Netflix is sprinkling some holiday cheer with My Secret Santa, a feel-good romantic comedy starring Virgin River standout Alexandra Breckenridge as a single mom desperate enough to don a Santa suit—and a full prosthetic beard—for a shot at seasonal employment. The film, directed by The Princess Switch veteran Mike Rohl and co-written by Carley Smale and Ron Oliver, drops on the streamer December 3, 2025, promising a mix of slapstick disguise antics, snowy romance, and family heart amid the twinkling lights of a luxury ski resort. With Ryan Eggold (New Amsterdam) as the charming resort heir and Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister) as a no-nonsense boss, the movie looks poised to join Netflix’s roster of festive hits, blending the absurdity of Mrs. Doubtfire with the warmth of a Hallmark special—minus the snow globe predictability.

At its core, My Secret Santa follows Taylor Jacobson (Breckenridge), a vivacious but down-on-her-luck single mom in need of quick cash to fund her teenage daughter Zoey’s (Madison MacIsaac) spot at an elite snowboarding camp in British Columbia’s Sun Peaks resort. After a string of job rejections, Taylor enlists her quirky friends for a makeover: prosthetics to sculpt a rosy-cheeked, jolly old elf named “Hugh Mann,” complete with wig, suit, and a booming “Ho ho ho.” Landing the gig as the resort’s seasonal Santa, she dazzles kids with photo ops and cookies, but the charade crumbles when she locks eyes with Matthew (Eggold), the hotel’s handsome heir who’s overseeing the holiday festivities. As Taylor juggles Santa shifts by day and flirty coffee chats by night, the truth threatens to spill—along with some mistletoe mischief and a dash of corporate intrigue.

Breckenridge, 39 and fresh off six seasons as Mel Monroe in Netflix’s Virgin River, brings her signature blend of vulnerability and spark to the role. Known for her roles in The Walking Dead and American Horror Story, the actress has a knack for grounded characters navigating chaos, and Taylor feels like a natural extension. “It’s a Mrs. Doubtfire situation with snow and sleigh bells,” Breckenridge told People in an exclusive trailer interview, laughing about the prosthetics process. “They scanned my head digitally—no clay molding for this Santa. But getting into the suit? Pure holiday magic, minus the itch.” Filming wrapped in February 2025 in Kamloops, British Columbia, allowing her to pivot seamlessly to Virgin River Season 7 prep, though fans will have to wait until 2026 for Mel’s return.

Eggold, 41, steps in as the straight-laced yet smitten Matthew, a role that plays to his brooding charm from The Blacklist. “He’s got that classic rom-com guy-next-door vibe, but with a ski resort twist,” he teased in a Netflix Tudum Q&A. Mowry, 46, rounds out the core trio as Natasha, Taylor’s skeptical resort manager who’s quick with quips and quicker to sniff out fakes. “Tia brings that big-sister energy—tough love wrapped in laughs,” Rohl said. The supporting cast adds flavor: MacIsaac as the snowboarding-obsessed Zoey, fresh from Nobody 2; Diana Maria Riva (Dead to Me) as a wise resort veteran; and a cameo-packed roster hinting at holiday surprises.

Rohl, a Netflix holiday staple with credits on four Princess Switch films and Falling for Christmas, directs with a light touch—think festive montages of sleigh rides and snowball fights interspersed with Taylor’s beard malfunctions and near-misses. “We wanted the laughs to land before the heartstrings,” he told What’s On Netflix. The script by Smale and Oliver, the duo behind Lohan’s 2022 Netflix debut, leans into empowerment: Taylor’s not just faking it till she makes it; she’s reclaiming her joy amid single-parent struggles and economic pinch. Original songs, including a cheeky Santa rap, amp the whimsy, with Breckenridge flexing her vocal chops from Virgin River‘s musical moments.

The movie’s timing is spot-on for Netflix’s Yuletide blitz, which has churned out hits like The Holiday Shift and A Merry Scottish Christmas in recent years. My Secret Santa fits the mold: A 90-minute runtime packed with tropes—disguise reveals, holiday balls, a grand gesture under the northern lights—but elevated by its cast. Early buzz from the October 17 trailer, viewed over 5 million times on YouTube, highlights the chemistry: Eggold’s flustered flirtations and Breckenridge’s deadpan delivery in a fluffy beard. “It’s the Christmas movie we need—funny, fierce, and a little frosty,” one Tudum reviewer noted.

For Breckenridge, the project marks a holiday homecoming. She starred in Lifetime’s Christmas Around the Corner in 2018, but My Secret Santa ups the ante with Netflix’s polish. “Virgin River* has that cozy vibe, but this is pure escapism,” she said on her podcast I Like You Very Much. “Taylor’s a fighter—relatable for any mom hustling through the season.” Eggold, no stranger to medical dramas, relishes the levity: “After New Amsterdam‘s intensity, playing a guy snowed under by Santa chaos? Therapeutic.” Mowry, balancing her Family Reunion commitments, adds: “Natasha’s the voice of reason with a side of sass—perfect holiday spice.”

Production notes reveal clever nods to Breckenridge’s past: Taylor’s daughter Zoey shares a love for small-town tales, echoing Virgin River‘s charm, and a resort subplot involving a “secret admirer” gift exchange ties into the title’s whimsy. Shot amid Kamloops’ real snowfalls, the film captures that crisp, cinematic winter glow without green screens. “The cold was brutal, but the camaraderie warmed us,” MacIsaac shared on Instagram.

As December 3 approaches, My Secret Santa joins Netflix’s 2025 holiday slate, including White Christmas Ever After and The Christmas Clause. With global streams of holiday content up 25% year-over-year, per Netflix data, the film eyes 20 million views in its first month. Critics’ early peeks praise its “infectious joy,” though some call the plot “predictably merry.” For fans, it’s a stocking stuffer: Breckenridge’s Santa proving nice can be naughty too.

In a season of eggnog and expectations, My Secret Santa reminds us: Sometimes, the best gifts come wrapped in red velvet and a little white lie