In the Hallmark holiday movie Christmas at Holly Lodge, love is in the air when Evan Hunter (Jordan Bridges) checks in at the Holly Lodge. When he meets Sophie (Alison Sweeney) the woman running the festive lodge, which has been in her family for generations, their attraction is undeniable. As Sophie’s friend Nadine says, “I saw the way you were looking at Evan. I felt it from across the room.” The problem is Evan was sent to the lodge for business. He was to consider buying the lodge for a real estate developer. Sophie has been having trouble paying the mortgage.
Nadine is portrayed by singer/actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. She’s known for her roles on Instant Mom (Maggie Turner), Ray Donovan (Claudette), Moesha (Dee Mitchell), The District (Lt. Dee Banks), George (Maggie Foster), Designing Women (Etienne Toussaint Bouvier, see below), and It’s a Living (Ginger St. James), among many others. Ralph was one of the original Dreamgirls on Broadway, playing the role of Deena, who was portrayed by Beyonce in the film (see link above). Christmas at Holly Lodge premieres on Hallmark Channel on Sunday, December 3 at 8pm.
