Meghan Ory on The Spirit of Halloween, Self-Worth and Working With Kevin McGarry
In The Spirit of Halloween, Everly Stone has more to discover than a new romance. For Meghan Ory, the appeal was watching a character revisit her life, recognize her own worth, and begin to see familiar people differently.
Ory joined Suspenders Unbuttoned Media to discuss the movie, her scenes with Kevin McGarry, and the unexpected acting challenge of watching Everly experience her own past.
The Hallmark Channel film stars Ory as Everly, a woman who firmly resists Halloween until three friendly spirits help her reconsider what she has been missing. McGarry plays Beau. The Spirit of Halloween premieres Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 8/7c and streams the next day on Hallmark+.
Revisiting the past, with a different response
Ory pointed to A Christmas Carol as the classic story behind the film’s approach. What interested her as an actor was the chance to play both an experience and a new response to that experience.
She compared it to wishing you could rewind something you had said and see what actually happened. Playing that perspective was more interesting than she had anticipated.
Asked whether Everly becomes someone new or finds someone she has lost, Ory said it is a little of both.
“She finds herself again and she kind of realizes she’s worth more than she thought,” she explained.
Everly also discovers parts of herself she did not know were there.
Seeing Beau beyond the familiar
Everly’s changing view of Beau is another part of that journey. Ory described how knowing someone since childhood can lead you to put that person in a fixed category, making it difficult to imagine a different relationship.
Revisiting their past helps Everly recognize that Beau saw their connection differently. Watching the movie back, Ory noticed just how many signs her character had missed.
Her explanation connects that romantic blind spot to Everly’s sense of worth. Recognizing Beau’s feelings also requires Everly to reconsider what she believes about herself.
What Kevin McGarry brought to their scenes
Ory praised McGarry’s preparation and presence, saying those qualities allowed their scenes to unfold naturally.
“Kevin’s a great actor and he’s super prepared and he’s very present,” she said.
She also described a sense of something underneath his performance. Those layers gave Everly moments to recognize when revisiting the past, even though she had missed them the first time.
The fun of resisting Halloween
For all the reflection in Everly’s story, Ory also enjoyed the character’s resistance to the holiday. Playing the Halloween “bah humbug” was a highlight, particularly in the early moments when costumes and celebrations seem to be everywhere.
The conversation ended with a reflection on Ory’s own career. Rather than choosing one past job, she spoke about feeling grateful whenever she starts a new one and acknowledged the ups and downs of working as an actor.
Watch our full conversation with Meghan Ory below for more on Everly, Beau, and The Spirit of Halloween.
Are you enthusiastic about Halloween, or do you sympathize with Everly? Share your answer in the comments.
