
Alison Sweeney
Career at a glance
37Hallmark films
7 at Christmas
across 29 rated films
Mostly standard issue
Best reviewed
Most recent
Alison Sweeney does not drop in for cameos. Since 2013 she has top-billed 32 of her 41 Hallmark films, which makes her one of the most dependable leads the network keeps on call. Small towns are her habitat. Twenty-one of her films are set in one, and she plays them with a steady, conventional touch rather than chasing anything strange. Her best work is the Wedding Veil run, where The Wedding Veil Legacy from 2022 and The Wedding Veil Journey from 2023 both reach 7.3, her ceiling so far. What sets her apart is the company she keeps. Barbara Niven has joined her on 13 films, with Lisa Durupt and Juliana Wimbles close behind, so she brings a real repertory crew rather than a single fixed partner. Want a familiar face who shows up and gets the job done? She has been doing exactly that for over a decade.
Follow & about Alison
- From
- Los Angeles
Alison Ann Sweeney is an American actress, reality show host, director, producer, and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a role she played under contract with the show from January 6, 1993 to October 30, 2014. In this role, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, four Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Fan Voted Daytime Emmy Award. After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021. In 2007, she became the host of The Biggest Loser in its fourth season, and left the series at the end of the 16th season in 2015.
Alison’s signature
Across 37 films, Alison returns to Christmas, frequently plays a baker and is usually set in small towns.
Coming up
2 new titles for Alison10 hours
10 hours of Hallmark Christmas movies, and counting.
Adds up across 7 festive titles.
Known for
On-screen partners

Alison’s most frequent on-screen partner is Cameron Mathison, with 8 films together — top-billed alongside each other in 8 of them.
- Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2023)
- A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2023)
- Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (2021)
- Murder, She Baked: Just Desserts (2017)
- Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery (2016)
- Murder, She Baked: A Deadly Recipe (2016)
- Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery (2015)
- Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery (2015)
Recurring roles
Alison is a recurring face in Murder, She Baked/Hannah Swensen Mysteries, and 2 other franchises.
Where Alison fits in
The corners of the Hallmark universe Alison keeps turning up in. Each one is a full ranked guide.
All 37 movies
Newest first2020s
21 films- 2026
Romance at Hope RanchActress as Hope Morgan · Small TownNot ratedWeird 2/10 - 2026
Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress, Director as Hannah Swensen · Small TownNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2025
Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress, Director as Hannah Swensen · Small TownNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2025
Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress, Writer as Hannah Swensen · Small Town6.5Weird 3/10 - 2024
A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress as Hannah Swensen · Class ReunionNot ratedWeird 3/10 - 2024
Love & JaneActress as Lilly Thorpe · Big CityNot ratedWeird 9/10 - 2024
One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress, Writer as Hannah Swensen · Small Town6.6Weird 2/10 - 2024
This Time Each YearActress as Lauren · ChristmasNot ratedWeird 4/10 - 2023
A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress as Hannah Swensen · Small Town6.9Weird 3/10 - 2023
Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress as Hannah Swensen · Small Town6.2Weird 2/10 - 2023
The Wedding Veil ExpectationsActress as Tracy · Big City6.8Weird 6/10 - 2023
The Wedding Veil InspirationActress as Tracy Serchio · Big City7.1Weird 6/10 - 2023
The Wedding Veil JourneyActress as Tracy Serchio · International7.3Weird 8/10 - 2022
A Magical Christmas VillageActress as Summer Ashby · Christmas6.1Weird 7/10 - 2022
The Wedding VeilActress as Tracy · Big City7.3Weird 7/10 - 2022
The Wedding Veil LegacyActress as Tracy · Big City7.3Weird 5/10 - 2022
The Wedding Veil UnveiledActress as Tracy · International7.2Weird 7/10 - 2021
Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to DeathActress as Alex McPherson · Resort/Vacation6.9Weird 4/10 - 2021
Open by ChristmasActress as Nicky Beaton · Christmas6.8Weird 4/10 - 2021
Sweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen MysteryActress as Hannah Swensen · Small Town7.0Weird 2/10 - 2020
Good Morning Christmas!Actress as Melissa · Christmas6.9Weird 4/10
2010s
14 films- 2019
Chronicle Mysteries: RecoveredActress as Alex McPherson · Anniversary6.9Weird 3/10 - 2019
Chronicle Mysteries: The Deep EndActress as Alex McPherson · Suburb7.0Weird 4/10 - 2019
Chronicle Mysteries: The Wrong ManActress as Alex McPherson · Small Town6.8Weird 3/10 - 2019
Chronicle Mysteries: Vines That BindActress as Alex McPherson · Small Town6.8Weird 3/10 - 2019
Time for You to Come Home for ChristmasActress as Katherine Moss · Christmas7.0Weird 4/10 - 2017
Christmas at Holly LodgeActress as Sophie Bennett · Christmas6.5Weird 6/10 - 2017
Murder, She Baked: Just DessertsActress as Hannah · Small Town6.8Weird 3/10 - 2016
Murder, She Baked: A Deadly RecipeActress as Hannah · Small Town6.7Weird 2/10 - 2016
Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler MysteryActress as Hannah · Valentine's Day6.9Weird 5/10 - 2016
The Irresistible Blueberry FarmActress as Ellen Branford · Small Town7.0Weird 3/10 - 2015
Love on the AirActress as Sonia Mayerick · Big City6.9Weird 4/10 - 2015
Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie MysteryActress as Hannah · Small Town6.7Weird 3/10 - 2015
Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding MysteryActress as Hannah · Christmas6.8Weird 3/10 - 2013
Second ChancesActress as Jenny McLean · Suburb7.1Weird 2/10
Alison’s standouts
In pictures
A quick look at Alison’s Hallmark run — headshot and the posters fans know best.
Beyond Hallmark
Where else you might recognise Alison from — notable roles outside the Hallmark catalogue.
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliveras Sami Brady2014 · TV
- Las Vegasas Caroline Pzarchik2003 · TV
- The Ellen DeGeneres Showas Self2003 · TV
- The Viewas Self1997 · TV
- MADtvas Self1995 · TV
- Friendsas Jessice Ashley1994 · TV
- Diagnosis: Murderas Taylor Mitchell1993 · TV
- Days of Our Livesas Sami Brady1965 · TV
Alison’s creative circle
Most directed by
- Kristoffer Tabori6 films
- Terry Ingram6 films
- Kevin Leslie5 films
- David Weaver3 films
- Joanne Fluke3 films
Most written by
- Joanne Fluke10 films
- Melissa Salmons10 films
- Judith Berg6 films
- Lori Wilde6 films
- Sandra Berg6 films
Who Alison works with
The cast and crew Alison keeps ending up on set with — the regular faces you’ll recognise from one film to the next. Bigger circle, more films together.
Movies by year
Ratings profile
Average 6.9 across 29 rated movies — each dot is one film.
