Owensboro native Cynthia Autry will make her debut as an extra in the Hallmark movie, “Mystic Christmas,” when it airs tonight, October 28, assuming her scene made the final cut.
Set in Mystic, CT — a coastal village that has been the location of several Hallmark movies — the story focuses on marine veterinarian Juniper who returns to the town to work at the aquarium. Mystic Aquarium is also featured as the story’s lead helps to rehabilitate seals.
Autry said that she was selected as a walk-on after attending RomaDrama, a fan-experience-based event that was held in Franklin, TN, in 2022 and West Palm Beach in April 2023.
“Mom [Carol Moore] and I went, and I signed up for the drawing,” Autry said.
She knew it would not be a speaking role, and it could have been cut since decisions would be made after all filming was completed.
Autry said after winning, she and her mother flew to Connecticut and spent one day on set filming “a cocktail party in Europe” even though they were in Mystic.
“It was so much fun to have my makeup and hair done,” she said. “I was also given a shirt and pearls to wear for the scene.”
She also enjoyed having a trailer on set with her name on it.
“That’s something you don’t usually get to do,” she said.
The movie features Jessy Schram of “Chicago Med” and Chandler Massey of “Days of Our Lives.” Massey’s character owns a pizza shop – think “Mystic Pizza” – and the two leads reconnect during the holidays. Broadway and TV actor Patti Murin is also in the movie.
“It was wonderful just to see how they do it,” she said. “There’s a Mystic Village and they were putting Christmas trees out. We filmed one night and then they take it all down the next day.”
Autry said that her mother enjoyed it as much as she did, but she wanted to redecorate some of the trees that needed some fluffing.
The 3-day trip included airfare, rental car, and hotel, and Autry and Moore added a few more days to visit the area.
While Autry has not seen the movie and doesn’t know if she made the cut or the cutting room floor, she is still excited to have been a part of the movie.
“It was just so fun and such a great experience,” she said.
“Mystic Christmas” airs at 7 p.m. on the Hallmark Channel.
