Style Me For Christmas Star Raven Goodwin talks dancing with Mario and Black representation in Christmas movies

If you had a chance to style a handsome singer-songwriter for Christmas, would you say yes? If you said yes, check out BET+'s latest Christmas film Style Me For Christmas, which premieres on Nov.14th!

In the film, Raven Goodwin (Being Mary Jane, Grotesquerie) stars as Tiffany, a meek boutique owner whose life is turned upside down until she gets a gig to style, Tedee Maxwell, an R&B superstar played by real-life singer-songwriter Mario. As she realizes that financial ruin may be on the horizon, she also grapples with the fact that along with hip-hop superstar Mario in this cozy Christmas movie on BET+.

Supporting cast includes Vena Excell aka Pretty Vee portrays Ray'ah, Tiffany’s childhood best friend since childhood who becomes her voice of reason once Tiffany's shop is in danger of going under, Cheryl Frazier as Sarah, Tedee’s Manager, and Sincerly Ward as Nicole Whittaker, Tedee's manipulative ex who tries to win back him back by trying to get rid ofTiffany.

Style Me For Christmas is directed by LazRael Lison, written by Julene Fleurmond & Lynette J. Blackwell, and produced by Ty Johnston-Chavis and Melissa Llewellyn. Naturi Naughton Lewis, Tressa Azarel Smallwood, and Donte Lee serve as executive producers.

Culturess spoke with Goodwin to get insight into her experience on the set, if she'll watch the movie with her own kids, and why Black representation in Christmas movies is so important this holiday season. Read on to learn more about this holiday rom-com that's absolutely made for a girls' night in!

Culturess: This is such a fun story! It has humor, romance, which is front and center, but it's just so great and so witty. There was a scene where you're doing 'The Robot' with Mario. What was it like when you were approached with the script, and what was your first reaction?

Raven Goodwin: I thought it was cute! It was just perfect for the holiday season! I initially met the producer, Ty Johnston in carpool when I dropped my daughter off at school. We just connected and she told me about this movie, and I was like, 'Okay, definitely!' She told me about MegaMind Media and all that they were doing over there, and I had to be apart!

What was it like working with LazRael Lison and being on set with him?

RG: LazRael was super cool. What I loved about him was that he was super collaborative. So any question, anything that I wanted to tweak or change, they were open and very receptive to my expertise, and I appreciated that. It was a lot of respect.

That's all you would want as an actor: The respect. Specifically on films, because of the long, long shoot days.

RG: It may feel good on the page, but then you get in the space and it doesn't quite feel right anymore so you have to think quick and tweak and make it work. I'm always open and excited when everybody is in a collaborative space.

What I love about your character Tiffany is seeing her [in her element], using the sewing machine and the creativity with the outfits. What's your relationship to fashion? How does that play into creating Tiffany for who she is and incorporating that into the film?

RG: I've always had a sense of personal style. I've always been told I can dress. It's just a East Coast, DC-type thing. I just love fashion, and I found a lot of my fashion inspiration in music coming up. I did follow a lot of music trends and the music girls. I love how they put [outfits] together. Fashion is definitely a big part of my life, especially being an actress. Depending on the role, [will determine] how much you get to play in it. I definitely love how, even though Tiffany is super simple, she made everybody else look so amazing.

When I was watching the film, there's just so many funny moments, too. There is drama as well, but I feel like the humor overtakes the funny, in a really good way. Working with Mario, [it's clear] he has this everlasting charm that goes beyond generations. What was it like being on set with him also creating that relationship for the film?

RG: It was pretty cool! We grew up on Mario, especially being from the DMV, him being from Baltimore. He was definitely that guy and is that guy. He is an incredible singer. Being able to hear him sing up close and personal was pretty cool. He's super talented, and he's legendary. I was excited to work with him and he has some music that will live on forever.

Talking about Pretty Vee, who is so funny. I'm telling you, I stopped and went back because of some of the stuff she was saying. What was it like working with her and bouncing off of each other?

RG: I've always been just obsessed with her humor and her very physical comedy. She's an idiot [laughs], but she's so talented with it and I can always tell she's going to be a good actress. She's a great performer. Even when she's in her comedy, you can see the talent. She actually could rap. She's just one of those people who's just an all around entertainer. To see her day in and day out, how she operates, I'm always fascinated by different people that I work with, and I always just observe them. What I found is that she's actually very spiritual, and she's very about mental health and just overall well-being, and it shows on her. It's very inspiring so I love me some Vena, okay?

We are approaching the Christmas season! I'm on the East Coast so the leaves are changing and they're falling. Being in these Christmas movies, what is it like to see yourself and know that you are a part of this genre of films?

RG: It means so much, especially the [Black] representation. Growing up, we had great Christmas movies like Home Alone, but the representation wasn't there as much. For me to be creating these movies for my kids and their kids to grow up and watch and my nieces and my nephews, it means a lot. That's the main reason why I do them. So my baby can have something to watch of her mama, because most of the things I do, it's pretty inappropriate. Riley can't watch Being Mary Jane yet [laughs]. To be able to watch something now in addition to the stuff I did on the kids networks back in the day, it's just really cool to see her, and she can watch something of me in current time: "Okay, I was here when Mommy made that."

It just speaks to the familial aspect of the film. It's very feel-good, even with moments that are dramatic, maybe even somewhat steamy. You can just sit around in the living room and watch. Speaking of this legacy aspect of seeing more Black people represented in Christmas films, what do you hope is a lasting feeling that you want people to get from this film, specifically?

RG: Towards the end of the movie, Tiffany has this monologue about hope, and especially in this [political and social] climate, so much is changing, but the spirit of Christmas remains the same. With that comfortability, that smell, that warmth, the look of the lights, and the fantasy of Santa, the celebration of Jesus, all the things that we are familiar with, it remains the same. I love that to be a part of that consistent joy. It means so much.

Check out the trailer for Style Me for Christmas on MegaMind Media's official YouTube channel before you watch!

Watch Style Me for Christmas on BET+ starting Nov. 14th on the BET+ streaming platform!