To a era of viewers, Jonathan Bennett will ceaselessly be often called Aaron Samuels, the dreamy jock who gained the guts of Lindsay Lohan’s character within the 2004 teen comedy traditional “Imply Ladies.”
The actor, who’s homosexual, has extra not too long ago been discovering inventive methods to mirror his lived expertise by way of his work. This fall, he’s one of many principal stars of Hallmark’s “The Groomsmen” trilogy, wherein he portrays Danny, a homosexual athlete who helps his two straight associates (Tyler Hynes and B.J. Britt) as they put together for his or her respective weddings ― whereas holding out hope for a fairy-tale ending of his personal.
Within the collection’ second installment, “The Groomsmen: Second Possibilities,” Danny grapples with a “My Greatest Buddy’s Marriage ceremony”-like conundrum when he’s requested to be the most effective man for a longtime pal, Zack (Alexander Lincoln), who’s making ready to tie the knot in Greece. What Zack doesn’t know, nevertheless, is that Danny has been suppressing his personal emotions for him.
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“I bought married two years in the past [to television personality Jaymes Vaughan] and I had a bunch of my greatest associates as my groomsmen, and I’ve been in a bunch of my associates’ weddings as their groomsmen,” mentioned Bennett, who can be a co-creator and co-producer on the trilogy. “Half my associates are straight, half my associates are homosexual, and we’ve at all times been a wolf pack.”
“These associates are there for you once you want one another,” he continued. “However in addition they have an innate means to name you out in your crap once you’re not being your greatest self. So I assumed there was an fascinating story that hasn’t been advised of that male squad within the romantic comedy house.”
Bennett made his Hallmark debut in 2020 when he appeared in “The Christmas Home,” the community’s first holiday-themed providing to incorporate an LGBTQ+ storyline. Equally, “Second Possibilities” is billed as Hallmark’s first to function a homosexual marriage ceremony in a principal storyline.
In fact, Bennett knew he’d have to remain true to rom-com custom by having the movie finish on a cheerful notice for each Danny and Zack. However he and the remainder of the inventive crew nonetheless seemed for surprising methods to subvert LGBTQ+ tropes.
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Given the shortage of brazenly LGBTQ+ athletes in skilled sports activities, Bennett felt he would “supply aspiration and hope” to followers by making Danny a Main League Baseball participant.
“We wish to be certain once we’re telling tales ― whether or not it’s a vacation story or a marriage story ― that there’s at all times a seat on the desk for everybody,” he mentioned.
With 4 years of Hallmark expertise beneath his belt, Bennett can be thrilled to be mentoring would-be heartthrobs because the host of “Discovering Mr. Christmas.” Airing Thursdays, the competitors collection finds 10 actors vying to be the main man in an upcoming Hallmark Christmas film, “Comfortable Howlidays,” starring Jessica Lowndes and due out Dec. 21.
“My dream for the present is for it to be just like the early days of ‘American Idol,’ the place everybody gathers across the TV collectively on the holidays, and all people has their favorites that they’re rooting for,” Bennett mentioned. As to what makes the perfect Hallmark vacation heartthrob, he famous: “They’ve a wit and a kindness to them. They’ve a complete lot of coronary heart and charisma popping out of their ears. And, in fact, they appear good in a Christmas sweater.”
Watch a teaser for “Discovering Mr. Christmas” beneath.
Together with his tv profession as soon as once more in excessive gear, Bennett additionally bought to satisfy a lifelong dream this yr when he made his Broadway debut within the musical “Spamalot” as Sir Robin. Looking forward to 2025, he’s looking forward to a chance to return to the stage or flip his consideration behind the digital camera by directing his first function movie.
In the meantime, he and Vaughan have emerged as queer position fashions in their very own proper, providing quirky and colourful glimpses of their journey as a married couple to over 1 million followers on social media.
Bennett has been pleasantly stunned by simply how warmly his marriage has been embraced by legions of children ― and their mother and father ― who could also be coming to phrases with their very own sexuality or gender id.
“Sharing my love for my husband unapologetically with the world has been one of many greatest honors of my life,” he mentioned. “We don’t submit footage of us kissing as a result of we wish footage of us kissing ― I’m not even a superb kisser. We do it as a result of we didn’t have a love that seemed like ours to look as much as. This manner, our love will be seen by the individuals who must see it.”