While filming Virgin River Season 7 in Vancouver this June, Alexandra Breckenridge hopped on the new podcast Small Stupid Stuff, hosted by friends Ryan and Adam Rose. Speaking from her trailer between shooting days, she gave fans a rare behind-the-scenes peek into life on set, opened up about her decades-long friendship with Ryan Eggold, and revealed details about her new holiday film with him, My Secret Santa.
Virgin River Season 7: From Vancouver to Mexico
At the time of her podcast chat, Breckenridge teased: “Two more weeks here in Vancouver and then we go to an undisclosed location.” Now we know that location was Mexico. After wrapping in British Columbia, production shifted to Tulum and the Yucatán, where filming took place at Hacienda Cenote Oxmán, a striking estate often used in films.
Breckenridge has since posted from Mexico herself, confirming what fans suspected: Mel and Jack are finally heading off on their long-awaited honeymoon in Season 7.
Season 7 Wraps, Season 8 Already Renewed
Netflix has yet to announce a premiere date for Virgin River Season 7, but production signals point to an early 2026 debut. Meanwhile, Season 8 is already renewed, though scripts haven’t entered development. Insiders say Netflix is taking its time, aiming for a 2027 release.
A Friendship Years in the Making
Beyond production updates, the Small Stupid Stuff interview offered fans a window into Breckenridge’s long, easy rapport with Eggold. The two first met on the FX drama Dirt and stayed connected through This Is Us before reuniting on Virgin River.
Their podcast banter was playful and intimate: jokes about Vancouver’s nickname (“the coup”), quips over who met first, and fond memories from sets past. When Eggold shared a behind-the-scenes photo of Breckenridge mid-prosthetic for My Secret Santa, he teased her performance while refusing to spill story secrets.
My Secret Santa: A Holiday Transformation
Breckenridge and Eggold’s reunion extends to Netflix’s holiday slate with the rom-com My Secret Santa. Directed by Mike Rohl (The Princess Switch) and penned by Ron Oliver (Falling for Christmas) and Carley Smale (Snowed-Inn Christmas), the film was shot earlier this year and will premiere worldwide on December 3, 2025.
Netflix logline:
A vivacious single mom in need of a job disguises herself as a man to land work as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort. But when she begins falling for the hotel manager, her double life threatens to unravel everything.
The role demanded a full prosthetic transformation for Breckenridge: bodysuit, facial pieces, false nose, mustache, beard, wig, and of course the heavy velvet Santa suit. Shooting was anything but glamorous. Freezing exterior nights contrasted with stifling interiors, forcing the crew to tuck ice packs into her costume. Breckenridge laughed on the podcast: “I had never really known what swamp ass was until that shoot.”
The cast also features Madison MacIsaac, Tia Mowry, and Diana Maria Riva, with Ryan Rose making a cheeky cameo as an elf.
Podcast Side Project: I Like You Very Much
During the conversation, Breckenridge also gave a nod to her side project: the self-produced podcast I Like You Very Much, which she co-hosts with Virgin River co-star Zibby Allen. Independently funded and fully paywalled, the show donates a portion of proceeds to Save the Children. Its debut season featured various Virgin River cast and crew, though there’s been no sign yet of a second run.
Looking Ahead
Between Virgin River’s highly anticipated Season 7, the festive charm of My Secret Santa, and her ongoing creative side ventures, Alexandra Breckenridge is keeping busy on and off the Netflix stage. Fans may have to wait until 2026 for Mel and Jack’s next chapter, but in the meantime, they’ll get to see Breckenridge spread some holiday cheer—prosthetic beard and all.
