As the cameras power down on Virgin River Season 7 and holiday films dominate streaming queues, Benjamin Hollingsworth is stepping away from fictional small towns

and cinematic romance to embrace something far more personal: a loud, joyful, gloriously chaotic family Christmas. For the actor best known as Brady on Netflix’s long-running hit,

this holiday season is less about red carpets and premieres and more about traditions, togetherness, and memories that feel straight out of a movie—complete with one nearly catastrophic fondue incident.

Fresh off months of filming in British Columbia and promoting his festive new film The Christmas Ring, Hollingsworth is preparing to gather his entire family under one roof. Alongside his wife, Nila Myers, and their three children—Hemingway, Gatsby, and Juniper—he’ll be joined by his siblings and their children in a rented holiday house designed to hold both love and chaos in equal measure.

“It’s going to be big,” Hollingsworth has shared with a laugh, describing a house filled with cousins, noise, food, and the unmistakable buzz of Christmas energy. “That’s how it always was growing up. And honestly, that’s how it should be.”

A Childhood Shaped by Holiday Chaos

For Hollingsworth, Christmas has never been a quiet affair. He recalls childhood holidays defined by ambitious family traditions—none more infamous than the annual fondue night. What was meant to be a cozy, European-inspired ritual once escalated into a near-disaster involving open flames, a flammable placemat, and a split second of panic.

“There was fire,” he admits, still amused years later. “And it was probably my fault.”

The incident has since become family legend, retold with humor rather than alarm. But it perfectly encapsulates the Hollingsworth approach to holidays: enthusiastic, slightly reckless, and always rooted in togetherness. It’s a philosophy he now carries into his own household, where perfection is less important than participation.

Christmas Through a Father’s Eyes

Now a father of three, Hollingsworth says the holiday season has taken on an entirely new emotional weight. With children still deeply enchanted by Santa Claus, Christmas feels less like a date on the calendar and more like a shared dream unfolding in real time.

“There’s magic again,” he explains. “Real magic. You see it through their eyes.”

That magic comes with noise, mess, and endless activity. Cookie-baking sessions become flour-covered adventures. Decorating the house turns into a full-scale operation involving misplaced ornaments and spontaneous dance breaks. And choosing a Christmas tree is less of a quick errand and more of a family expedition.

This year, the Hollingsworths plan to hunt down their tree the old-fashioned way—armed with a tarp, a tree-dragging harness, and the patience required when young children are involved. It’s not efficient, but efficiency isn’t the point.

“It’s the memory,” Hollingsworth says. “That’s what they’ll remember.”

When Real Life Meets the Screen

In a rare and meaningful overlap between work and family, Hollingsworth’s children even made a subtle appearance in his latest holiday film, The Christmas Ring. While not featured on camera, they were present during filming, quietly absorbing the atmosphere of a working movie set.

One particularly special day involved gingerbread decorating on set—a moment that doubled as both a filming detail and a family experience. For Hollingsworth, it marked the first time his children were able to see what he does for a living in a way that felt accessible and fun.

“They don’t understand scripts or scenes yet,” he says. “But they understand gingerbread and Christmas.”

It was a gentle introduction to his professional world, grounded in warmth rather than spectacle—much like the projects he’s drawn to.

A Hawaiian Pause Before the Holidays

Before settling into winter festivities, the Hollingsworth family recently returned from a restorative vacation in Kaua’i. The trip offered a striking contrast to the snow-dusted sets of Virgin River, replacing flannel and fog with sunshine and surf.

Days were spent snorkeling, canoe sailing, learning to surf, and exploring the island’s natural beauty. Yet even thousands of miles from Virgin River, the show followed him.

“People recognize you everywhere,” Hollingsworth notes, smiling. Fans approached him with warmth, often eager to talk about Brady’s future or Mel and Jack’s journey. It was a reminder of the global reach of the series—and of how deeply viewers connect to its characters.

Still, the vacation served its purpose. It offered space to decompress, reconnect as a family, and recharge before the emotional and logistical demands of the holiday season.

Life After Season 7

With Virgin River Season 7 now wrapped and set to premiere in 2026, Hollingsworth finds himself in a reflective moment. Brady’s journey has been one of the show’s most complex arcs—marked by redemption, regression, loyalty, and consequence. Stepping away from that emotional weight has allowed Hollingsworth to fully inhabit a different role: dad, husband, brother, and son.

The contrast isn’t lost on him.

“Acting is intense,” he reflects. “But family—that’s real stakes.”

It’s perhaps why his off-screen life resonates so strongly with fans. Hollingsworth’s holiday plans feel refreshingly grounded, a reminder that behind every on-screen character is a real person navigating the same joys and mishaps as everyone else.

A Christmas Worth Remembering

As December unfolds, the Hollingsworth holiday house will likely echo with laughter, sibling debates, children racing through hallways, and maybe—if tradition holds—a cooking mishap or two. But that’s exactly how Benjamin Hollingsworth likes it.

This Christmas won’t be perfectly styled or meticulously planned. It will be lived in. Messy. Loud. Full of love.

And in a year defined by long shoots, emotional storylines, and professional momentum, that kind of authenticity may be the greatest gift of all.

For a man who spends much of his life telling stories on screen, Benjamin Hollingsworth is clearly committed to making sure the most meaningful ones happen at home.