Abhiroop Das
Created by Per-Olav Sørensen, Kristian Anderson, and Amir Shaheen, Netflix’s ‘Home for Christmas,’ originally titled ‘Hjem til jul,’ tells the story of Johanne, a down-on-her-luck nurse who is perpetually single. However, being in her 30s, she has to face enormous pressure from her parents every time she visits them. This changes one Christmas season, when she lies to them about having found her soulmate. What starts out as a lookout spanning 24 days for a boyfriend to bring to the family dinner gradually turns into a tale of finding sincerity and companionship. As her hunt continues, Johanne’s dreamy life in a quaint town begins to shift and turn as well, with snow landscapes, cozy cafes, and bustling markets each adding their own flavour to this romantic dramedy series.
Home for Christmas Filming Locations
‘Home for Christmas’ was lensed on-site in Norway, with the town of Røros serving as the main filming location. Portions of the series were also taped in the capital city of Oslo. As per the series creator, Per-Olav Sørensen, the show was shot across four to five locations in the country, with visual poetry being the driving factor in the crew’s choice of locations. Filming for the inaugural season began in the Spring of 2019, following a release on December 19 of the same year. While production for the second season started in March of 2020, it was briefly paused due to COVID-19 restrictions, and resumed in July of the same year, before the season hit the screens five months later, on December 18. Filming for season 3 began sometime in late 2024 and wrapped up in early 2025.
Røros, Norway
For the filming of ‘Home for Christmas,’ the crew primarily set up camp in the city of Røros, in Norway’s Trøndelag county. Situated along the river Hyttelva and the iconic Rørosbanen railway line, the place was originally designed as a copper mining town, which earned it the nickname Bergstaden, meaning “the rock town.” In 1980, the town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to its rich cultural heritage. For creator Per-Olav Sørensen, who reportedly wanted to create a fantasy town exuding the warmth and joys of Christmas, Røros was an instant fit. He further explained that, while the series involves a number of geographical creative liberties, the rock town is still a key ingredient in the world-building-driven storytelling.
Sørensen particularly praised Røros’s main shopping street, known as the Kjerkgata street, which is one of the show’s evergreen visual highlights. The market strip’s name literally translates to “the street where the church is located,” referring to the town’s iconic Røros Church, located at Kjerkgata 39, 7374. However, to maintain the fictionality of the show’s setting, the church was digitally removed from several scenes. Additionally, the crew converted Frost Røros, the town’s largest clothing store, located at Kjerkgata 30, into an Escape Room for the show. Filming also extended to Lille Røros, located at Kjerkgata 24, and in Kaffestuggu, the oldest eatery of Røros, located at Bergmannsgata 18, 7374. Thus, the production captured all of the town’s historical charm and magic and poured it into ‘Home for Christmas.’
Oslo, Norway
A portion of the show was also taped in Norway’s capital city, Oslo, which is a five-hour drive from Røros. Here, the creative team set their sights on the neighborhood of Kampen, located in the heart of the Gamle Oslo borough. Particularly, the building at Normannsgata 21B was transformed into Johanne’s signature pink house. The one-bedroom wooden house was reportedly built well over a century ago, in 1889, which added a rustic edge to the location on-screen. According to reports, the crew also took over the neighborhood of Rosendalsveien in Oslo’s Nordstrand borough, and roads were temporarily closed for the filming of key sequences.
Moss, Norway
Reportedly, the show’s production also extended to the coastal town of Moss, located approximately forty miles south of Oslo, with key sequences being lensed around February of 2025. Scandinavia’s largest terminal moraine structure, the Raet, runs through this picturesque town, contrasting its neighboring island of Jeløya. Due to its eye-catching expanses, Moss is a sought-after filming destination and can be found in titles such as ‘Christmas Blood,’ ‘The Regulars,’ and ‘Cabin Crazy.’
