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A mislabeled package convinces jewelry designer Alex she's found her ideal man, sending her and delivery driver Jack on a citywide search that helps them discover what they truly want. Aimeé Teegarden and Chris McNally star in "Love Finds You." (Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media/photographer: Courtney Julien)

Q&A: 'Love Finds You' star Aimeé Teegarden on new Hallmark film, succeeding across genres, and her 'Star-Crossed' beginning

by jmaloni

Fri, Aug 21st 2026 04:25 pm

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

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Serious actors take on serious roles in serious projects, and that’s what distinguishes them from their peers … is what we’re told; and we sure hear a lot about method acting, and this person is targeting such-and-such’s biography.

That’s all well and good but, for the most part, the performers swimming in that pool are all at least serviceable. They can all hack it.

You want to know what’s really challenging? Acting in an aspirational rom-com and not coming off like a piece of wet cardboard.

In this genre, there is a lot of flimsy.

And so, it’s super refreshing when someone like Aimeé Teegarden is cast, because she has found the formula for fantastic.

In Hallmark features “My Christmas Family Tree,” “Once Upon a Christmas Miracle” and “Christmas Class Reunion,” Teegarden displayed just the right balance of, well, humanness, making us believe her characters are caring, determined, courageous and funny.

Like, you know, real people.

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In that way, Teegarden is a magnetic presence on screen – and someone audiences have no trouble rooting for, as her characters embark upon a journey toward happiness.

That said, just because Teegarden has mastered this genre doesn’t preclude her from pursuing roles in other categories. She worked on the action drama “9-1-1”; on comedy-western “The Ranch”; coming-of-age drama “Friday Night Lights”; a cluster of horror projects, including "Scream 4” and the upcoming “Horrified”; plus, this writer’s cult favorite pick: the “Romeo and Juliet”-meets-aliens, romantic-actioner “Star-Crossed.”

This weekend, Teegarden stars alongside fellow Hallmark mainstay Chris McNally in “Love Finds You.” The network shared, “A mislabeled package convinces jewelry designer Alex (Teegarden) she’s found her ideal man, sending her and delivery driver Jack (McNally) on a citywide search that helps them discover what they truly want.”

The film debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday before re-airing on Sunday and joining the Hallmark+ streaming collection.

Teegarden shared more in this edited Q&A.

WATCH:

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BTS: Here in Buffalo, we were lucky enough to have big Hallmark/NFL football collab last year. People were thrilled to have Hallmark in town. For me personally, no matter what I write about, if it's government, if it's food or concerts, people are always asking me about Hallmark and the Hallmark movies that are coming out. So, the network has a special place in our hearts.

What do you like about Hallmark, and what keeps you coming back?

Aimeé Teegarden: I grew up watching rom-coms and loving rom-coms. Hallmark films are their own genre almost. I think that there's just something that's so lovely and cozy about watching a film that the actors are great; the set dec.; it's also very much seasonal. I live and I'm from California, and we kind of have one season (laughs), so I feel like being able to escape into a cozy winter something, or a spring thing, I think there's something that's fun about that.

I just also think there's a bit of escapism that it provides. Sometimes life can get pretty heavy, and I think that these films allow people a little bit of joy in their day-to-day. And I think that, from some of the interactions that I've had with people kind of in the same genre of what you're sort of talking about, of like out of politics or food or whatever, people want to know about Hallmark. That's really been something that I didn't appreciate when I first started doing Hallmark films.

It's really touching when something that you do because it's what you love and it's your job and it's your creative self putting it out there, and somebody comes up to you and says, “It got me through this really dark time,” or “It allowed me to whatever” – especially during the holidays. I think a lot of people have moments of reflecting on family members that may not be there anymore. I think it allows them a space to see the love and the good things in the world; and neighbors supporting neighbors; and people invested in the little things and community; and a little bit of wish fulfillment.

There's something about them that has its own place in my heart.

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BTS: You mentioned words “escapism” and “joy,” and a word that I often use is “aspirational.” Perhaps it's because of that, I feel like this is a hard genre to play. I see so many actors in films, not so much on Hallmark, but on other channels, that I feel they either take it too seriously, or not seriously enough – and it really just fails to meet that mark for me.

I think you're fantastic in this genre. What is your approach to the scripts? What is your approach to the material? And how do you go about fulfilling that escapism, that joy, that aspiration that we're looking for in these films and with these stories?

Aimeé Teegarden: Well, thank you very much. I very much appreciate it.

It's hard. I think, for me, and my creative or actor-y process with anything, regardless of the genre it's in, I think there has to be truth to it, and there has to be connection. And whether that's you playing a terrible villain, there's still something about it that has connection and how they see themselves in the world.

I think also, kind of going off of like aspirational, there's these moments in Hallmark, I think especially now, getting into more people as they're not perfect. Their lives aren't perfect, and they're flawed human beings. But it's still about finding the joy in those little moments and really kind of breaking out of your comfort zone, as well. How often are these characters put in situations that they’re maybe not prepared for, and they kind of have to jump in with both feet? I think there's something that is a little inspirational about that, as well.

