A Christmas Movie With a Secret
This December, Netflix is giving audiences a reason to believe again — in reinvention, in courage, and in a holiday movie that dares to do something different.
My Secret Santa, arriving December 3, 2025, turns Virgin River’s Alexandra Breckenridge into the unlikeliest Santa Claus the streaming world has ever seen. A single mom, a desperate job hunt, and a disguise that changes everything — this is a Christmas story built on laughter, risk, and heart.
Directed by Mike Rohl (The Princess Switch trilogy) and written by holiday veterans Ron Oliver (Falling for Christmas) and Carley Smale (Snowed-Inn Christmas), the film combines slapstick fun with emotional resonance — a balance that makes it one of Netflix’s most ambitious seasonal offerings yet.
And the trailer? It’s pure festive chaos — in the best way possible.
The Story: One Job, One Secret, and a Holiday Gamble
At its snowy core, My Secret Santa follows Taylor (Breckenridge), a single mother struggling to keep her life together after losing her job right before the holidays. When she learns that a luxury ski resort is hiring for the position of Santa Claus, she sees an opportunity — with one tiny obstacle. The position is open to men only.
So, Taylor does the unthinkable: she dons a beard, a belly, and a booming voice, becoming “Hugh Mann,” the resort’s newest Santa. The disguise works — until she starts falling for Matthew (Ryan Eggold), the resort’s meticulous and kind-hearted manager, who has no clue that the man he’s confiding in is actually a woman in hiding.
What follows is a charming collision of mistaken identity, romantic tension, and heartfelt humor — a story that unwraps themes of family, honesty, and second chances.
“It’s Mrs. Doubtfire meets The Holiday,” director Mike Rohl teases. “But the heart of it is about a woman rediscovering her own strength — under all that red velvet.”
Alexandra Breckenridge’s Boldest Transformation Yet
For Alexandra Breckenridge, the project represented a complete leap outside her comfort zone. Known for the steady warmth and emotional gravity of Virgin River’s Mel Monroe, My Secret Santa pushed her to trade scrubs for Santa’s suit — and undergo a full-blown physical metamorphosis.
“This was terrifying,” Breckenridge admits in a behind-the-scenes interview. “The prosthetics, the voice, the heat — it’s nothing like what I’ve done before. But that’s why I said yes. It scared me, which meant it mattered.”
The transformation wasn’t just cosmetic. The actor spent hours perfecting her Santa persona, from the gruff cadence of her voice to the physicality of carrying herself as a man.
To prepare, she studied Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause trilogy and classic screwball comedies, looking for ways to make the humor land without losing sincerity.
“It’s not parody,” she insists. “Taylor isn’t making fun of Santa — she’s surviving as him. There’s something strangely empowering about that.”
Ryan Eggold Brings the Heart
Opposite Breckenridge is Ryan Eggold, stepping into his first major holiday lead since New Amsterdam. As Matthew, he’s the film’s anchor — a man who’s structured, kind, and quietly grieving his own sense of connection.
When “Hugh Mann” enters his life, he finds not just a Santa, but a confidant who listens, jokes, and challenges him — unaware that behind the beard is a woman who might change his life.
“Ryan brings an incredible vulnerability,” Rohl says. “He’s the straight man in a sea of chaos — but when the truth hits, his reaction feels so authentic, it breaks your heart.”
Their on-screen chemistry has already been called “unexpectedly electric” by early test audiences, proving that Netflix may have found its next great holiday duo.
A Holiday Movie About More Than Christmas
While My Secret Santa delivers plenty of laughs (including several laugh-out-loud moments involving beard glue, costume malfunctions, and a snowbound reindeer parade gone wrong), it’s ultimately a story about identity and self-worth.
“She’s hiding who she is to survive,” Breckenridge says. “But by the end, she realizes she’s always been enough — with or without the disguise.”
It’s a sentiment that resonates beyond the North Pole — one that gives the film a rare emotional depth for a seasonal rom-com.
My Secret Santa also breaks from the traditional “return to your hometown” formula that dominates Christmas cinema. Instead, it places its heroine in a workplace setting — a resort buzzing with guests, gossip, and holiday chaos — where the stakes are professional as much as personal.
“If she gets caught, she loses everything — her job, her dignity, her daughter’s trust,” notes writer Ron Oliver. “That tension keeps it grounded, even when things get ridiculous.”
The Supporting Cast Adds Sparkle
The supporting cast adds warmth and levity throughout.
Tia Mowry (Sister, Sister) plays Natasha, Taylor’s best friend and reluctant co-conspirator, constantly on edge about the elaborate Santa charade. Diana Maria Riva (Dead to Me) stars as the resort’s overworked operations director, who suspects something’s off but can’t quite put her finger on it.
Madison MacIsaac plays Taylor’s daughter, Zoey, whose innocent belief in Christmas magic contrasts beautifully with her mother’s very adult struggle to keep it all together.
It’s a mix of comedy, chaos, and comfort — the cinematic equivalent of a gingerbread cookie dunked in espresso.
A New Kind of Netflix Holiday Film
Visually, My Secret Santa is a feast. Shot in the snow-laden peaks of British Columbia, the film replaces cozy fireplaces and small-town gazebos with bustling lobbies, shimmering ski lifts, and the kind of cinematic sparkle that screams holiday wish fulfillment with a modern twist.
Behind the camera, Mike Rohl leaned on practical effects and immersive sets rather than heavy CGI, giving the film a tangible, classic feel reminiscent of early-2000s holiday favorites.
“It’s nostalgic, but not dated,” he says. “The world feels alive — the snow, the lights, the laughter — but the message is fresh: sometimes, the biggest gift is being seen for who you really are.”
For Virgin River Fans: A Gift Between Seasons
For Virgin River devotees anxiously awaiting Season 7 (expected in 2026), My Secret Santa offers a different but deeply satisfying fix. Breckenridge brings her trademark emotional honesty to an entirely new genre — proving she can make you laugh as easily as she can make you cry.
“It’s a love story, but it’s also a story about resilience,” she says. “I think Virgin River fans will recognize Taylor’s heart — just in a much sillier, snowier setting.”
Unwrapping the Details
🎬 Director: Mike Rohl (The Princess Switch, The Sound of Christmas)
✍️ Writers: Ron Oliver, Carley Smale
🎭 Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold, Tia Mowry, Madison MacIsaac, Diana Maria Riva
📅 Release Date: December 3, 2025 — exclusively on Netflix
⏱ Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
A Modern Fairy Tale in Disguise
At first glance, My Secret Santa might look like just another Netflix holiday rom-com. But behind the red suit lies something richer — a story about identity, motherhood, courage, and the lengths we go to for love.
“Underneath all the laughter and chaos,” Breckenridge says softly, “it’s really about finding joy again — even if you have to hide under a beard to do it.”
And that’s the magic of My Secret Santa: it’s not just about the season. It’s about rediscovering yourself when you least expect it.
🎄 “The Woman Behind the Beard”: Inside My Secret Santa, Netflix’s Daring New Holiday Romance
An exclusive look at Alexandra Breckenridge’s transformative new role, Ryan Eggold’s heartwarming turn, and why this might just be the next great Christmas classic.
