There’s something quietly revolutionary about Alec Santos. At first glance, he fits the familiar mold of a Hallmark leading man: tall, charming, with a disarming smile that hints at hidden depth. But linger a little longer—watch him ignite the screen as Chef Carlos in A Machu Picchu Proposal, or warm hearts in the upcoming Unwrapping Christmas: Tina’s Miracle—and you’ll discover something more. Alec Santos isn’t just acting in love stories. He’s reshaping what they look like.
As the first actor to share an interracial kiss on a Hallmark set, Alec is part of a powerful evolution—one that’s bringing more authentic, inclusive stories to the screen. While Hallmark may be his current stage, Alec’s mission reaches far beyond holiday movies. A proud ally of the LGBTQ+ community and a proud Afro-Latino man, Santos brings more than presence—he brings purpose.
“Representation isn’t about checking a box,” he’s said. “It’s about telling the truth—our truth—in all its nuance, romance, and imperfection.”
From the misty mountains of Peru to the glow of holiday lights, Alec’s performances embody a quiet courage and emotional honesty. He’s a romantic lead for this generation—one who listens, questions, and dares to love beyond the expected.
Now, with two highly anticipated Hallmark premieres debuting back-to-back, Alec invites us behind the scenes of his rising star and his deeply rooted heart.

INLOVE: Let’s start with love and leap straight into the heart of it—our signature question.
What does it mean to you to be in love?
Alec Santos: What a question! I want to frame this in Spanish. In the language of love, there are so many ways to say I love you: Te quiero, Te adoro, Te amo, Me gustas, Te necesito… I could go on. I often say te quiero to my friends. I feel like there’s just more love to go around in the Latin American context, and it doesn’t always have to reflect romantic desire.
So here it goes:
Being in love can feel like a supercharged element that gives you the energy and strength to conquer anything that comes your way. It can feel like the air behind your sails—or even the air that gives you life. Once you get a taste of it, life is never the same.

 

INLOVE: You’ve been called a “new kind of Hallmark hero”—one who actually reflects the diversity of real-life love stories.
Was there a moment when you realized your presence on screen was bigger than the role itself?
Alec Santos: As an actor, I’m always just grateful for the opportunity to be on set and do what I love most in this world. But when we were shooting the Unwrapping series, my co-star Natalie Hall went to the producers and suggested that my character be mixed race. That’s how Michael became Michael Alonso. It was so meaningful. Speaking Spanish to my on-screen daughter made my heart flutter. My mom speaks Portuguese to me most of the time, so being able to bring that tradition forward was a dream.

 

INLOVE: You broke ground with the first interracial kiss on Hallmark.
What was running through your mind that day—and how did the audience’s response affect you?
Alec Santos: Honestly, Hallmark gave us the best guidance. They made it clear that they wanted their films to reflect love in all its forms. For me, it felt natural. Afterward, so many LGBTQ+ folks reached out and told me that watching it with their families made them feel seen. My on-screen partner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, is so beloved in the queer community. We had such a great time filming, and we became friends in the process.

INLOVE: From Machu Picchu to mistletoe—your recent roles couldn’t be more different in setting.
Alec Santos: What draws you to a role—and how do you breathe intimacy into characters across such different emotional landscapes?
I bring in my life experiences. You figure out what’s most important to the character—and then you make it yours. For Michael, it was his daughter. For Carlos, it was his love for people and the world. My sister Sarah is 12 years younger, and I helped raise her alongside my parents. So the emotions around fatherhood were easy to access. With Carlos, I thought about people I’ve met through travel and art who surprised me with kindness and connection—like a cinematographer obsessed with light or a teacher I met in India who taught Shakespeare to Tibetan children. I try to be a mirror to that kind of magic.

INLOVE: You don’t just talk about representation—you embody it.
Alec Santos: How has your cultural identity shaped the kind of actor and man you are today?
I grew up on Almodóvar. Marginalized voices have always shaped the best art. In theater, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by artists who represent every color of the rainbow. I think of someone like Jonathan Bennett and the impact he’s made in the Hallmark space—it’s huge.
Personally, I don’t approach roles by thinking about gender or orientation. I care more about who my characters fall in love with, what their obstacles are. If anything, I subscribe to Mike White’s belief that a character shouldn’t be defined by appearances or labels. People are more interesting than that.

INLOVE: Behind every swoon-worthy scene, there’s often a hilarious off-camera moment.
What’s something fans would never guess happened during filming?
Alec Santos: In A Machu Picchu Proposal, our kiss scene was filmed on the second day—literally the second scene we shot together. Rhiannon had just recovered from a bad respiratory infection and was coughing up a storm. I was dealing with altitude sickness and had only slept three hours in three days. I was feeling a little loopy, to say the least.
But we built trust fast. As actors, our job is to make our scene partners feel safe and seen. We had each other’s backs. Still, I’m sure between takes we were a hilarious sight—me seeing double, and her coughing like a Victorian heroine.

 

INLOVE: You radiate warmth on screen—but what grounds you offscreen?
Whether it’s a ritual, a person, or a creative outlet—what’s your anchor?
Alec Santos: My partner Tara and our cat, Laurent. If I’m ever feeling anxious, holding our orange boy in my arms is the perfect remedy. I look into his eyes, and it’s like instant peace.

 

INLOVE: Let’s talk real love.
In your opinion, what’s the difference between chemistry and connection—and can you have one without the other?
Alec Santos: Chemistry can be manufactured. Connection cannot. We’ve all heard the stories about actors who couldn’t stand each other off-screen but had insane chemistry on camera. Sometimes that tension creates magic. But true connection is rare—it’s the soul stuff.

 

INLOVE: Hallmark movies always have a “holiday miracle.”
What’s the most unexpected twist or serendipitous event in your own life that changed everything?
Alec Santos: Meeting Tara was one of those miracle moments. I was teaching high school and occasionally bartending on weekends. A friend roped me into helping with wedding gigs at a remote venue—I didn’t want to go, but he pulled the “friend card.” I ended up falling for the wedding planner… who was technically my boss. At the end of the season, I shot my shot—and eight years later, here we are.

 

INLOVE: Looking ahead, if you could write your dream romantic lead—
Who would he be, and what story would he tell?
Alec Santos: I’d love to do a period piece. Picture this: Rio de Janeiro in the 1800s, with a touch of magical realism. I’m part of Don Pedro’s entourage—the man who emancipated Brazil. I ride horses. I fall in love with someone way above my social status. Fireworks ensue. Let’s make it happen!

 

Words by Elle Taylor