Golden Globe-nominated actress Penelope Ann Miller chatted with Markos Papadatos about her latest holiday film “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” working with Lucy Hale, and the enduring legacy of her celebrated film career.
Miller is embracing the holiday season with a festive new film, “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” a feel-good romantic comedy on Hulu that showcases her comedic talents and brings plenty of warmth, laughter, and holiday cheer to audiences.
The veteran actress, whose distinguished career includes memorable performances in “Carlito’s Way,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “The Artist,” and “The Shadow,” recently reflected on the experience of making the holiday film, working alongside Lucy Hale and Ian Harding, and collaborating with director David Lipper.
Miller also opened up about the 34th anniversary of “Carlito’s Way,” her Golden Globe nomination, her challenging portrayal of Nancy Reagan in “Reagan,” and her work in emotionally layered independent films such as “After All” and “Wake.”
With several projects in the pipeline and a “Career Achievement Award” awaiting her at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival in February, Miller continues to demonstrate her versatility and passion for storytelling.
A festive experience with ‘The 12 Dates of Christmas’
The synopsis is: Christina Walker (Lucy Hale), a successful shop owner who has devoted her energy to her career at the expense of her dating life, goes on 12 dates in the 12 weeks leading up to Christmas hoping to find Mr. Right.
Looking back on “The 12 Dates of Christmas,” Miller described the production as an especially enjoyable experience. “That one is doing very well, and it is already the No. 1 movie on Hulu, and hopefully, it will stay in the top,” she said.
“It was so much fun. We had a great time. I think you can feel that when you watch the movie,” she said. “Paul Ben-Victor and I ad-lib a lot, and David Lipper, our director, really likes it when we improvise.”
“We would just crack each other up, and we’d ruin takes because we’d be laughing,” she recalled. “Some of it obviously was in the writing, but some of it was just our own. David just lets us go crazy, so we had a blast.”
Working with Lucy Hale in ‘The 12 Dates of Christmas’
Miller was equally enthusiastic about working with Lucy Hale, who plays her daughter in the film.
“Lucy is just one of the loveliest persons I’ve encountered in life, not even just work,” Miller said. “Lucy is a really special human being, and I’m just so grateful I had the opportunity to work with her.”
Miller is also thrilled with the film’s reception, noting its strong performance on streaming platforms.
Having never really done a Christmas movie before, Miller particularly enjoyed the opportunity to embrace the holiday genre.
“I just love the way it turned out. I just think it’s so charming. It’s such a feel-good movie,” she explained. “You can bring the whole family. Anybody can watch it. There’s nothing crazy or dark. It’s just funny. It’s a great, fun rom-com, and I wish there were more of those movies around.”
For Miller, the timing could not be better. “It’s just a great thing coming up to Christmas and the holidays. You can all watch it with your whole family and not get offended, I don’t think,” she said with a sweet laugh.
Exploring grief and family dynamics in ‘Wake’
Another project that left a lasting impression on Miller was Wake, a film co-written by Kelly O’Malley and director Devon Michaels that examines the complicated dynamics of a family gathering after a loved one’s death.
Miller praised the ensemble cast and the film’s ability to balance humor with emotionally difficult subject matter.
She explained that finding humor in a story centered on suicide and grief was particularly challenging.
“It’s very hard to get humor out of a subject matter like that, and being at a wake, literally a wake, after someone’s death,” she observed.
The film examines how different family members process grief in their own ways, a subject Miller found especially compelling.
“I’ve experienced friends of mine who’ve gone through similar experiences, especially from suicide,” she said. “It’s probably just one of the most heartbreaking things.”
She also reflected on the stigma and complicated emotions that can surround suicide.
“When somebody takes their own life, especially if you’re a family member, there’s always some sense of guilt and being judged,” she explained. “I just find that subject matter very interesting.”
Miller portrayed a no-nonsense, controlling woman who attempts to manage the entire gathering.
“My character in ‘Wake’ is trying to run the whole show because she’s got the money,” Miller said with a laugh.
