Actress Teri Hatcher is celebrating Christmas this year with some girl power — specifically, some Mrs. Claus power.
Hatcher teamed up with artist Jane Sheldon for an adorable Christmas music video that’s all about Mrs. Claus getting some overdue credit for her hard work leading up to Christmas Eve. We’ve got your exclusive first look at the music video that is sure to make your holidays a little brighter.
Mrs. Claus isn’t the only one sweating a little bit this season. Hatcher has also been busy. Aside from a long career as an actress (starring in televisions shows like Desperate Housewives and Lois & Clark), she is also a health advocate and avid cook. Hatcher even studied at the world-famous Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. She recently won The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, as well as the popular television show Chopped.
All that to say Hatcher knows her way around the kitchen and healthy eating, and she is bringing her skills to her new YouTube Channel, Hatching Change. With this channel, Hatcher aims to unite and inspire people from all walks of life to be healthy, conquer life’s toughest questions, and once and for all stop eating sh*t out of a box.
We chatted with Hatcher about her Christmas plans this season, her new music video, her YouTube channel and beyond in our Q&A below.
Thanksgiving & Co.: What is your favorite thing about the holiday season?
Teri Hatcher: My favorite thing about the holiday season is sharing memories with my family and my friends (who are like family). My dear friend Jane Sheldon is a singer-songwriter and earlier this year, she wrote a Christmas song called One For Mrs. Claus.
The song takes place on Christmas Eve (after Mrs. Claus has just completed a tiresome day of making sure that the reindeer were ready to go and that all the toys were loaded in the sleigh). She is tired and needs to blow off some steam, so she leaves the North Pole and finds herself at a bar, where the singer acknowledges her, and the bar ends up celebrating this powerful woman who gets little credit for all of the work she does behind the scenes in making the magic of Santa Claus on Christmas happen. She does so much more for the Christmas operation than just baking cookies!
This song is such an empowering and unique take on Mrs. Claus’s narrative, as well as the human connection during the holiday season. I was thrilled when she asked me to play Mrs. Claus in the video, as Mrs. Claus should be a bigger part of our Christmas celebration. I mean, Santa can’t be running this entire operation on his own.
I truly love this song. I listen to it over and over, and it makes me feel the happiness and love of the holiday spirit. I’ll be listening to this while I make Christmas pies this year, for sure!
TG: What does Christmas day look like for your family?
TH: Caviar, bagels and champagne. Opening presents and movies. We celebrate with a sit-down dinner for at least 26 people on Christmas Eve.
TG: What about Christmas traditions? Do you exchange gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Do you do Secret Santa, a gift exchange or something else?
TH: We do a white elephant gift exchange. The crazier the gift, the better.
TG: What are your must-have December holiday recipes every year?
TH: Lamb chops cooked medium-rare with mint jelly. Also my “I love you a lot eggplant casserole” recipe which takes me about eight hours to make — hence the name — and hen of the woods mushrooms.
TG: What’s the most meaningful gift you’ve ever received?
TH: My daughter once gave me 100 Post-it Notes handwritten in different cursive and print fonts, in addition to doodles, that said “sleep” and “time” because I told her that I wanted more sleep and time. I still have it in a picture frame on my desk.
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TG: How did the holidays change for you when you became a parent?
TH: I wanted to create traditions that I didn’t feel I had. Being an only child means my family members are my friends, and that extends to my daughter, too. We are grateful to have a big family.
TG: Your show Don’t Eat ‘It’ Out of a Box on your YouTube channel, Hatching Change, is all about inspiring healthy eating. What are your tips and tricks for healthy holidays?
TH: Portion size, but also knowing there are times to be more strict, and Christmas isn’t at the top of the list. Enjoy yourself, friends and food, and don’t punish yourself. Be mindful while eating and enjoy.
TG: We saw your Welcome to Thanksgiving video on Hatching Change. Will you be doing one for Christmas this year as well?
TH: That’s a great idea. I’ll put it on my to-do list.
TG: What is the one thing you hope viewers take away from Hatching Change this holiday season?
TH: That you can bring positivity to anyone anywhere and that we are more alike in our insecurities and struggles, so be compassionate and empathetic.
TG: What are you most grateful for this holiday season?
TH: Family and friends being together, the laughs we share and the memories we’ve compiled. That’s why I love the sentiment of the song One For Mrs. Claus and the music video — it’s the best new Christmas song I’ve heard!
MORE: 7 families share their favorite holiday baking traditions
TG: If you could go back 10 years and send yourself one Twitter-length message, what would it say?
TH: We are only here for a minute, so remember to make your time meaningful and know that with all things, this too shall pass, so enjoy, let go, or both.
TG: What is your wish for the world in 2019?
TH: That we see each other with compassion and act accordingly, that we are more aware of our impact on the Earth, and that we try to behave leading with kindness, generosity and empathy.