Fans of the Netflix hit series "Virgin River" will definitely recognize actor Benjamin Hollingsworth. Local bad boy Dan Brady (best known as "Brady") has been stirring up trouble since season 1 while simultaneously battling some serious after-effects from his time in the military, where he served in Iraq. With a back story like that, a former military guy dealing with the shadows of his time in Iraq, he's simultaneously a heartthrob and the source of plenty of heavy drama. Luckily, Hollingsworth nails it, making us feel all the feels for Brady.
But if "Virgin River" shows his edgy side, then projects like Hallmark movie, "Romance in Style," with Jaicy Elliot is like seeing a whole new Hollingsworth. It's got those classic Hallmark vibes - you know, heartwarming, a touch of romance, and a good dose of holiday spirit. This year, he's also starring in "The Santa Summit" opposite Hunter King, which premieres Nov. 5.
Here's the fun part: in real life, Hollingsworth seems like a pretty chill dude, way different from the intense characters he's often rocking on screen. While he tends to gravitate towards more "difficult" characters (did you see him in "Joe Pickett" Season 1?), Hollingsworth seems like he couldn't be more different in real life. It's a cool reminder that actors are just like us, except they get to play dress-up for a living and make us believe they're someone else. So, big props to Ben here for keeping us guessing and showing off his range!
So if you're curious about the man behind these roles, it's time to take a bit of a deep dive. Get to know more about this family man and father, as well as his acting career, below.
Who is Benjamin Hollingsworth?
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Ontario native Hollingsworth graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 2006 before his career really started to take off. Over the years, he's appeared in a variety of TV shows and movies, ranging from "The Joneses," where he got some solid on-set advice from co-star David Duchovny, and Suits, where he played a memorable rival for series lead Mike. He was a series regular in the short-lived Ashton Kutcher-produced series "The Beautiful Life" and also starred in the CBS medical drama "Code Black" as first-year resident Mario Savetti.
His role in The Joneses brought him down to Georgia, where Hollingsworth was able to gain an appreciation for the South. Not to mention the fact that his other notable co-star, Demi Moore, insisted on taking him to a football game since he'd never seen one before. Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"Demi took me because I told her I'd never seen a football game before and she said oh you have to see one live... She picked me up and we go and we drive underground and we get out and the owner of the Atlanta Falcons greets us and walks us through this tunnel and like directly out onto the field. So my first football game I watched on the sidelines with the owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Demi Moore," Hollingsworth explained to Southern Living.
Virgin River's bad boy
Netflix
Potentially his most memorable role to date is on "Virgin River," where Hollingsworth has been a series regular since the second season. As a local resident of Canada, where the series is filmed, he admits that he constantly gets stopped and asked if he's that guy from the show. Luckily, it was revealed that Brady wasn't the culprit behind Jack's shooting because that probably wouldn't have gone over well with fans in the wild.
"I'm always so thankful," Hollingsworth told Parade of his role on the popular series. "I know how hard it is to become successful in this business and when you have a show that's doing as well as 'Virgin River,' I'm very grateful for all of that. Anyone who comes up to me is usually a fan and so I'm always happy to make time for a fan and to be grateful for them for tuning in and watching and loving the show and happy that I can be a fun part of their life."
Hallmark star
Hallmark Channel
Hollingsworth is steadily becoming a regular Hallmark leading man. He had two new films come out in 2022 — "A Splash of Love," where he owns a whale watching company, and "Romance in Style," where he plays the heir to a publishing company. He's previously also appeared in "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," "A Godwink Christmas: Meant for Love," and "Love Under the Olive Tree."
Family life in Canada
Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Since 2012, Hollingsworth has been married to his wife Nila Myers, a former lingerie designer and Bar Method instructor. The happy couple is based up in Canada and shares three children together — sons Hemingway and Gatsby and daughter Juniper.
"I can't think of anything or anyone I could love more than my family," Hollingsworth told Parents Canada. "Regardless of the relentless chaotic catastrophe I'm constantly surrounded by, I can't help but find myself squeezing them, smelling their hair and kissing them."