She appreciated the opportunity to explore the character’s personality while working with a talented group of performers.
“It was a great experience, too. Another great cast, and great group of people,” she added.
Working with Cole Sprouse in ‘Wake’
On working with Cole Sprouse as a performer, she said, “Cole is very funny, very witty, very quick and sharp.”
She enjoyed discovering his personality firsthand through their work together. “Cole is just so talented,” she admitted.
Celebrating 34 years of ‘Carlito’s Way’
Another significant milestone in Miller’s career is the 34th anniversary of Brian De Palma’s acclaimed crime drama “Carlito’s Way,” in which she starred alongside Al Pacino and Sean Penn.
Reflecting on the film’s legacy, Miller admitted that the passage of time was somewhat surreal.
“Somebody posted it, and I didn’t realize what year I’d done it. It kind of makes me feel old, but the fact that that was 34 years ago, I mean, that’s more than my children’s lifetime. It’s crazy,” she said.
Nevertheless, the film remains particularly meaningful to her.
“It’s such a special movie for me, and such a big turning point in my career,” she noted. “I loved the role, I loved the cast, Brian De Palma, obviously Al Pacino, Sean Penn, and there are so many great actors in that movie. It was just a really great experience.”
Miller on her Golden Globe nomination for ‘Carlito’s Way’
Miller also earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance, an achievement she remembers fondly.
“It was really exciting to be there,” she said. “There were really great actors in that category, and in all of the categories. It was just a good movie year.”
She added that being recognized alongside performers she admired was particularly meaningful.
“To be recognized for your work is such an honor. It was very exciting.”
Miller agreed that receiving a nomination in an exceptionally competitive category is an accomplishment in itself.
“To get even that nomination is almost like a win in and of itself,” she explained. “We’re all in such different roles, so how do you pick? Just being noticed for your work and having people say it was of quality or deserved a nomination does mean a lot.”
Taking on a challenging role in ‘After All’
Miller also reflected on her performance in the independent drama “After All,” expressing her hope that the film would reach a wider audience.
“I wish that movie had been seen by more people. It was a small film, we did it low-budget, and we filmed in Austin,” she said.
The role represented a significant departure from some of her previous work, requiring her to portray a mother who is dealing with a stroke and dementia.
“To play a role like that was quite a departure from what I’ve done in the past,” Miller explained. “My character had a stroke, and was going through dementia, and all of that was just so challenging in a lot of ways.”
Despite the emotional demands, she was extremely proud of the finished product.
“I was very proud of my work in that. I thought everybody was wonderful in the movie, and I really was pleased with the way it turned out and with my performance.”
Playing Nancy Reagan in ‘Reagan’
Another major undertaking was portraying former First Lady Nancy Reagan in the biographical film Reagan.
Miller described the experience as one of the most challenging roles of her career, largely because of the responsibility of portraying such a recognizable historical figure.
“Playing Nancy Reagan was probably one of the most challenging roles I think I’ve ever had,” she revealed. “To fill those shoes, and for people to know such an iconic person who’s so famous, you know people are going to be comparing you to her.”
Unlike fictional characters, historical figures come with an established public identity and an audience that remembers their mannerisms, voice, and personality.
Miller approached the assignment with extensive research, including Nancy Reagan’s autobiography, which became an essential resource.
“I had her autobiography, which I said was sort of like my Bible. I just kept it with me all the time,” she said.
She also collaborated closely with the film’s writer and director Sean McNamara, incorporating information and dialogue drawn from her research.
“A lot of the dialogue changed in the movie because, understandably, I would say, ‘Well, no, she actually said it this way,’ or ‘This is what she said,’ because it’s in her book, and she wrote it.”
Miller appreciated the collaborative atmosphere on the production, which allowed her to contribute to the characterization.
“They were so collaborative with me and allowed me to really add to the role and enhance it, so that it was the most of Nancy that I could portray,” she said.
She also explored Nancy Reagan’s personal history, interviewing people who had worked with her and reading extensively about her life.
