If Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce decide to snuggle up on the couch and watch a made-for-TV holiday movie this season, Jessica Lord hopes it’s Christmas in the Spotlight.
Lord, 26, stars in the Lifetime movie, which is inspired by the famous couple’s real life love story. In the movie, the Find Me in Paris actress plays pop star Bowyn, who “despite always singing about love and relationships, hasn’t found Mr. Right yet,” per the official synopsis. That all changes when she meets professional football player Drew (Laith Wallschleger) backstage at one of her concerts. Soon, sparks fly and the whole world is watching as the two major celebrities embark on a new relationship in the public eye just in time for the holidays.
The story is a familiar one for anyone who has been following Swift and Kelce’s romance since the Grammy winner and Kansas City Chiefs tight end began publicly dating in October 2023. However, Lord tells PEOPLE that Christmas in the Spotlight is a loving homage to the couple, not an exact retelling of their love story’s fairytale beginning.
“We’re not trying to be them, we could never be them,” the British-Canadian actress explains. “They’re these incredible, inspiring stars [and] I think so many people look up to them and their love for each other.”
However, Lord does hope the couple enjoys the movie if they do happen to tune in. “I hope they love it, you know? And the fact that it would be a warm holiday movie that brings them together would be just so lovely, but it really is our version of their incredible love story.”
For Lord, playing Bowyn feels like a full-circle moment. Since she was a young girl growing up in England and Canada, Lord — who is a dancer and singer herself — has looked up to Swift, 34. In fact, her grandparents even took her to one of the “Fortnight” singer’s concerts when she was younger. Bowyn says she’s still “wrapping my head around” playing a character inspired by the influential pop star who played such an important role in her young adulthood. “I’m a huge fan,” Lord says of Swift. “I look up to her in general as a woman in the industry and just as a person. She’s so dedicated to her craft and her fans and the way she gives back, the way she stands for women … she’s just such a boss.”
