10 Quick Questions for Holly Robinson Peete

Holly Robinson Peete, 58, began her acting career at just 5 years old on the set of Sesame Street and went on to play memorable characters on the hit shows 21 Jump Street and Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. She’s also a Hallmark movie veteran, and her latest, Holiday Heritage, is the first Hallmark production with a plotline about celebrating Kwanzaa. 

Your father, Matt Robinson, was the original Gordon on Sesame Street, and that show was also your TV debut. Did you always know that you wanted to act?

The irony is that my dad didn’t want me to be on the show. I was devastated at 5 years old. Sesame Street, as it is today, was a monster hit. He didn't want me to be that showbiz kid. But once I got those lights on me and met Big Bird and Cookie Monster, I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Do you have a fun, behind-the-scenes Sesame Street story you could share?

They taped Sesame Street in New York, but everyone came to [our house in Philadelphia] for this party, and Caroll Spinney was there. He [voiced] Oscar and Big Bird. He passed away recently, but I got the chance to talk to him [when I was 6]. He would go back and forth from the voice of Oscar to the voice of Big Bird. It was, I think, the most amazing conversation I've ever had in my life.

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You’ve appeared in nine Hallmark productions. What’s the best part of the experience?

The best part about starring in Hallmark films is the fan base. … They’re so loyal, they’re so dedicated, they understand the mission of Hallmark Channel and the mission of these movies — especially the Christmas movies, where there’s a happy ending. But it’s positive, uplifting and aspirational programming. And it’s something that always makes you feel good. … It makes people look at you as part of this family. And you’re synonymous with positivity, you’re synonymous with good feelings, happy endings — all of that stuff. … And everywhere I go, someone has a story about how one of my movies made them feel or how they connected to it. And that’s a great feeling as an actor and a content creator.

Holiday Heritage is about celebrating Kwanzaa. Do you celebrate?

I have been celebrating since the kids were born. I love this holiday. It is really all about community, ancestry, appreciating your roots and coming together as a family and a culture. I absolutely love Kwanzaa. … I wanted [Hallmark] to do a movie about Kwanzaa for some time now, so to be able to be in this movie was a total treat.

Last year, you starred in Hallmark’s Our Christmas Journey, playing the mom of a son with autism. How meaningful was that role for you?

That was one of the highlights of my Hallmark career. I wasn’t just an actor in it. [In real life] I’m a mom of a son with autism, and I run a foundation for autism [the HollyRod Foundation], so it was a very personal project. I also got to be the executive producer, which means I had a hand in the casting. I made sure that we cast someone from the autism community to play the role [of my son]. Nik Sanchez was phenomenal.

Holly Robinson Peete stars alongside Jennie Esnard and Lyndie Greenwood in the new Hallmark movie "Holiday Heritage."

Albert Camicioli/Hallmark

You’re fluent in French and once lived in Paris. How often do you get to use your language skills?

I've been trying to pitch a Hallmark movie to take me to Paris. I’ve got all the fluency, but I’ve never really used it. I’m hoping my next Christmas movie will be somewhere in Paris, where we can see me speaking and putting some of [my] French degree to work.