A Castle for Christmas features an adorable dog named Hamish, who is likely recognizable and is a rather appropriate breed for the film's setting. Set in Scotland, A Castle for Christmas is a new Netflix original holiday romcom that's received decent reviews for its sweetness and warmth. Though not groundbreaking or particularly ambitious in its story, the film nonetheless seems to deliver the classic feel-good vibes of love and goodwill that Christmas movies are known for. Hamish, as a welcome addition to the cast, plays a key role in setting the tone.
A Castle for Christmas centers on romance writer Sophie Brown (Brooke Shields) who flees to her dad's old hometown in Scotland after a public meltdown about her latest book and her divorce. There she meets the current owner of the castle she heard stories about as a kid, an ill-tempered duke named Myles (Stranger Things' Cary Elwes). What follows is a predictable but sweet narrative about opening up, letting go, and, of course, falling in love. A Castle for Christmas also has a good cast of supporting characters with their own story arcs. One of the most lovable is certainly Myles' dog, Hamish, who plays a key role by instigating Brooke and Myles' meet-cute and more throughout the film.
Hamish is played by Barley, a Lurcher cross that's done quite well for himself in the film industry. Lurchers, primarily found in Great Britain, are bred for hunting and are often the result of crossing sighthounds with herding or terrier breeds. They're primarily working dogs rather than show dogs, and are known for their speed, endurance, and intelligence. Barley certainly embodies all of these traits, which have helped land him several big on-screen gigs over the years.
A good dog actor can make a movie or show (as Hawkeye's Lucky the Dog illustrates). Barley is no exception, having impressed his trainers and co-stars with his teachability and gregarious personality throughout his career. Barley got his start doing TV commercials in the UK, such as for DFS furniture and Churchill insurance. But he's also scored meatier parts in the British television industry. Barley has been in Masterpiece's Poldark (in which he plays Garrick), Channel 4's Man Down, BBC One's Undercover, and the long-running Midsomer Murders. Barley was also featured in Paul O'Grady's documentary series, For the Love of Dogs. This talented canine is clearly no stranger to stardom, and has even held his own alongside the likes of Thor's Chris Hemsworth in In the Heart of the Sea.
The ethics of using live animals as actors or props in movies and TV has become a bigger question in recent years, with the result that some films, like Disney's The Call of the Wild, have opted for CGI instead. This process still utilizes real dogs for motion capture and modeling, though, so good dogs will probably always be in demand in Hollywood. As for Barley, acting has been a good break for him, as it helped rescue him from a shelter when he was abandoned as a puppy. In A Castle for Christmas, Barley's energetic, hammy performance as Hamish seems to indicate that this pup loves what he does.