While some stars stick to their daytime drama roots, others take their talents to the holiday screen, starring in feel-good Christmas movies. Here are five Christmas movie stars you may have forgotten got their start in the world of soaps.
Lindsay Lohan
Before becoming a household name with The Parent Trap, Lindsay Lohan had a recurring role on Another World as Alli, a character who graced the soap for a year before being recast. However, that wasn’t Lohan’s first foray into daytime TV. In 1993, she appeared on Guiding Light as Chrissie. Fast forward to recent years, Lohan has embraced the world of Christmas romcoms, starring in Netflix hits like Falling for Christmas and Our Little Secret. Of course, we can’t forget her unforgettable Mean Girls moment, where the girls performed a memorable choreography to “Jingle Bell Rock.”
Trevor Donovan
Before becoming a staple in Hallmark Christmas movies, Trevor Donovan was part of the Days of Our Lives family, playing Jeremy Horton. Donovan’s time in Salem was short-lived, lasting only four months before his character departed following a dramatic storyline involving an attempted murder of Stephanie. But Donovan found a second home in holiday movies, becoming one of Hallmark’s favorite leading men, and starring in romantic comedies, including one alongside Days alum Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa).
Joyce Guy
General Hospital fans know Joyce Guy as Phyllis, the kind-hearted woman who took in an amnesiac Sonny (Maurice Benard) after his memory loss, helping him recover in Nixon Falls. Guy was a fan favorite during her time running Charley’s Pub on GH. Outside of the soap world, she’s also known for her role as Principal Compton in the 1994 holiday classic The Santa Clause, where she helped Tim Allen’s Santa navigate his magical journey.
Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Bernsen is perhaps best known to soap fans for his long-running role as Father Todd Williams on The Young and the Restless, a role he has reprised on and off since 2004. Bernsen is also recognized for his iconic family connection—he’s the son of Y&R legend Jeanne Cooper. In the Christmas movie realm, Bernsen played David in the 2001 holiday comedy I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, a heartwarming tale where a young Dylan and Cole Sprouse discover their mother kissing “Santa Claus,” only to realize it’s their father in disguise.
Lacey Chabert
Lacey Chabert’s soap opera roots trace back to her brief yet memorable stint as Bianca Montgomery on All My Children. Appearing in just 10 episodes from 1992-1993, Chabert’s career quickly took off, and she became known as the “Queen of Christmas.” Since then, she’s starred in over a dozen Hallmark Christmas movies, cementing her place as a holiday movie staple. Her Christmas cheer and onscreen warmth have made her one of the most beloved stars of the season.
These stars have proven that whether it’s in the world of soaps or holiday movies, their charm and talent have made an unforgettable mark on both screens. So the next time you cozy up with a Christmas movie, remember—you just might be watching a familiar face from the soap opera world!
