When it comes to gorgeous actors over at the Hallmark Channel, there are droves of faces to choose from. That includes, of course, 46-year-old Will Kemp. The Hertfordshire, England native has been dancing across our screen ever since he appeared in his first Hallmark movie, 2018's "Royal Matchmaker." It was then he made an indelible impression on our hearts with his suave, debonair Bond-like looks and attitude.
But who is Kemp, really? You might have seen him on the Hallmark Channel in one of your favorite holiday movies but find that you actually know very little about him. If you're interested in learning more about the star of this year's "A Not So Royal Christmas," we've got the lowdown on Kemp and everything you need to know about him before diving into his filmography — which has plenty more holiday fun, if that's what you're after.
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Before transitioning to acting, the British-born Kemp was a classically trained dancer. He started doing ballet when he was just 9 years old, eventually training at the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London. Later, he was accepted to dance at Adventures in Motion Pictures (AMP) and tackled well-known stage roles like the lead in "Swan Lake" and James in "Highland Fling."
Kemp continued as a professional dancer before scoring roles in the 2004 films "Mindhunters" and "Van Helsing." In the latter film, a "Dracula" story starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, Kemp put his choreography skills to the test as a shape-shifting werewolf. From there, it was essentially off to the races, so to speak. Kemp has appeared in a wide variety of different projects, from the romantic to the fanciful.
He's utilized his gift for dance across many different mediums, too. In fact, much of his dancing prowess can be seen in several of his films, as Kemp starred alongside Lacey Chabert in ballroom drama"The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango" for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. The film marked Kemp and Chabert's long-awaited return to the dance floor since 2020's "The Christmas Waltz."
It follows Detective Constance Bailey (Chabert) as she hunts for the murderer of a ballroom company CEO in the romantic Mediterranean seaside of Malta. When she's forced to go undercover as a dancer in a ballroom competition, Constance is paired up with Sebastian Moore (Kemp), a dashing dancer who poses as Constance's husband to aid her investigation. In addition to his starring role, Kemp co-created and executive produced the film, which took "many, many years" to make it from the page to the screen.
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Most recently, Kemp starred alongside Brooke D'Orsay in the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2023 film "A Not So Royal Christmas," which follows a journalist (D'Orsay) who wants to interview a reclusive Count who wants to keep his private life private. Instead, the Count sends a groundskeeper to do the work for him, who Kemp plays. It's the latest entry in the actor's now long-running career, though this role didn't require him to show off his dancing skills — though he probably could have found a way to, had he wanted.
It's not always about work, though. While Kemp prefers to keep his private life private, he has been married to music composer Gaby Jamieson since 2002 (21 years!) and the pair have two children together. He called her a "great wife" when speaking to Made in Atlantis, adding that she keeps him "very much down to earth."
What's next for this classically trained dancer-turned-actor? It's hard to say, but whatever he decides to tackle next, it's safe to say he'll be putting his all into it. Is there another Hallmark film on the docket? Maybe something else with ballroom dancing? We'll have to see what Kemp pulls from his sleeve next.
