Kimberley Sustad, a renowned figure in the Hallmark Channel, has shared her journey of dealing with imposter syndrome while writing and starring in projects. Her experiences on set and in the creative process offer valuable insights into the world of Hallmark filmmaking.

Unveiling Kimberley Sustad's Struggle and Success in Hallmark

Section 1: The Pressure of Writing Hallmark Movies

Kimberley Sustad, at the age of 37, found herself under immense pressure while writing the script for 2024's "Three Wiser Men and a Boy". Having worked on the successful "Three Wise Men and a Baby" and its sequel with star Paul Campbell, she confessed to feeling like she wasn't enough. "I have been worried for so long - talk about not feeling like you're enough, you know, having imposter syndrome. That's me writing these movies," she said. The network's expectations and the public's attention made her question her abilities.After the first movie became a holiday hit in 2022, the imposter syndrome set in. "I'm like, 'Oh, no, no, no, I'm not a profesh writer,'" she recalled. But the network and fans were quick to encourage her, with people saying, "You are! Write another." This only added to her fear and panic as she faced the task of creating a successful sequel.

Section 2: The Challenges of Sequels

In the sequel, "Three Wiser Men and a Boy", the Brenner brothers had to coordinate a school holiday play for the now little boy. Sustad made a cameo as a doctor in the original, and in the sequel, she briefly reprised her role and broke the fourth wall. Her character's quip about following up a hit was a humorous nod to the hard process of writing the second movie.She explained that they initially had a version where she was more of an obstacle at the school, like the principal. But it didn't serve the story and was too distracting. So, they retracted that and wrote it differently, making her just come in at the end. Despite the challenges, Sustad believes their team made a "better" movie than the first.

Section 3: From Rom-Com to Superstardom

Sustad's writing debut for Hallmark was with 2020's "Christmas By Starlight". Two years later, she helmed her first rom-com, "The Nine Lives of Christmas", which she said is the most accurate description of her real-life persona. Her character, Marilee, buying a gallon of ice cream after a hard day resonated with her. "I didn't know people didn't really do comedy at that time in these movies, but I just was me," she said.She continued, "If you could do another one or [create] another character like [her] that would be great. Based upon characters that we've played like a Miss Congeniality or something. I feel like that person." Like Sandra Bullock's Gracie Hart in "Miss Congeniality", Sustad isn't a fan of being all gussied up.

Section 4: Recent Projects and Future Endeavors

This holiday season, Sustad will be seen in "The Santa Class", which premieres on Saturday, December 14. She plays Santa School owner Kate North and works with instructor Dan to help a Santa Claus with amnesia regain his memories while saving Christmas and her school. The movie also features a cameo from Paul Campbell.As she has continued to work for Hallmark, Sustad has realized the rewards of acting and writing. "I can't decide which one I like better now especially when it's what you envisioned," she said. "I feel like that could be rare if you write for people you don't know and just hand it off to a group. I really like the collective project making because we're dealing with the producers and the director every day and working stuff out."The "Santa Class" premieres on Hallmark Channel Saturday, December 14, at 8 p.m. ET, marking another exciting chapter in Sustad's Hallmark journey.