Home for Christmas Cast Details
The cast of ‘Home for Christmas’ is led by actor Ida Elise Broch, who is joined by Gabrielle Leithaug, Dennis Storhøi, and Felicia Danielsson in bringing the show’s emotional cocktail to life. With dreams of becoming a creative artist, Broch left school in 2007 to star in ‘The Man Who Loved Yngve,’ following which she joined the prestigious Norwegian National Academy of Theatre. Gabrielle Leithaug is a Norwegian music sensation, having released hit albums such as ‘Snart, Gabby’ and ‘Og Eg Lyger Så Det Renner Som en Foss Gjennom Rommet.’ Actor Dennis Storhøi has been in the industry since the 1980s and is also a trained thespian. He is complemented by Felicia Danielsson, a rising star in the Swedish film and television industry, both as an actor and a writer.
Ida Elise Broch as Johanne
Ida Elise Broch spearheads ‘Home for Christmas’ as the protagonist, Johanne Siri Seljeseth, who exhausts just about every method of dating imaginable in her pursuit of the perfect boyfriend. A seasoned actor, Broch first began performing in plays while still in elementary school, and her creative palette has only grown since. After first appearing in movies such as ‘Switch’ and ‘The Man Who Loved Yngve,’ Broch found her big break as Birgitte in the television show ‘Lilyhammer.’ The actor is also famous for work in popular Norwegian titles such as ‘The Third Eye’, ‘Fenris’, and ‘A Storm for Christmas ‘, where she essays the roles of Mari Friis, Emma Salomonsen, and Ida – The Popstar, respectively.
Gabrielle Leithaug as Jørgunn
While Gabrielle Leithaug steps into the role of Jørgunn, Johanne’s best friend and roommate, fans might better recognize her as the charbusting Norwegian music artist, Gabrielle. Having begun her musical journey with music talent show ‘The X Factor Norway,’ Gabrielle became a star singer with the release of her debut single, “Ring meg” and debut album ‘Mildt Sagt.’ She is perhaps best known for her breakout single, “5 Fine Frøkner,” which became an international sensation after its appearance in the TV Series, ‘Skam.’ ‘Home for Christmas’ marks her debut in the world of acting, and the character of Gabrielle serves as the perfect outlet for her skills.
Dennis Storhøi as Tor
Veteran actor Dennis Storhøi essays the role of Tor, Johanne’s father, and a constant source of dramatic high notes in the story. With a career spanning decades and over 70 acting credits under his belt, Dennis is one of the show’s most experienced actors and gets to showcase the full range of his skills as Tor. Dennis is best known for his portrayal of Herger the Joyous in the classic film ‘The 13th Warrior.’ Notably, he is a long-time collaborator of the ‘Home for Christmas’ creator, Per-Olav Sørensen, having previously worked with him on the Norwegian show, ‘Seks som oss.’ The actor features in a number of acclaimed series, such as ‘Mammon,’ ‘Nobel,’ and ‘MILF of Norway,’ where he plays Tom Lied, Ekeberg, and Roald, respectively. Dennis is also known for portraying General Sverre Lunde in the hit ‘Troll’ series.
Felicia Danielsson as Vera
Swedish actor Felicia Danielsson enters the show in its third season as Vera, Johanne’s new colleague, who promises to stir things up, for better or for worse. An up-and-coming name in the Swedish acting industry, Felicia’s acting prowess is evident in Swedish series such as ‘Toppen,’ ‘Knutby,’ and ‘Lajka,’ where she dons the garb of Saga Gudmundsdottir, Marie, and Rut, respectively. Felicia has also co-written ‘Lajka,’ which speaks to her all-around talent as an artist. In a conversation with MovieZine about her role in ‘Home for Christmas’, the actor revealed that she initially struggled with Norwegian dialects, but steadily improved over the course of filming, adding to the show’s charm.
‘Home for Christmas’ is further brought to life by its strong supporting cast, with many fan-favorite actors returning for the show’s third season. Actors Anette Hoff and Helga Guren return to the show as Johanne’s mother, Jorid, and sister, Maria, respectively. Additionally, Audun Sandem also reprises his role as Trym and is joined by actors Herman Tømmeraas, John Carew, and Gard Løkke, who step into the roles of Erik, Adrian, and Bo, respectively.
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