As Hallmark Channel prepares to crown the winner of 2025’s “Finding Mr. Christmas” reality competition, with 10 leading-men-in-training vying for the title and a starring role in an upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie, series host and co-creator Jonathan Bennett has had countless conversations about what it takes to become one of the network’s most beloved heartthrobs.
That’s also been a hot topic at the 2025 Hallmark Christmas Experience, a fanfest held four weekends in a row in the card company’s hometown of Kansas City, where viewers meet and hear from their favorite stars. During a “Hallmark Hunks” panel held during the first weekend, some of the network’s top hotties — including ‘Three Wisest Men’ stars Tyler Hynes, Andrew Walker, and Paul Campbell — discussed (and laughed a lot) about what it takes to be considered a Hallmark hunk.
Hallmark Channel Actors Say There Are Certain Traits Hallmark Leading Men Must Possess
Moderated by Hallmark actress Taylor Cole, the “Hallmark Hunk” panel held at the Hallmark Christmas Experience over Thanksgiving weekend featured Hynes, Walker, Campbell, B.J. Britt, and Robert Buckley.
It should be noted that literally no one onstage felt comfortable being part of the panel, too humble to fully embrace their well-earned status. Campbell hilariously insisted that “no one gives a damn” about his supposed hunk status. But of course, that humility is part of what makes them so charming to fans.
When Cole asked the guys if they could describe the traits required to reach that “Hallmark hunk” status, Campbell looked at it from the perspective of a screenwriter, given that he’s written multiple hit Hallmark movies with fellow star Kimberley Sustad.
“When we’re writing, we think about this a lot: what makes an attractive or appealing leading man?” he offered. “And I think kindness, believe it or not, is a big one. Chivalry.”
Hynes and Buckley nodded emphatically at that, and when Walker suggested “vulnerability,” Campbell agreed, “Vulnerability is a huge one that we talk about all the time.”
The “Christmas at the Catnip Cafe” star said that finding a good Hallmark leading man is about “character qualities, not just the physical.”
Hallmark Hunks Say Humor & Lifting Up the Actresses They Work With Are Also Important
As the onstage hunks thought about which traits are most important for Hallmark’s leading men, someone in the audience shouted, “Sense of humor!”
“Sense of humor, yes,” Campbell said, and Buckley — who charmed the crowd with his hilarious dancing routine later in the weekend — interjected, “I think if you can laugh at yourself, that is very attractive.”
Buckley admitted his heartthrob status is not always helpful though, joking that when he calls Papa John’s to order pizza, they make his order take longer to deliver if he mentions that it’s “Hallmark hunk Robert Buckley calling.”
Walker, meanwhile, got applause and a choir of “awwws” from the audience as he added, “And be of service to your female leading lady. Prop her up, make sure she feels safe, look into her eyes.”
“Just shut up and listen,” Campbell quipped, and Walker repeated his advice. Sustad, who was backstage, walked out to adorably hugging and kissing Walker on the cheek as thanks for lifting up his leading ladies.
Jonathan Bennett Says Hallmark Channel’s Leading Men Have to ‘Carry Themselves’ a Certain Way
HallmarkDuring the “Finding Mr. Christmas” finale, which premieres on December 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, Bennett, his co-judge Melissa Peterman, and guest judge Erin Krakow will announce which of the final three contestants will be crowned the winner of season two.
Before the season began, Bennett told EntertainmentNow that the contenders obviously have to be good at acting, but that a Hallmark leading man must be much more than that.
“I mean, let’s be honest,” he said. “We’re judging these guys not just on their acting ability, but we’re judging them on who they are and how they carry themselves on and off camera. Like, we’re taking the whole picture. We’re asking ourselves, ‘Could I picture that guy on a Hallmark set next to Ashley Williams?’ If I don’t know if I can picture someone doing that, then I don’t know if that’ll work, you know?”
“Hallmark stars aren’t just good actors,” Bennett continued. “There’s something else you need to be a Hallmark leading man. There’s really five essential things: you have to be charming, you have to be funny or have a sense of humor, you have to be kind and have a huge heart, of course you have to be able to act, and let’s face it — you have to be hot.”
