Hallmark Star Kimberley Sustad's Full Gorgeous Evolution

Since launching in 2001, Hallmark has produced a long list of wholesome movies and series celebrating romance, family dynamics, and seasonal events and holidays like Valentine's Day, Halloween, and, of course, Christmas. At the center of this cable network's success stands an incredible roster of stars, including the lovely Kimberley Sustad. Born on May 27, 1987, the Canadian American actor, screenwriter, and producer has been a Hallmark fixture since 2012. She's beloved by audiences worldwide, and her fandom is called the "Susstuds." 

It's more than fair to say that Sustad is a key member of the Hallmark Channel family, and she sure has bonded with her network colleagues on a very genuine level. For one thing, she's frequently spotted hanging out with her co-stars and wholeheartedly welcomes crew members at her home. As she told People in August 2026, "I love having them over to my house in real life and forcing them to jump on the trampoline with my children. Anytime they're filming in Vancouver, which is where I live, I make them come over, and we all hang out." Sustad has come a long way since her early theater days. So, let's take a look back at her biggest milestones over the years.

Though Kimberley Sustad sure has done well for herself as a public figure, her personal life stays out of the spotlight. All in all, the actor is tight-lipped about her family and dating life and hasn't made any public statements about ending her marriage to entrepreneur Scot Sustad. All we know is that the couple, who met at Trinity Western University, tied the knot on August 4, 2004 and welcomed twin daughters Vienna Wild and Ari Royal on June 14, 2017. The pair likely divorced around 2022, as confirmed in a 2024 episode of Josh Harris' podcast "Daddy Boss Love." In the episode description, Scot is described as a startup co-founder who was "figuring out solo parenting and single life after his 17-year marriage ended a couple of years ago." Scot's Instagram page features only his daughters, or, as he likes to call them, his "two favorite people on the planet."

For her part, Kimberley has added her maiden name, Starmer, to her own Instagram profile and hasn't been sharing any content about her ex-husband. It remains unclear whether she's currently in a relationship or enjoying the single life, but one thing is certain: She continues to thrive as a leading lady in Hallmark Christmas movies.

Did you know that Kimberley Sustad began her acting career in regional theater rather than on television? At the age of 18, she was cast in the titular role of a production of Henrik Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler." The psychological drama, which premiered in 1891, centers on a frustrated aristocratic bride who has been described as a female version of Hamlet. It's a meaty role, especially for a green actor, but Sustad dove right in and never looked back. She went on to perform with renowned companies like the Seattle Repertory Theater and the Arts Club Theater. 

"If you're gonna do theater in the States outside of New York, Seattle is definitely one of the best places in the country to do it," Sustad said in a 2018 interview with Media from the Heart. "Theater is my passion, and it's my love, but for me, it was very hard to make a living." And so, she decided to make a significant pivot.

Sustad set her sights on Vancouver where she pursued a career in television and film. She landed her first gig in the 2009 short TV movie "Live Henry Live." Directed and co-written by Alec Whittle, this family drama also featured Harry Calbom and Lisa Reynolds. Two years later, the future "Christmas by Starlight" star was cast as Nikki in Andy Tennant's comedy TV movie "Thunderballs," further cementing her screen presence.

Though they may be set elsewhere, a number of blockbuster films and hit TV shows have been filmed in Vancouver. "Deadpool," "MacGyver," "Smallville," "Supernatural," and "Arrow" are but a few examples. After she began working in the vibrant and chameleonic city, Kimberley Sustad gradually expanded her acting portfolio. As she shared with Media from the Heart in 2018, "I made the dreaded leap into film and TV, and I got an agent in Vancouver because I was living in Seattle at the time. I'm a dual citizen. I was driving from Seattle to Vancouver for one-liners ... It wasn't long after that it started to snowball, and I moved up to Vancouver because I realized I might be able to make this into a career."

On "Supernatural," Sustad played Amanda Willer in the Season 7 episode "Adventures in Babysitting" as well as Betty in the Season 15 episode "Inherit the Earth." She was also cast as Charlotte in "Alcatraz," Brooke Cross in "Primeval: New World," and Patsy Reynolds in "Continuum."

2012 was a pivotal year for Kimberley Sustad, as that year she landed guest roles on popular TV shows filmed in Vancouver as well as her first project with the Hallmark Channel, which was also filmed in Canada. She joined the cast of the holiday movie "A Bride for Christmas" as Vivian, the sister of the female lead, Jessie (played by Arielle Kebbel). Directed by Gary Yates, the romantic comedy follows Aiden (Andrew W. Walker) as he attempts to win a bet by convincing Jessie, who has just broken up with her fiancé, to marry him by Christmas.

Viewers quite enjoyed the quirky and clever script, praising the chemistry between the leads as well as the supporting cast. They especially noted Sustad's charming presence and convincing performance. Back in 2020, she told TV Goodness that her character was supposed to be openly gay but was later "toned down" to align with the network's policy at the time. "That was written in and then sort of covered up as we went into production," she revealed, adding, "I was supposed to have my partner ... come for the last scene, but then they [said], 'Oh, I don't know.'"