But for me, especially with this film, it was a lot of fun. I love physical comedy. It's just something that feels good in my body. And to be able to play on the set and be silly, but then also finding the moments of connection and honesty and stillness, I think, is also something that helps me figure out what that line is, and kind of toeing that line of the right tempo and pacing.

It's an entire team who creates these films – and it's really about trusting everybody around you, and allowing everybody to do their job, and everybody's working on this big art project together. I think there's something that's also very energizing about it.

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BTS: Tell us about this film and what we can look forward to. Give us a little bit of a sneak preview.

Aimeé Teegarden: A sneak preview! So, it's kicking off the “Fall into Love” season, so it's the transition between summer and getting into fall, and cozy and things.

My character, Alex, is a woman who has found herself in more than a few relationships where she bent over backwards, put her own needs aside, conformed to who the other person thought they wanted, and put her own wants and desires and aspirations on the back burner. And is at a point in her life where she is done settling for what everybody else wants of her, and is finally ready to let go of the things that are not suited for her life, and call in the things that she wants.

BTS: And how about your costar, Chris? What did you enjoy about working with him?

Aimeé Teegarden: Chris is so, so fun. I had worked with him originally a couple years back, on another Hallmark film, “Christmas Class Reunion.” He was there for a day, and he dressed up as a giant elf, and I was like, “If this guy is willing to come to set and dress as a giant elf and do this silly thing,” I was like, “I think we're going to have a lot of fun.”

We just really had a good chemistry and meshed, and we're able to find a lot of just joy and fun and play on set. And I think we kind of have a lot of the same work processes and philosophies; and it's really refreshing and lovely when you have somebody who you can play with and you can explore these characters and go crazy, and then bring it small.

Our director, Eva (Tavares), I actually worked with on another Hallmark film as my best friend, and we had so much fun on that film! She's so lovely, and has this amazing eclectic background of opera and dance and acting. I think all of her tools that she has developed in her life brought so much musicality and movement to this project. It was so lovely to have her on set and directing. I think you see that a lot in the camera work, as well.

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BTS: Mr. McNally … What do you think: Does he have the best hair of anyone in Hallmark?

Aimeé Teegarden: Oh, Mr. McNally's hair, man; I mean, it is a situation. Though I will say, in this project, it was a specific request where he had to wear shorts the entire time – and there are a lot of really good calf shots! I say give the people what they want. At the end of the day, give the people what they want.

BTS: According to your IMDb page, you are also working on a horror movie. You've really done a nice job of being in a lot of different genres. I'm wondering if that's been a specific choice, or if it's just where the best roles have come about. What is your approach to finding roles and to finding projects? Are you looking to diversify, or are you just looking for the best thing that's out there at the time?

Aimeé Teegarden: I would say it's a little bit of everything. I mean, I am an actor because it's what I love. It's what fulfills me as a human being. It's a thing of self-expression. And so, for me, I think getting typecast, or whatever, or stuck into just one kind of genre, or one kind of role, cuts off that joy for me.

And so, for my own personal career, it's definitely been a choice. I like to sample all the flavors. I like to play in all the different genres. I think there are things that are so fun about certain genres like horror films – so fun; and the crazy prosthetics and the night shoots and getting to do stunts and things like that – amazing. But the night shoots, themselves, are terrible (laughs), awful, awful! And then romantic comedies, it's like a whole other thing. It's a lot of physicality. It's a lot of, “Will they? Won't they?” It's playing with the characters and taking the audience on this journey.

I think there's just something that's really fun; and to be only allowed to work in one genre, I think, would be pretty soul-crushing for me.

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BTS: You get a lot of questions, I'm sure, about “Friday Night Lights.” For me, I really liked “Star-Crossed,” and I’ve worked with Matt (Lanter) and with Greg (Finley) in the past. I was very disappointed when that didn't get renewed.

If I were to ask you for a memory from “Star-Crossed,” what might you share with me?

Aimeé Teegarden: Oh gosh, so many memories! It was, honestly, such a fun cast and crazy, and everybody was lovely, and everybody was so young. I think also the premise, itself, was a really great foundation to be able to talk about a lot of issues, and to be able to see that on TV – through the lens of aliens and humans.

Myself and Natalie Hall, we ended up – we shot in New Orleans. I had never been to New Orleans outside of when we shot the pilot there. She was living in New York with her little Yorkie. I had a little Yorkie. And I was like, “Well, should we move in together and find a place to live in New Orleans?” So, it was like the two of us, with our two little Yorkies, people thought we were crazy – and then we threw a giant One Direction party for the entire cast (laughs), and we found these weird PJs.

I don’t know; we were silly; and it was so much fun; and Halloween there was amazing; and all of the cast – it was a time in my life where I am so grateful for that opportunity. Just so many silly, silly moments, and lifelong friends from it.

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