“I tried to capture the essence of her as much as I could. I knew I wouldn’t look exactly like her or sound exactly like her, but I did my best to hopefully capture her essence and hopefully do her justice.”
The production also took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating an unusual filming environment.
Miller recalled how the cast and crew had to undergo daily testing, with everyone on the crew wearing masks.
“I didn’t know what anyone looked like,” she said. “Later, when the movie came out, I saw some of the crew and didn’t recognize them because when you’re covered like this, you haven’t seen them without a mask.”
She described the experience as an unforgettable reminder of how extraordinary that period was for the entertainment industry.
Memorable experiences in ‘Dahmer’
Miller also discussed her experience portraying the mother of Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflix limited series Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starring Evan Peters.
Once again, she found herself portraying a real-life person, although this time the available historical material was more limited.
“She wasn’t famous. She became famous because of the horrendous things her son did,” Miller explained.
Miller researched the character through available interviews and historical material, finding the experience both fascinating and emotionally dark.
A special ‘Dancing with the Stars’ experience
Away from movie sets, Miller recently enjoyed a memorable family outing when she attended a live taping of “Dancing with the Stars” with her two daughters.
The actress explained that both of her daughters have dancing backgrounds, making the experience especially meaningful.
Her youngest daughter, Maria, is a devoted fan of the show and had repeatedly asked her mother to secure tickets.
“She kept begging me. She kept saying, ‘Mom, please, is there any way you could get tickets for Dancing with the Stars?'” Miller recalled.
Fortunately, Miller was able to make her daughter’s wish come true.
The evening turned out to be a wonderful experience, particularly for Maria, who was thrilled to be so close to the dancers.
“Maria was so starstruck. It was so funny. She doesn’t even care so much about coming to sets with me or meeting the actors I’m working with. She is more starstruck from Dancing with the Stars,” Miller said affectionately.
The evening also featured several recognizable personalities and a live musical performance by Sheryl Crow.
“We had a ball. We were there for a long time, and your hands start hurting from clapping so much, but it was a really fun experience,” she said.
Miller was amused by the number of friends and acquaintances who subsequently contacted her after spotting her in the audience on television.
“I couldn’t believe how many people actually watched the show that I know,” she said.
Ultimately, the experience was about creating special memories with her daughters.
Remembering ‘Kindergarten Cop’
Miller also expressed sadness over the passing of Christian Cousins, one of the twin actors who played her sons in the beloved 1990 comedy “Kindergarten Cop,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The actress offered her condolences and described the news as heartbreaking.
“He was so young. I mean, it’s just heartbreaking,” she said.
Looking back on the film, Miller admitted that she had initially been uncertain about taking the role but was ultimately grateful that she did.
“It’s another movie I wasn’t sure I wanted to do, and then I’m so glad I did it,” she recalled. “I think it has such a following, and people love that movie. They just love it.”
She also fondly remembered working with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the comedy’s enduring appeal.
New films in the works
Miller’s schedule remains busy, with several additional projects either recently completed or preparing to reach audiences.
One of them is “Love Love,” a touching road-trip movie featuring Haley Joel Osment and Chris Elliott.
Miller described the film as a moving story about two brothers searching for their father, with Elliott portraying their dad.
She plays a quirky girlfriend in the production and encouraged audiences to seek it out.
“It’s based on a true story, too, and that’s a really touching, moving movie,” she said.
Miller also recently completed filming “The Sleeping Dogs of Southampton,” directed by David Lipper and shot in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Interestingly, she recalled another connection to the region through her earlier film “Biloxi Blues,” which was actually filmed in Fort Smith, Arkansas, despite its setting.
Penelope Ann Miller to receive a 2027 Career Achievement Award in Fort Lauderdale this February
The film is also scheduled to appear at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, where Miller will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in February of 2027. “That is really exciting,” she said.
The recognition represents another meaningful and well-deserved milestone in an already remarkable career.
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Read More: Rave review of “Wake.”
