Netflix is bringing a plethora of holiday movies to its platform, including Christmas as Usual, a Norwegian film with plenty of family drama and a great cast. Now streaming on Netflix, Christmas as Usual is primarily set in Norway, though its leading characters begin their journey in the United States. The holiday movie brings the drama as the main couple contends with family, Christmas traditions, grief, and an ex that makes Christmas just a tad bit messier than expected. Christmas as Usual has all the trappings of a chaotic, but joyful, holiday movie while boasting a strong cast for its myriad shenanigans.
There is no such thing as a Christmas movie without a few bumps in the road before its characters actually get to enjoy the holiday season in peace. Christmas as Usual starts off with one big issue that needs resolving — with Thea and Jashan engaged, she has yet to be honest with her family about him. That makes everything harder for the couple, and especially Jashan, who is only meeting Thea’s family for the first time since they began dating less than a year prior to the start of the film. Christmas as Usual is a comedy, so the cast had to be game to do just about anything.
Kanan Gill As Jashan
Jashan is an Indian expat living in California with Thea Evjen. He’s thrown for a loop, however, when he learns a lot of things about Thea and her family that he didn’t previously know when he’s invited to meet them in Norway over Christmas. Jashan is portrayed by Kanan Gill, who is a stand-up comedian best known for his roles in the TV series Better Life Foundation and the film Noor. Gill was also a judge and mentor on Comicstaan, and most recently had a comedy special on Prime Video called Keep It Real. Prior to becoming an actor, Gill hosted YouTube series Pretentious Movie Reviews with Biswa Kalyan Rath.
Ida Ursin-Holm As Thea Evjen
Thea Evjen is Kanan’s Norwegian girlfriend. It’s Thea’s first Christmas without her father, who died earlier in the year, and she’s excited to be engaged to Jashan. However, she has to deal with the fact that she’s never told her family about Jashan’s ethnicity when the pair fly to Norway for the holidays. Thea is portrayed by Ida Ursin-Holm, who is best known for her roles in Norwegian media, including Amundsen, Løvekvinnen, Karsten og Petra, the series Fijols til fijels, An Affair, and Jentetur.
Marit Andreassen As Anne-Lise
Anne-Lise is Thea’s mother. She isn’t thrilled that Thea is dating Jashan, and would rather her daughter get back together with her ex-boyfriend instead of moving forward with marrying Jashan (the fact of their engagement is hidden from Anne-Lise initially). Anne-Lise is portrayed by Marit Andreassen, who is best known for her roles in Mystery on the Cattle Hill Express, Titina, the series Farfar, and the films Sørgekåpen and Nattsøsteren.
Christmas As Usual Supporting Cast & Characters
Erik Follestad as Simen – Simen is Thea’s brother. He’s married with a child of his own. Simen is played by Erik Follestad, who is best known for his roles in Rikets Roast and Innebandykrigern, which is about the Norwegian sport floorball, a sport similar to hockey but isn’t played on the ice.
Veslemøy Mørkrid as Hildegunn – Hildegunn is Simen’s wife, Thea’s sister-in-law, and Ronja’s mother. Hildegunn is portrayed by Veslemøy Mørkrid, who is best known for her role in the Norwegian TV series Okkupert, the film All Must Die, Here is Harold, Karpe: Ferdig, men ikke kom og tørk, the beloved Netflix holiday series Home for Christmas, in which Mørkrid guest starred in one episode as one of the speed daters, Stuck, Royalteen, and Beforeigners.
Matilde Hovdegard as Ronja – Ronja is Simen and Hildegunn’s daughter, and Thea’s niece, who has a big solo in the choir’s Christmas performance. Christmas as Usual is Matilde Hovdegard’s first role as an actress, who has her whole career ahead of her.
Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Jørgen – Jørgen is Thea’s ex-boyfriend, who she dated for five years before moving away. Jørgen lives next door to Thea’s family, and starts coming around when he discovers Thea is back home. Even after so long, Jørgen still harbors romantic feelings for Thea, which complicates her life, especially as Thea’s mother has hope they’ll get back together. Jørgen is portrayed by Mads Sjøgård Pattersen, who is best known for his roles in Eddie the Eagle, in which he starred alongside Taron Egerton and Hugh Jackman, The 12th Man, Troll, Netflix’s Home for Christmas, in which he played Stein, and the series State of Happiness.
