For years, fans knew Sarah Drew as Dr. April Kepner on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. This fall, she’s balancing two very different projects. In Jimmy, the Jimmy Stewart biopic in theaters Nov. 6, she appears alongside KJ Apa and Jason Alexander as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. On the small screen, she stars in and executive produces Hallmark Channel’s Mistletoe Murders, based on the hit Audible Original. Season 3 premieres Nov. 5, with new episodes weekly and streaming the next day on Hallmark+.
We talked with Drew about where her career has taken her since Grey Sloan, her overnight skin secret and how she stays grounded during her busiest season yet.
Hedda Hopper was famous for her extravagant hats and her signature 1940s Hollywood glamour. What did the hair and makeup process look like to become her, and was there a moment in the chair when you felt the character click?
“I am obsessed with Hedda’s hats. We had an incredible milliner from London make every one of her hats from scratch. We sent her the photos from my fitting once we’d decided what I’d be wearing in each scene, and then she built each hat to match each dress perfectly, using photos of Hedda’s many appearances as a guideline for each one. I would get so excited when the hat was revealed to me each day I went to shoot. Her hats and wardrobe definitely helped to get me into Hedda’s energy, but I think it was her voice that really made the character click for me.”
After playing a 1940s gossip columnist, did any of that era’s beauty rituals stick with you? What’s your everyday beauty routine like compared with being on set?
“Well, I love a red lip and will put one on whenever it works for my outfit, but I’ve always loved the red lip. I did not adopt any specific 1940s beauty tips after shooting the movie, mostly because the process just takes too long and I’ve got too much to do, but it was really fun visiting that era for a while, especially since I could just sit in my chair and let the team work their magic. I was pretty blown away at the artistry of how the hair and hats worked together to create a gorgeous look.”
You’re an executive producer as well as the star of Mistletoe Murders. Did you have a say in Emily’s hair and makeup? How did you want her look to reflect someone who’s ‘smart and tough’ but still fits the festive Hallmark world?
“Back in Season 1, I came to the show with a pretty clear idea of how I wanted her to look. I wanted her hair and makeup to feel really natural and fresh. I brought a special hair tool with me that creates Emily’s curls. I wanted her hair to feel like she didn’t put much effort into it, like she’s naturally curly and it just sort of air dries into those bouncy curls.
The tool we use creates a really natural-looking curl but with just a little more polish. Emily is busy and hardworking, and I wanted her to feel like someone who doesn’t spend a lot of time in the bathroom mirror every morning. She’s a busy lady with a shop to run, her past to run from and murders to solve.”
Holiday movies are often shot in warm weather with fake snow, or in real cold under hot lights. How do you take care of your skin through long shoot days?
“My new obsession is collagen masks. I love the Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask ($5), and when I’m working I sleep in these masks every single night. I’ve seen a dramatic change in my skin since beginning to use them regularly. I wake up with really glassy, dewy skin, and the mask keeps my skin hydrated all day.”
Fans have watched you on screen for well over a decade, from Grey’s Anatomy to now. How has your relationship with your skin and aging changed in that time, and what’s a skin-care habit you wish you’d started earlier?
“I wish I’d been more strict with myself about sunscreen. I don’t have a ton of sun damage, but if I’d gotten into the habit of sunscreening my face every day back when I was a teenager, I think my skin would be doing better. I also waited until my mid- to late 30s to start any real kind of skin-care routine, and I wish I’d started earlier with that as well. I used to just wash my face with body soap and call it a day. No moisturizer or anything. I baby my skin a lot more now.”
You’re starring in a feature film and producing and starring in a TV series in the same season. What does self-care look like for you with a schedule that busy?
“I’m doing my best to go to bed early so that I can sleep as much as possible. This season of promotion is pretty intense, and I have so many appearances and a ton of travel. It is a lot. It’s hard to keep everything organized, and the first thing that throws me off is lack of sleep, so I really try to prioritize sleep during these seasons.
I also like to start my day with a coffee and my journal. It helps me to just write down all the things I’m worried about and then spend some time in gratitude so I can reorient myself away from fear and back into joy and peace. When I’m not traveling, I also love my hot yoga studio. Yoga for me is very centering.”
Jimmy is in theaters starting Friday, Nov. 6. Season 3 of Mistletoe Murders premieres Nov. 5 on Hallmark Channel, with episodes streaming the next day on Hallmark+.
