For actress, book author, and tv personality Megan Alexander, the act of creating quality entertainment is rooted in a desire to represent a Christ-centered culture.
Alexander, who moved to the Nashville area 12 years ago and today lives in Franklin, stars in the new faith-based movie “The Best Thing about Christmas” and is the author of the new book The True Gifts of Christmas..
Both projects are illustrative of how she’s trying to provide Christian content in today’s culture.
“You can only complain about entertainment and culture for so long until you have to do something to combat it,” Alexander said. “I want to change culture for the better and, as a mother of three, I want to watch quality material with them.”
The Best Thing About Christmas
In “The Best Thing about Christmas,” which premieres on Dec. 20 on the UPtv network and then streams on the UP Faith and Family service, Alexander plays a wife and mother named Kara Hunt who faces tragedy and then finds hope during the Christmas season. When her husband Dylan (played by the film’s writer and director Derek Hinckley) signs a country record deal and moves to Nashville, the family looks forward to their dreams finally coming true alongside their oldest daughter Molly who also signs in the band.
“When tragedy happens, the family has to decide what they’re made of,” Alexander said. “It’s about the miracle of Christmas, but it’s also an intense movie with great acting. It’s about faith and family and how God is there for you.”
Alexander responded to a casting call for the movie a little over a year ago and, after getting the part, decided she wanted to be further involved. She became a producer on the movie and used many of her connections in the Nashville entertainment community to bring other performers like country artist Mark Wills and bluegrass musician Rhonda Vincent onto the project.
“I really wanted to get behind it with my connections in the industry. I knew I could support it financially and also in promoting it in many ways,” she said.
She also got to use her musical gifts in the movie–which features 16 original songs, two of which Alexander wrote. While she’s acted for most of her life and has taken acting classes in Austin, New York City and Nashville, this was her first opportunity to sing on screen.
“Growing up I sang in the church choir and in high school, so it had been a minute since I’d done it, but I was excited about it,” she said. “I wrote ‘In His Dreams,’ which is my solo in the movie and ‘The Baby’s Lullaby.’ Most of the other songs in the movie were written by Derek.”
The movie had its premiere in early November in Franklin, and she was excited to see the response from audiences. The cast and crew received a standing ovation at the premiere, and Christians told her how refreshing the film’s message is.
“People like that this is a stroy about a ‘real’ family. It’s a couple that’s been married for 18 years and who have four children,” she said. “It represents Christian families, and gives an inspiring message about realistic problems and how God can be there with you through it all.”
Reflecting Christ Throughout her Career
Alexander has worked in the entertainment industry for most of her career and was a national host for CBS Television for almost two decades, seen regularly on “Inside Edition” and “Thursday Night Football.” She executive produced the holiday travel show, “Small Town Christmas,” which appeared on the Fox Business Network and UPtv. Her book, Faith in the Spotlight, discussed how she stayed true to her Christian faith while thriving in the industry.
That desire to stay true to her faith is driven by her Christian background and her current family life.
She and her husband, Brian (a real estate developer) are the parents of three children aged 14, 10 and 6.
“Life is full, with lots of activities,” she said of her family life. “We have to juggle everything, and be there for our kids.”
Alexander said her family is forefront in her mind when considering projects.
“In my 20 years in the industry, I was offered parts on popular shows but I wouldn’t want my kids to watch them,” she said. “Being a mother makes you focus on what you’re putting out into the world.”
Alexander said that Christians are called to be “salt and life” in the world–reflecing God’s heart, not the world’s culture. That’s something, she said, that you can teach your children.
“We have conversations with the kids and challenge them to consider who they represent,” she said. “And for us, we ask ourselves who we’re promoting to the world. Every job can be a ministry, and we can do our part.”
She’s excited and “super grateful” to be able to provide some of the family-friendly options in entertainment that Christians need today.
She added that she’s always available partner with other entertainers and creative people to spread that good news.
“I’m always looking to partner with like-minded people,” she said. “I want to work with other Christians in quality projects, And I want to be able to help and mentor young filmmakers as well.”
A Christmastime Witness
Alexander’s children inspired her other newest project–a coffee table book titled The True Gifts of Christmas: Unwrapping the Meaning Behind our Most Treasured Traditions. The book, which was published by Loyola Press and just came out this Fall, was influenced by her family’s Christmas traditions and her own children’s questions during the holiday season.
“Like so many mothers, I dread the question, ‘Is there really a Santa Claus?’” she said. “When my 10-year-old was starting to ask, I wanted to have a better answer.”
That question led to her research into the real Saint Nicholas, who she found to be an inspiring example of Chrisian love, charity, and giving.
“I pitched the idea, and they said, ‘what if we research all the other traditions and find the deep Christian stories?’ It goes all the way to the 25th of the month and breaks down Advent calendars, the Christmas tree, poinsettias, candy canes, and more” Alexander said. “It bridges the gap between the Christian and secular sides. There’s so much deep spiritual meaning behind even our secular Christmas traditions.”
She hopes that the book will inspire others to continue on with a family tradition–or to start a brand new one.
Along with her new book, “The Best Thing About Christmas” movie, and a prior children’s book titled The Magic of A Small Town Christmas, Alexander is adamant that the holidays can be filled with plenty of opportunities for Christian families to represent their faith well.
“We are called to represent Christ in everything we do,” she said. “We can affect culture for the better, at all times.”
To learn more about Megan Alexander:
Visit her website, www.meganalexander.co
Visit the film website, www.thebestthingaboutchristmasmovie.com
Find her new book, www.loyolapress.com
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