Following the success of "A Bride for Christmas," it was only a matter of time before Kimberley Sustad stepped into a leading role at Hallmark. In 2014, she starred in "The Nine Lives of Christmas" as Marilee White, opposite Brandon Routh as Zachary Stone and Stephanie Bennett as Jaclyn. In this romantic comedy, helmed by Mark Jean, Zachary is a commitment-phobic bachelor who takes in a stray cat. Marilee, a veterinary student, helps him care for his new furry friend and ultimately breaks down his emotional barriers. As it turns out, Sustad is severely allergic to cats, but that didn't stop her from impressing viewers, who praised her natural and convincing delivery. As she joked to Media from the Heart in 2018, "My cat in that movie had so much hair; so maybe my performance was so great because I was drugged up on antihistamines. But I do love cats, and I think they are very unique animals."

The two charismatic leads reprised their roles in the 2021 sequel "The Nine Kittens of Christmas," which delighted fans — even if it meant further discomfort for Sustad. "I'm so happy for this sequel," a reviewer wrote on IMDb. "Hoping to get a number 3!! The returning characters and adorable kittens helped to make this worth watching. The two leads have so much chemistry."

Though her fanbase, the "Susstuds," mostly associates Kimberley Sustad with romantic roles on the Hallmark Channel, the actor hasn't limited herself to a single genre. In fact, she has landed both minor and recurring parts in science-fiction, fantasy, and police procedural shows. For instance, in 2015 and 2016, she played Kelly Hadler in CBC Television's provocative spy series "The Romeo Section," starring Andrew Airlie, Juan Riedinger, and Eugene Lipinski. "The drugs, the swearing, the smoking, the sex — we're taking things to another level," Riedinger told CBC News at the time. "It's an exciting place to be, because I think it's fairly cutting edge for Canadian television." The show was widely acclaimed and nabbed seven honors, including a Leo Award for Best Casting in a Dramatic Series.

Additionally, Sustad played Special Agent Joanne Yates, the moral compass between the FBI and the Core Traveler Team, in the time-travel thriller series "Travelers." The Netflix/Showcase show, which ran from 2016 to 2018, starred Eric McCormack and MacKenzie Porter, and Sustad was a natural fit. "I'm very much in love with Yates," a Redditor chimed back then. "I think she's a great addition to the show."

After her acting career took off, Kimberley Sustad branched out into the world of writing. The 2020 Hallmark original "Christmas by Starlight" was the first movie she wrote with her longtime creative partner Paul Campbell. Like Sustad, Campbell got his start with Hallmark acting in movies — and yes, the two have shared the screen a number of times. They first co-starred together in "A Godwink Christmas," which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel in 2018.

Directed by Gary Yates, "Christmas by Starlight" follows real estate developer (Campbell) who makes a deal with a lawyer (Sustad) to save her family's diner from demolition. Filmed in the thick of the pandemic and released shortly after production wrapped, audiences welcomed the holiday flick as a breath of fresh air, commending the dialogue and fun interactions between the leads. "I hope to see more of Sustad and Campbell in future movies," a reviewer wrote on IMDb, adding, "Stop putting Baby (Sustad) in the corner; she's the lead, not the best friend."

Since 2018, Kimberley Sustad and Paul Campbell have starred together in several Hallmark projects. They've also co-written enduring hits like "Three Wise Men and a Baby," which earned them a Leo Award for best screenwriting in a television movie in 2023. This acclaimed film spawned a sequel, "Three Wiser Men and a Boy," followed by a third installment, "Three Wisest Men." Sustad has even teased the possibility of a fourth. Speaking to Us Magazine in 2024, she admitted that writing the sequel was quite stressful, comparing the experience to a musician feeling pressured to release another bestselling track. "It's like writing a hit album. And then they're like, 'So where's the next song?'" she said.

This widely beloved holiday franchise stars Campbell, Tyler Hynes, and Andrew Walker as brothers Stephan, Taylor, and Luke Brenner, respectively. The story follows that bickering trio as they find themselves caring for an abandoned baby boy while navigating their complicated family dynamics and careers. Speaking about these Hallmark fixtures to Woman's World in 2024, Sustad revealed, "They are like that in real life together. When we're behind the scenes, all three of them have unique personalities and they all work together so well ... I just feel like I kind of stand back and let it happen, but it's a joy writing for them."

At the time of publication, Kimberley Sustad's most recent on-screen appearance was alongside Jesse Metcalfe, one of Hallmark's many stars who seem to lead a lavish lifestyle. The August 2026 release, "Absolutely Devoted to You," was directed by Stacey N. Harding, who boasts many credits with the network, including two episodes of the period romance series "When Calls the Heart." In the movie, Sustad plays Kaitlin, a TV producer who falls for Derrick (Metcalfe), the former lead singer of a 1990s boy band. While viewers gave "Absolutely Devoted to You" mixed reviews for its plot, they were quick to praise Sustad's charm and authentic delivery, not to mention her undeniable chemistry with her hunky co-star.

The two leads seem to have bonded off-screen as well. In one of her latest Instagram posts, Sustad shared a few selfies with Metcalfe, writing, "This was a family affair made by so many incredible people. I miss our dance breaks. But most importantly, this one's for you [the fans]... I hope it puts a smile on your face; it sure did for me. Love to you all." As for what's next for Sustad? There's the upcoming Hallmark release "Snow Globe Town," which is set to debut in December 2026. Based on her track record, we're inclined she'll only continue to stay busy throughout next year and beyond.