Tamera Mowry-Housley’s daughter, Ariah Housley, 11, is making her acting debut in Hallmark’s upcoming Christmas movie, Mistletoe and Mimosas, where she plays a younger version of her mom’s character.
Ariah had been asking to appear in one of her mother’s Hallmark projects long before she landed the role. In a June interview with Entertainment Tonight, Tamera revealed that her daughter had been bringing it up for at least a year.
“She keeps asking, ‘Okay, mommy, I know you make Hallmark movies. When can I be in it?’” she recalled.
In a recent interview with Hollywood ReelTime, Tamera shared that Ariah had to earn her part just like any other actress.
“She plays younger me. She had to audition for the role, and I wanted her to,” she explained. “I wanted her to understand the process of, you know, being an actress. Yes, it’s fun, but it’s also work.”
Once filming began, Tamera got to see how her daughter handled the experience.
“When she showed up on set, she learned that really quickly too. I was proud of her because she was very independent,” she said.
Watching Ariah take her first steps as an actress brought back memories of Tamera’s own childhood in Hollywood.
“I knew that she needed space, but also this was her first time, and I saw my life as a child actor just flash before my eyes, and immediately I wanted to protect her. Immediately,” she admitted.
Rather than hover, Tamera decided to give Ariah the independence she needed.
“But she’s so strong and so independent. I let her figure it out a little bit. And I knew that she would want that, so I stayed behind,” she continued.
The proud mom couldn’t help getting emotional as she watched her daughter perform.
“And I literally was crying because I saw her do it. It just naturally happened for her. And I’m like, well, and she’s really good. And I was like, well, here we go.”
Ariah has since landed another acting role, this time in a school production.
“She did go home and try out for a school play, and she booked a part,” Tamera shared. “So when I go back home, I’m gonna be a backstage manager for her school play, and I’ll get to see her do that.”
In Mistletoe and Mimosas, Tamera stars as Claire Bennett, a Manhattan business consultant who inherits her late uncle’s Christmas-themed bar. Her plans to save the business bring her into conflict with the manager of a neighboring club, played by Kristoffer Polaha.
Ariah is Tamera’s youngest child with husband Adam Housley. The couple also shares son Aden.
Mistletoe and Mimosas premieres Sunday, November 15, at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.
