Exclusive: Lacey Chabert Is 'So Thankful' for Her Long-Lasting Hollywood Career: 'I've Had the Chance to Live My Dreams'

Lacey Chabert has been in Hollywood for quite some time, but she still has to pinch herself that she's busier than ever!

"The word that comes to mind is just gratitude," the actress, 42, who is partnering with Russell Stover Chocolates to encourage people to share their happy memories of Russell Stover, or how the brand will sweeten their upcoming holiday, for a chance to win an amazing holiday getaway, exclusively tells Morning Honey. "I am so thankful for the opportunities. I've had the chance to live my dreams — these dreams I had as a little kid. I have so many more goals and dreams that I hope I get to see come to fruition. I hope I'm blessed to see these things happen, and I'm just so thankful that I get to work as an actress every day on set."

"When it's the first day on a new movie, it feels like the first day of school. I have butterflies in my stomach, and I'm so excited about being a part of the team," the Mean Girls alum, who shares daughter Julia Mimi Bella Nehdar with husband David Nehdar, continues. "It's such a collaboration to bring a movie to life and everyone is so important and necessary. Through every phase of life that I've gone through so far, it's really informed the types of stories I want to tell, and now as a mom raising a daughter, I want to play characters that she can hopefully look up to and that are thought-provoking. At the end of the day, if I can add a little bit of goodness into the world by being a part of a movie that brings some happiness and joy, that's just really the icing on the cake."

Over the years, the star, whose latest Hallmark Christmas movie, A Christmas Quest, is her 40th movie with the network, has become the Queen of Christmas and known for her love of the holidays.

"When I think about back to my childhood and the excitement I would get for this time of year and how much it meant to me, I just feel so thankful that I've been able to make it such a large part of my career now because it's something that I just love," she gushes. "I remember growing up and we'd watch our favorite Christmas movies around the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree. Every year it brings that same feeling back, and I love that the movies I've been able to do with Hallmark and now Netflix brings joy to people's living rooms. Now more than ever, that's something we all need."

The mom-of-one knows all too well the business is filled with "ups and downs," but she is happy with where she's landed. "I've been through a lot, but I am so thankful and so excited that I am here and I'm working and able to continue telling these stories," she shares. "Every day I am like, 'I can't believe all this has happened,' and I'm just so thankful for it. I'm thankful to the people that continue to tune in. It means a lot to me when someone stops me on the street or at Christmas Con. The stories people tell me bring me so much joy. It means a whole lot to me. It's a gift for me to be a part of them, and I'm just so thankful that people tune in."

As for what the future holds, Chabert has some "fun things in development" that she's looking forward to dicussing more when the time is right. "I have wonderful things I'll be doing with Hallmark, and I'm really excited about that," she says. "I just want to keep telling stories. Over the past seven or eight years, I've begun producing some of my projects, and I've really enjoyed having creative input from the beginning and having a bigger creative voice and bringing these stories to life and developing characters. That's something I hope to continue to grow and do. I hope it's just the beginning!"

The Hot Frosty star says she's attracted to projects that aren't always set around Christmas time. "It's finding that thing that connects to my heart and what's the part of this story that I can make as personal as possible, and I just hope to do things that are thought-provoking, and at the end of the day uplifting," she shares.

Since Chabert is all about spending time with loved ones around the holidays, it was a no-brainer for her to team up with Russell Stover Chocolates, the beloved 100 year old maker of assorted gift boxes.

"I love the holidays. It's truly my favorite time of year. It's why I enjoy making so many movies about this time of year because I get to infuse that feeling that I get — reminiscing about my past holiday memories and the new memories I'm creating with my family now," she explains. "I get to put that feeling into the movies that I make, and it's such a joy for me. I'm so excited to partner with Russell Stover Chocolates, which has been a holiday staple in my family since I was a kid. It just made perfect sense, and I'm so honored to be a part of it. The holiday time is all about bringing joy to people and sometimes that's also in the gift giving. Over the years I've given Russell Stover's in a stocking stuffer or as a teacher gift. It's delicious and everyone loves a sweet treat!"

Chocolate lovers can visit RussellStover.com/MakeHappy to submit a happy memory with the brand or a future moment they can’t wait to indulge in for a chance to win a sweet holiday getaway to the destination of their choice – New York, Vermont, or Lake Tahoe – in 2025. Weekly winners will be randomly selected to win a Russell Stover prize pack. Consumers can enter through February 27, 2025.

"It's an opportunity to make new memories," Chabert says of the contest. "That is my favorite thing about the holidays because you can reminisce about happy memories and while you're making new memories."