An Actor’s Guide to Inspiration this Holiday Season

Welcome to your holiday actor activities roundup, friends. In this space, we recommend everything from empowering exercises to the best entertainment events for each day of the month, so you can fill your calendar with acting-related fanfare. Whether you’re dashing to auditions or cozying up on the couch watching a phenomenal performance, these 31 carefully curated activities will help you end 2024 on a delightful note — though the weather may be getting frightful.

Creative Inspiration

1. What do you gift the “gifted?” Check out our Holiday Gift Guide for inspiration!
2. Are you naughty or… kind? As artists, we’re empaths. Find out exactly how kind you are this season with the new Kindness Quotient.
3. Fly behind the scenes of the musical movie of the century with NBC’s Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked special.
4. Make a list (and check it twice) of all the people who championed your dream this year and send them your gratitude.
5. How can you lead with kindness as #1 on the call sheet of a hit sitcom? Tune in to The Art of Kindness to hear Young Sheldon himself, Iain Armitage, tell you how!
6. Read of the season: Wicked director Jon M. Chu’s Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen is a grimoire for dreamers. Discover how the acclaimed creative carved his path, and how you can, too.
7. Art meets innovation with Callaia, a powerful tool that generates screenplay coverage in a dash. While it’s geared toward writers, Callaia can be harnessed for actors looking to break down a script in a pinch, delivering detailed character analysis and more to help. For any loved ones reading – this service is at the top of my holiday wishlist.
8. This month’s Instagram spotlight goes to @morganharpernichols. The artist and author have kindly curated a welcoming digital space that is sure to bring your bustling brain some peace and stoke the fires of your inner storyteller.

What to Watch this Season

New TV:

9. Black Doves (thriller) races onto Netflix on December 5: Kiera Knightley headlines this action-filled show as a dedicated family woman with a secret life as a spy.
10. The Sticky (comedy) drips onto Prime December 6: Margo Martindale channels a disgruntled maple syrup farmer who assembles a motley crew (featuring folks like Jamie Lee Curtis) to take on the Canadian heist of the century.
11. No Good Deed (comedy) streams on Netflix on December 12: Elphaba isn’t the only one filling up pop culture with “no good deeds.” Dead to Me maven Liz Feldman reunites with Linda Cardellini in this series centered on the rollercoaster sale of a couple (played by Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow… I mean…) picture-perfect LA home. The prying eyes of cutthroat buyers force them to confront family secrets.
12. The New York Times released their “Best TV Shows of 2024” list so you can ensure your binging is all caught up for the new year.

Movie Mayhem:

13. Wicked (family musical) is defying gravity in theaters this season: One of the most popular films this decade is earning rave reviews from critics and popcorn eaters alike. Though you may feel like you’ve seen Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s stunning turns from all the marketing promotions, we can assure you that there’s nothing quite like watching the actual movie.
14. Fly Me To The Moon (rom-com) rockets onto Apple December 6: Scarlet Johansson and Channing Tatum are star-crossed in this charming romp surrounding the marketing launch of Apollo 11.
15. Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (documentary) soars onto Max December 7: This moving portrait chronicles Reeve’s rise to superhero stardom and the near-fatal accident afterward that made him a real-life hero.
16. Maria (drama) belts onto Netflix December 11: Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie turns in a career-high performance as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in director Pablo Larraín’s reimagining of the diva’s final days.
17. Carry-On (thriller) boards Netflix December 13: Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman face off in this twisty flick, which follows a mysterious traveler blackmailing a young TSA agent to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.
18. The Six Triple Eight (a drama, based on a true story) hits Netflix on December 20: An army captain (Kerry Washington) leads her historic battalion of all-female soldiers as they face a mission unlike any other: to restore hope to WWII’s frontlines by delivering over 17 million backlogged letters.
19. Nosferatu (horror) creeps into theaters on December 25: Ho-ho-no. Nothing says Merry Christmas like an ancient vampire coming down the chimney, right? Robert Eggers’ visually striking (and already-acclaimed) period piece is a fresh take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula story.
20. Babygirl (erotic thriller) releases in theaters on December 25: Nicole Kidman is already earning Oscar buzz as a commanding CEO who risks everything to have a torrid affair with her younger intern.
21. Friendly reminder to bake cookies, light the fire, and cue up some old holiday favorites. There’s no combination quite like nostalgia and the holidays.
22. In addition, round out your 2024 by watching all the “Best Movies of 2024” according to Rotten Tomatoes.

Wellness Activities

23. An actor’s throat needs a coat, too! There’s no better way to combat nature’s freeze than with natural herbs. Traditional Medicinals is the ultimate stocker stuffer.
24. Say no. Plain and simple. A lot is going on this holiday season, and sometimes you have to say “no” to others to say “yes” to your inner peace. As auditions wind down, let yourself wind down, too!
25. Holiday actor’s affirmation: “Just as Mariah Carey defrosts every holiday season to proclaim – it’s time – it is time for me to step into my discomfort and joy. My discomfort for the unknown and my joy for what I love to do.” Follow along here for more affirmations!
26. Did you know that giving back to others is scientifically proven to give back to your well-being? Check out 5 Science-Backed Acts of Kindness to do this holiday season and beyond.

Live/ Virtual Events:

27. Union members! The SAG-AFTRA Foundation offers various free programming and resources for members. This time of year “For Your Consideration” events also spring up. Don’t miss out!
28. Famous faces gather to light the world’s most famous Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center on NBC/ Peacock December 4.
29. Hanukkah from sundown on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, through sundown on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025.
30. Christmas is December 25th! Check out all the holiday celebrations in your local area.
31. Kwanza is December 26 – January 1. The Casting Networks team wants to wish you a joyful holiday season!