his house with fondue!
What are some of your standout memories celebrating Christmas as a kid?
We used to do a fondue on Christmas Eve, which was very ambitious of my parents because anyone who’s tried fondue knows it’s the biggest mess ever. There was one time we almost burned down the house … and by we, I probably mean me! I believe there was a placemat involved, but why would you have a placemat near an open flame? Luckily, I didn’t burn that house down, but there was a moment where it looked like it might happen.
There were lots of fun things around Christmas. I live in Canada and we get white Christmases, so my dad would take the hockey sticks out and make sleigh marks. One year he got up on our roof and did it.
That’s dedication!
I think he had a lot of eggnog that year!
Love it. How has Christmas and the holidays changed since you became a dad?
There’s a lot of work in the buildup and a lot of wrapping of presents. But they’re at this perfect age where they’re very much in love with Santa Claus and caught up in the magic of it all. Reliving it through their eyes brings back memories from when I was a kid and that’s something I wasn’t expecting.
I never considered how many memories are hidden in your brain and as you’re doing all these things – whether it’s Christmas morning or going to hockey practice – it triggers those memories and brings them back to life, which is really special.
