Liza Lapira Talks the Joy of #MustLoveChristmas and her Kind Co-stars

This Sunday, The Equalizer star Liza Lapira stars in a CBS authentic vacation movie, Must Love Christmas, with Neal Bledsoe and Nathan White.

Natalie is a Christmas romance novelist caught in a rut since she hasn’t been in love. She will get caught in a storm when she reluctantly goes on a e book tour. Her life quickly turns into a romance novel as she’s in a love triangle between her teenage crush Caleb (Nathan White), and the reporter who needs the inside scoop (Neal Bledsoe).

For Natalie to turn out to be a profitable author once more, she should determine what she wants in love and life, however she’s afraid to open her coronary heart.

We chatted with Natalie about the film, her favourite vacation films, and extra.

So, I noticed this was your first vacation movie. What appealed to you about starring in Must Love Christmas?

This was my first time as a romantic lead in one thing I did not produce and one thing that one other studio made. And that already is thrilling, however the incontrovertible fact that it is a Christmas rom-com vacation film was interesting.

Then, I learn the script, and it is cool to play a personality like this that’s rebounding from an embarrassing second and is a recluse, socially awkward, and just a little hyper-anxious.

It is enjoyable to play a personality like Natalie and undergo the complete trajectory of therapeutic, popping out of her shell, recovering who she is, and falling in love whereas she does it. It’s enjoyable to observe, and it is enjoyable to play.

It was. And how do you suppose the range of the forged added to the movie?

It’s onerous for me to talk objectively as a result of I’m numerous. I stroll right into a room, and it immediately turns into numerous, so it is onerous to separate that from who I’m. When you or I, our mates, or anybody walks right into a room, they bring about their complete selves, together with their personalities, upbringing, core values, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

They can not help however carry their essence to no matter undertaking they’re doing. It was a various forged, however me particularly, I’m a New Yorker. I’m a toddler of immigrants and a Filipino American lady from Queens. Of course, I put a personality on prime of that, however you’ll be able to’t separate the presents of all these completely different elements that make up an individual.

You cannot separate these presents from the artwork they make and inherently influences it. We had a really numerous forged ethnically and culturally how we had been skilled. We had So a lot enjoyable collectively, collaborating with what every actor dropped at the movie. You can see how we performed off one another and the way it interprets on the display screen.

Yes, completely. And how is Natalie completely different from Mel on The Equalizer?

Well, night time and day. Mel actually kicks folks round, and she is fearless and assured and is not afraid to say what’s on her thoughts. She’s a robust community of mates. That’s the solely commonality they each have is a robust community of mates.

Then, you might have Natalie, who possibly can be robust and maybe these issues, however definitely, when the film begins, she isn’t any of these issues as a result of of her humiliation and public embarrassment. Before the movie began, an article and interview about her did not go effectively in the press, and she seemed like a idiot.

When we meet her at the film’s starting, she’s socially awkward. She’s very anxious and does not wish to depart her condominium as a protecting coping mechanism. She’s reclusive, and that is the exact opposite. She’s not assured in herself, not versed in love, and does not know what love is.

Mel is aware of what love may be very a lot. In phrases of physicality, the most bodily factor Natalie does is choose up her cat and put our cat again.

So Natalie is a romance novelist. Did you discover that Natalie going to that small city Cranberry Falls was nearly like being in a romance novel for her?

Yes, it mirrored it precisely. They even say in the script that Natalie goes to a small city that displays the small city she conjured up in her head as this profitable Christmas romance novelist.

And what was it like working with Neil Bledsoe and Nathan White and being half of a enjoyable love triangle?

Oh, it was a dream to work with Neil and Nate. They are such execs and are so witty and so right down to play and such good actors. Neil is seasoned, and he is a prince. He’s a love curiosity and has been in so many of these. Neil wears it effectively, and it was nice to work with him on this and bounce concepts off one another. He was very current and sort.

Almost all of the different stuff I stated about him and Nate did that to me was the most respected on set, and Nate was simply candy and witty. In reality, his final title is definitely pronounced witty, so he is witty like his final title. He’s additionally a really Veteran of these movies.

These guys have carried out a bunch of these films, so for them to carry their experience and their normal coolness was a nice expertise.

It seems like enjoyable. And what traits would you search for in a mate should you needed to create a want record?

We do not wish to give away too many spoilers, however Natalie begins constructing a want record of what she needs in her personal romantic accomplice. Certain traits embody a way of humor and trustworthiness; you will want to observe to seek out out the relaxation.

For me, they have to love canine or animals. I’m a giant animal lover, and one other one can be should love hanging out with household. Family time is essential to me. I’d in all probability steal the relaxation from the film since you’ll be able to’t go flawed with kindness, a way of humor, or trustworthiness.

The record has 5 in the movie, however in actual life, it is extra like 17. It can be an extended record.

And despite the fact that that is your first vacation movie, what are some of your favourite vacation films?

It’s not fairly Christmas, however they play it round Christmas or Thanksgiving, however the “Sound of Music.” It was a sentimental film rising up as a result of they might play it yearly, and the whole household would sit and watch and have a sing-along. It’s stunning, and I can watch it once more and once more.

Okay. And inform us why viewers ought to watch Must Love Christmas.

Viewers ought to watch Must Love Christmas as a result of it is a feel-good, humorous, and joyous journey. Everyone refers to those films as consolation meals, and they’re, however they’re just a little bit greater than that. There’s one thing you are able to do together with your complete household. The film appeals to multi-generational households. I watched it with mine.

It’s additionally cool to see a flawed character evolve via her friendships and, sure, possibly romance, however primarily via her friendships. What I like about this film and what I hope viewers get pleasure from is that in addition to being a romantic comedy and a good looking Christmas love story. In a small city, it is also a coming-of-age story.

If this film can reinforce to people who it is by no means too late to get well from a mistake, that it is by no means too late to continue to grow, and that you could come of age many instances. That’s additionally a beautiful message.

You can catch Liza Lapira in Must Love Christmas on Sunday, December 11, at 9/8c on CBS and on The Equalizer on CBS.