Naman Shrestha
Directed by Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, OWN’s ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ is a romantic drama movie that revolves around a lonely and reserved professor named Maya Montgomery, whose plans to have a pretend boyfriend go sideways as she faces unexpected consequences. In hopes of changing her life, she pretends to be the girlfriend of an unconscious stranger at the hospital. Things get complicated when she gets involved with the hospitalized man’s family as they make plans for the holidays. Meanwhile, as Maya spends time by the stranger’s hospital bed, she begins developing strong romantic feelings for his doctor, Daniel, who turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. The tale, filled with deceit and romance, unfolds in a bustling city, primarily inside the hospital where the stranger is recovering from his injuries, while Maya becomes a part of his family’s holiday plans.
Where Was Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Filmed?
‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ was primarily filmed in Ontario, particularly in Dundas and Brampton. Additional portions were also shot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As per reports, principal photography for the OWN production took place in the month of March 2025 over the course of a few weeks.
Dundas, Ontario
A significant portion of the shooting of ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ took place in Dundas, a charming downtown area in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. To be specific, the cast and crew visited the Northcliffe Campus of Columbia International College at 74 Northcliffe Avenue to tape a few sequences of Maya Montgomery in her workplace. The scene where the professor expresses her excitement to her friend over getting to spend the holidays alone was lensed right outside the senior high school. Popularly referred to as The Valley Town, the urban district is known for its tree-lined streets, picturesque valley vistas, historic heritage, and cozy small-town appeal.
Brampton, Ontario
The romantic drama film was also shot in the city of Brampton in Southern Ontario. Part of the Greater Toronto Area, it has emerged as a notable filming destination in the region thanks to its production-friendly policies, diverse architecture, historic neighborhoods, proximity to Toronto, and an array of locations that can stand in for a wide range of settings. In the case of the OWN Production, the team settled on one such public establishment — Brampton City Hall, situated at the intersection of Wellington Street and Main Street. Located at 2 Wellington Street West in the downtown area, the property was utilized to capture the exterior shots of the hospital where the man gets admitted after his icy mishap.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For shooting purposes, the filming unit of ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ also traveled to the city of Philadelphia, also known as Philly. In the establishing and exterior shots, many of you might spot popular landmarks, skyscrapers, and places of interest, such as the Spring Garden Street Bridge, the Comcast Technology Center, Liberty Place, BNY Mellon Center, Three Logan Square, G. Fred DiBona Jr. Building, and more.
Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Cast Details
The cast of ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ was led by impressive performances from KiKi Layne and Etienne Maurice, as well as their undeniable chemistry between their characters. The former is not only known for her acting talents but also for her singing skills, which she has showcased in ‘Spaceman’ by performing “Murmuration” and ‘American Fiction’ by performing “Last Call.” On the other hand, Etienne has served as a director for ‘Karateman,’ ‘Hideous,’ ‘The Last Laugh,’ and ‘H.E.I.R.’
KiKi Layne as Maya Montgomery
KiKi Layne portrays Maya Montgomery, the lonely professor who pretends to be in a relationship with a hospitalized stranger, in the OWN production. Having started her career by featuring in the short film ‘Veracity,’ KiKi has climbed up the ladder and landed various kinds of roles in major projects. She features in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ as Tish Rivers, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ as Margaret, ‘The Old Guard’ as Nile, and ‘Native Son’ as Bessie.
Etienne Maurice as Daniel Baker
Etienne Maurice essays the role of Daniel Baker, the doctor of the stranger and Maya’s love interest, in ‘Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ Etienne has numerous short film credits to his name, such as ‘Young & Naive,’ ‘Crossroads,’ ‘Basic Lee,’ ‘First Day Back,’ and ‘Gummi Bear.’ You might recognize him from ‘Mistletoe & Matrimony,’ where he portrays Isaiah Howes, and ‘Blackjack Christmas,’ where he plays the character of a butler.
The lead actors are supported by various other talented actors, who play supporting yet critical roles, including Kwaku Adu-Poku as Wally, Phelisha Cassup as Nadine Davis, Claudia Hamilton as Roxy, Roy Lewis as Charles Davis, Daniel Malik as Leo, Jackie Richardson as Bernice Davis, Nadine Whiteman as Eleanor Davis, and Carlisle J. Williams as Keenan Davis.
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