Alexandra Breckenridge Craft, Courage, and the Characters That Changed Everything

Alexandra Breckenridge is the kind of artist who surprises you even when you think you know her. Her latest turn in Netflix’s holiday film My Secret Santa, where she plays a mom undercover as Santa Claus, is both an unexpected departure and a reminder of her range. Known for performances that balance emotional gravity with quiet warmth, Breckenridge leans fully into the absurdity and joy of the role, embracing prosthetics, physical comedy, and holiday cheer with fearless enthusiasm. “Playing a woman pretending to be Santa Claus was probably the most fun I’ve had on set in years,” she says, laughing, before admitting that it was “also the most uncomfortable.” Still, the experience reaffirmed what she loves most about acting: the chance to disappear into someone entirely different and come out transformed.

Breckenridge carries that same warmth into the role that has redefined her career: Mel Monroe of Virgin River. The global love for the series still astonishes her. “I’ll be at the grocery store or airport, and someone will stop me just beside themselves because of how much they love the show. It’s really special.” Her gratitude runs deep—not just for the success, but for the emotional resonance. “It means so much to me that I’ve been able to bring joy and even inspire others through Mel,” she says. Being part of Netflix’s longest-running scripted series is something she calls “a real honor” and a rare kind of luck. What fans can expect from Mel in the next chapter is growth, yes—but also continued truth. Because Alexandra doesn’t approach characters as puzzles; she approaches them as people.

“Humanity is simple—we’re human, and we have empathy,” she says, reflecting on her approach to performance. She never judges her characters, no matter their choices. That empathy allows her to transform effortlessly—from comedic extremes to tormented drama to supernatural chaos. And while she’s conquered nearly every genre, her eyes light up when she mentions the one she’s still yearning to explore: sci-fi. “I’d be thrilled to step into any number of sci-fi worlds,” she says. “But comedy will always be my favorite. I really hope I get to do more of it.”

Of all the experiences her roles have brought her, the connection with fans is the one that leaves her the most moved. Women, in particular, see themselves in Mel—her grief, her courage, her vulnerability. “They’ve shared with me that Mel’s strength inspired them to keep moving forward during difficult times,” she says softly. One encounter remains etched into her heart: a woman who approached her outside a market and revealed she had experienced a stillbirth, struggling to find any light. Watching Virgin River helped her climb out of that darkness. “I was so appreciative she opened up to me. I’m honored that Mel could help her in some way.”

But emotional depth comes at a cost. Filming heavy scenes is not something Alexandra can easily shake off. “When I open myself up into that vulnerability, it’s hard to turn it off,” she admits. Some actors can walk away from a difficult moment on set; she carries it with her for hours. A hot bath, a call with a close friend—those small rituals become lifelines. She’s learned to navigate the emotional residue with self-awareness and gentleness.

Motherhood has altered her in even deeper ways. “It’s like wearing your heart outside your body,” she says, describing the boundless love and constant concern that comes with raising children. Balancing 15-hour filming days with being present at home is a challenge she navigates with intention. “I try to be present when I’m not working and make sure they know how much I love them.” While she doesn’t consciously select roles through the lens of motherhood, the emotional transformation has shifted her craft. “Being a parent changes your view of humanity and the empathy you have for everyone,” she says. “In that way, it’s definitely changed how I approach work.”

Her creative life extends far beyond acting. She’s a longtime photographer, a potter, a guitarist, a quilter, a gardener, a cook. “I’ve always been a creative person,” she says, laughing as she describes how hard gardening truly is. She hopes to return more seriously to photography one day. “I really do love creating a beautiful image.” Her Instagram—where fans follow along as she gardens, cooks, and cares for her chickens—reflects these passions. “Editing cooking videos during the actors’ strike was really fun,” she says, though she admits the process is “much more time-consuming than it looks.”

Despite her visibility, Alexandra doesn’t feel consumed by the public eye. When she left Los Angeles in 2015 and moved into the woods outside Atlanta, she felt something lift from her shoulders. “Being surrounded by the industry made me feel like I wasn’t accomplishing enough,” she reflects. “Living outside of it lets me focus on storytelling, not perception.” This closeness to nature, to her family, to simplicity—it grounds her. It protects her authenticity.

Her journey has been marked by iconic roles—She’s the Man, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, This Is Us—each acting as a turning point in its own way. But none shaped her like the past decade did, a period she describes as “the best of times and the worst of times.” She experienced major success, marriage, and the birth of her two children. But she also lived through something no parent is ever prepared for: her young son’s cancer diagnosis while she was six months pregnant. “That’s an experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” she says. Through it all, her son proved to be a fighter. “We’re now eight years out. He’s healthy and happy.”

A year after he finished treatment, Virgin River came into her life. Call it fate or something else—but Alexandra knew instantly she could bring something uniquely truthful to Mel. “My experience mirrored hers,” she says. “People ask if playing Mel was cathartic. Honestly, it often felt like tapping into PTSD.” Yet she continued, giving the character everything she had. “What I was willing to share onscreen—the pain, the suffering, the strength—resonated with others in a positive way. For that, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Her personal life is layered with quirks and softness. She’s an introvert who decompresses after events, a woman happiest cooking with a small group of girlfriends, and—perhaps surprisingly—a lover of loud, explicit rap music. “I love to dance around the house blaring the dirtiest rap you’ve ever heard,” she says, laughing. It’s a glimpse of a woman who refuses to be boxed in, who finds joy in contradiction.

As she steps into her next chapter—professionally, personally, creatively—Alexandra Breckenridge is doing so with clarity and courage. Her story is not about being perfect; it’s about being real. It’s about navigating darkness, honoring growth, and letting empathy guide the work. It’s about resilience, vulnerability, humor, creativity, and authenticity all sharing the same space.

And with every role, every conversation, every moment she chooses to share, one truth remains constant:
Alexandra Breckenridge doesn’t just tell stories—she transforms them into something deeply, beautifully human.

Photographer/Creative Director: Amanda Peixoto-Elkins @amandapeixotoelkins

Story Kya Greene @noteasybingreen

Wardrobe Styling: Rocio Vega @_rociovega

Hair Styling: Arbana Dollani @arbanadollani

MUA: Nicole Maguire @_nicolemaguire_

Produced By Airport Famous Creative Agency

Photo Assistant: Isabeli Elkins @isabelielkins