Jonathan Bennett and Benjamin Ayres Define the Modern Hallmark Heartthrob

Hallmark leading men Jonathan Bennett and Benjamin Ayres have opened up about what actually separates a familiar romantic hero from a truly unforgettable heartthrob. Turns out, it’s a lot deeper than just a charming smile or a well-timed mistletoe moment.

Speaking before Hallmark Channel’s 25th Birthday Celebration in New York, the longtime network stars pointed to vulnerability, authenticity, and increased representation as the real secret sauce behind today’s Hallmark leading men.

The Real Secret Behind a Hallmark Heartthrob

For decades, Hallmark movies have been the go-to escape: cozy small towns, second chances, holiday miracles, and love stories that somehow show up at just the right time. Sure, the snowy settings and festive sweaters help, but Bennett and Ayres say it’s emotional honesty that really makes the magic happen.

Benjamin Ayres, a familiar face in Hallmark’s Christmas lineup, says vulnerability is what transforms a likable character into someone audiences root for. Anyone can act confident or funny, but showing a character’s doubts and fears? That’s what gives the romance its real pull.

Why Vulnerability Makes the Romance Work

Ayres gets that Hallmark viewers aren’t just tuning in for good looks and holiday vibes. They want to see an emotional journey.

Maybe a character shows up in town with career stress, family baggage, or a reluctance to trust love again. The romance clicks when that character finally lets someone see what’s going on beneath the surface.

That kind of openness helps the actor too. Ayres has said playing vulnerability lets him step into the story in a more natural way.

It gives the character more depth than your standard rom-com blueprint. Suddenly, every glance or misunderstanding feels like it matters.

• Charm draws people in.
• Humor adds warmth and chemistry.
• Vulnerability keeps viewers invested.

Ayres has leaned into this formula throughout his Hallmark run. Since joining the network’s roster in 2016, he’s popped up in a bunch of beloved romantic titles, especially in those Christmas movies fans wait for all year.

Benjamin Ayres Has Built a Christmas Romance Legacy

Ayres is now one of those faces people associate with Hallmark’s holiday countdown—sometimes even before the first wreaths go up. His credits include 2019’s A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, 2023’s Miracle in Bethlehem, PA, and 2024’s The Santa Class. Each one brings Hallmark’s signature mix of hope, humor, and romance.

Just recently, Ayres starred opposite Meghan Ory in A Christmas Angel Match. This time, he plays Michael, a Christmas angel trying to reunite soulmates before the holiday deadline. It’s a magical twist on the usual Hallmark leading-man role.

From Christmas Angels to Period Drama

Ayres isn’t just sticking to Christmas movies. He’s also starring with Bethany Joy Lenz in the Hallmark+ series Hope Valley: 1874.

It’s a period drama that shows he’s not afraid to mix things up after years of love stories. Still, his take on the ideal Hallmark hero stays the same: audiences want someone who feels real.

Even in a world of Christmas angels and magical coincidences, viewers want to see characters who have genuine emotions. That’s what keeps people coming back.

Jonathan Bennett feels the same way, though he’s quick to use a different word: authenticity.

Jonathan Bennett Says Authenticity Changes Everything

Bennett, with Hallmark since 2010, thinks the best leading men bring their true selves to the role. A character becomes more interesting when the actor’s real-life personality and the role’s emotional truth overlap.

It’s not about squeezing into some narrow version of a romantic hero. It’s about letting your own experience and quirks shape the performance.

Bennett’s approach has made him a big part of Hallmark’s push for more representation. He’s shown that the classic romantic lead isn’t limited to one sexuality, one couple dynamic, or one storyline.

A leading man can be gay or straight, play gay or straight, and still give viewers the big, swoony romance they expect from Hallmark.

A Milestone Career in Hallmark Representation

Bennett’s been at the center of several big moments for the network. He appeared in Hallmark’s first same-sex kiss in 2020’s The Christmas House, a pretty major shift for both the channel and its fans.

Later, he starred in The Holiday Sitter—Hallmark’s first gay Christmas movie—in 2022. Bennett didn’t just act in it; he co-wrote and executive produced the film, making sure a gay couple was front and center, not just in the background.

• 2020: The Christmas House featured Hallmark’s first same-sex kiss.
• 2022: The Holiday Sitter became the network’s first gay Christmas movie.
• The Groomsmen trilogy: Bennett’s character Danny was part of one of Hallmark’s first on-screen same-sex weddings.

His role in The Groomsmen trilogy kept that momentum going. Bennett played Danny, a former pro baseball player whose storyline included one of Hallmark’s earliest same-sex weddings.

These moments didn’t just shake up casting. They expanded who gets to have a big, sweeping love story on screen.

Hallmark’s Leading Men Are No Longer One-Size-Fits-All

Bennett and Ayres are speaking up at an interesting time for Hallmark. The network’s long been known for comfort viewing, but lately, it’s been adding more inclusive love stories and a wider mix of characters.

That classic Hallmark magic isn’t going anywhere. Snowy reunions, bakery owners, hometown festivals, career-driven leads, and mistletoe are still in the mix. What’s changing is who gets to stand in the spotlight—and honestly, it’s about time.

The New Hallmark Formula Is About Connection

The takeaway from Bennett and Ayres is, honestly, refreshingly simple. The perfect Hallmark heartthrob isn’t just about a handsome face or being charming while, say, chopping down a Christmas tree.

He’s got to be emotionally present on screen. There has to be something believable in his relationships and a sense of authenticity in how he carries himself.

Ayres talks about looking for the vulnerability that sits just under the charm. Bennett leans into authenticity, pointing out that a romantic lead doesn’t have to fit a single mold.

If you want to see what they mean, you can stream Bennett’s standout Hallmark projects or Ayres’s holiday romances on Hallmark+. There are plenty more feel-good favorites there too.

Maybe the next wave of Hallmark heartthrobs will do more than just look the part. If these two are right, they’ll bring a little more heart—and maybe even a few surprises—to the screen.