Kristoffer Polaha Reflects on 10 Years Since Dater’s Handbook with Meghan Markle: A Heartfelt Journey

Meghan Markle and Kristoffer Polaha in Hallmark’s Dater’s Handbook.
Credit:

PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

Highlights

• Kristoffer Polaha reflects on his experience filming alongside Meghan Markle for the 10th anniversary of their Hallmark movie, Dater’s Handbook.
• This film marked Polaha’s debut with Hallmark, and his 21st project, Missing the Boat, will premiere on January 31.
• The actor is also set to make his directorial debut, a move inspired by his time working with Markle.

On January 30, Kristoffer Polaha celebrated a decade since the release of Dater’s Handbook, his inaugural film for Hallmark Channel featuring Meghan Markle. The following day, his 21st Hallmark movie, Missing the Boat, co-starring Emilie Ullerup, is set to debut. Additionally, Polaha’s upcoming directorial project, Mimics, is scheduled for release in theaters on February 13, reflecting his growth since his initial experience with the network.

“It is wild to me,” Polaha stated while reminiscing about his decade in the industry. “Ten years went by in a flash, and it’s been an incredible ride. It’s like a Russian doll: I kept opening up this gift and another gift was inside, and this gift, and it just kept giving.”

At 48 years old, Polaha initially approached the Dater’s Handbook set with modest expectations. “I knew that the shoot was fast and furious, and it was going to be a grind,” he recalled. “What I didn’t expect was to have as much fun as I did. It was just a lot of fun.”

Despite not being in contact with Markle since shortly after the film’s release—coinciding with her relationship with Prince Harry—he cherishes a memorable encounter from the set. “We walked into this little diner,” he reminisced. “The director was great on Dater’s Handbook, but he was a little overwhelmed by this location. It didn’t look like he thought it was going to in his head. I’m one of those people that just, if there’s a void, I’ll fill it, so I was like, ‘Well, I have an idea.’”

Meghan Markle and Kristoffer Polaha in Dater’s Handbook.

Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo

Having built a diverse portfolio with roles in North Shore, Life Unexpected, and Ringer, Polaha proposed a shot list that included close-ups and more dynamic angles. “The director was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do that,’ and went with my idea. Then Meghan turned to me and said, ‘Why aren’t you directing? You should be a director. I would be in your movie.’”

Polaha reflected, “She spoke life into that for me. I think that was the first time I thought, ‘I think I should direct. I’m going to move in that direction.’”

Kristoffer Polaha with Fergus in Mimics.

Courtesy Panoramic Pictures

A decade later, Polaha is set to debut as a director with the romantic horror-comedy Mimics, which follows a struggling comedian who becomes a ventriloquist after forming a connection with a seemingly sentient puppet.

“It’s a weird thing to go from never having done anything to asking people for a million dollars and saying, ‘Bet on me, I promise you I can do this thing,’” he shared about his journey in securing funding for the film. “It was the first time somebody looked at me on set and said, ‘You’re a director.’”

As he marks the 10th anniversary of Dater’s Handbook and anticipates the premieres of Missing the Boat and Mimics, Polaha remains active. He next stars alongside Jon Hamm and Giovanni Ribisi in the upcoming series American Hostage.

“It’s the most intense show I’ve ever been a part of,” he remarked. “Everybody involved is extremely high caliber. I’m feeling pretty good to be a part of it.”

Kristoffer Polaha and Emilie Ullerup in Missing the Boat.

Hallmark Media

Polaha acknowledges he is experiencing “a little moment” in his career, stating, “In the wildest way, I’m making these dreams come true, inviting myself to the table, and doing it on my own terms.”

Missing the Boat is slated to premiere on Hallmark Channel on January 31 at 8 p.m. ET. Dater’s Handbook can be streamed on Hallmark+, and Mimics will hit theaters nationwide on February 13.