How Jen Lilley’s First GAC Movie Reflects Her Heart for Giving

Published: December 10, 2021

How Jen Lilley’s First GAC Movie Reflects Her Heart for Giving

By Movieguide® Staff

Actress Jen Lilley’s latest Christmas movie, ROYALLY WRAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS, became her first release on the GAC Family network this past November.

Lilley called the movie “a bit of a Cinderella story” about a woman named Lindsay Peterson whose goal is to help children worldwide celebrate with a Christmas gift.

“She gets called to meet with the royal family who founded the charity and possibly become the international director. Of course, she and the prince fall in love and it’s not good because he’s a prince and she’s a commoner. So you have a bit of a Cinderella story going on,” Lilley told Showbiz Cheat Sheet.

“It was pretty amazing that her life kind of parallels mine in that I do have a goal to see every child get a Christmas gift,” Lilley said. Lilley also previously hosted the Movieguide® Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry.

Lilley noted that her role in the movie reflects her holiday charity work in real life. The 37-year-old actress co-founded Christmas Is Not Canceled last year, which will partner with Toys for Tots to provide gifts for children in need this holiday season.

Give a toy to a child in need this holiday for a chance to win The Ultimate Christmas! $25,000 worth of amazing prizes with winners every single week, benefitting @ToysForTots_USA and @Childhelp. Go to https://t.co/TUr23qD8Ew to enter! And please RETWEET to help more kids! pic.twitter.com/JGual58VuE

— Jen Lilley (@jen_lilley) October 25, 2021

ROYALLY WRAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS marks Lilley’s first holiday movie with GAC Family, which launched in Sept. 2021, after several movies with Hallmark.

“I’m so excited to be working with this network … They’ve been really wonderful on and off camera,” Lilley said, adding that the network generously supported Christmas Is Not Canceled.

“I’m so excited to be partnered with them personally as an actress too, because when I see the caliber in year one, when they’re basically a startup, I can’t wait to see what happens in 2022,” she continued.

Lilley is open about her faith and how it affects her decision on what roles and movies she takes on.

Movieguide® previously reported:

Actress Jen Lilley, a devout Christian and co-host of the 2020 Movieguide® Awards, says each role she plays has something in common: She’s prayed and sought the Lord’s will for what project to take on.

“The truth is Jesus hung out with tax collectors and harlots,” Lilley said. “I’m open to doing roles that are maybe edgier, as long as there’s a redemptive message to them, which is why I played the role of Theresa on DAYS OF OUR LIVES.”

“I do ask myself, ‘Is it the role that you want me to play, God?” Lilley said. “I don’t necessarily only choose wholesome roles, but at the same time, I’m not going to do nudity. I’m not going to sell myself short as a daughter of the King.”