Jessy Schram on Hotel Meet-Cutes in Hallmark’s A Suite Holiday Romance

Hallmark veteran and Chicago Med star Jessy Schram brings movie magic and hotel meet-cutes to our screens just in time for the holidays.

One of the final installments of this year’s Countdown to Christmas, A Suite Holiday Romance, offers an intriguing twist on the secret royal storyline while exploring multiple love stories through the lens of the lavish Grand Fairbanks Hotel.

“It’s an incredibly dynamic movie. We have flashbacks to the past that relate to the present. We have this mishap of identity, of believing that our male lead is a royal when he is not. Also, we have journalism getting taken to the next step with dreams realized there, and we have a lot of self-reflection,” Schram explained.

“That was the thing I was mainly attracted to was the romance; there’s not just one in this script. And the dialog, I felt like the meet-cute in the relationship had a lot of really fun banter. I really was attracted to that as well.”

Schram plays Sabrina, a ghost writer, who meets a mysterious guest at the hotel bar and soon finds herself falling for Dominic Sherwood’s Ian.

For the actress, their “in-between moments” are what create memorable chemistry between these characters: “The chemistry a lot of the time is built in the tone — the pacing of the dialogue, but mainly in what’s being said between the dialogue.”

Watch the full interview with Jessy Schram:

The historical hotel set in the heart of New York City certainly helped those in-between moments flourish.

“I feel like set decks did such a beautiful job, they not only decorated it for the holidays, but they really gave an identity to the Christmas theme of the hotel and all the different rooms. Each room had its own character, and it felt so grand, and it felt so exciting. You didn’t have to pretend that you were there because you already were.”

Schram also enjoyed the safe space that movies such as these create for a wholesome dose of holiday romance and magic.

“Even when there’s something wrong, it maybe doesn’t go as heavy as the rest of the world can be at different times. It still reflects life, and you can still relate to it. That’s something that I love most, being an actor, my job is to hopefully make you feel something, and I feel like our audience usually in that with us.”

“I love the connections and friendships and collaborations that I get to have while making these movies as well.”

Schram also loved getting to play a character who is grappling with not just a romantic decision but career choices and the legacy of the great women writers who came before her.

“I hope viewers are excited for her and the romance that blossoms out of this. I hope that they get that feeling of, don’t let life pass you by. If you’re feeling something, explore it and think about it. Ask questions so you don’t just jump headfirst, but also don’t let your fears hold you back. The time can very well be now, and if it’s not right now, reflect enough so that the time can happen again soon.”

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A Suite Holiday Romance is streaming now on Hallmark+.

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