This Christmas: Cast & Character Guide

Who is in the cast of This Christmas and which roles do they play? For the most part, Christmas movies are overwhelmingly white affairs. From Gremlins and Elf to Home Alone or Hallmark Channel holiday films, many festive outings feature predominantly white casts and even if a Black actor manages to nab a part in a mainstream Christmas movie they’re often relegated to supporting roles.

Thankfully, there are a good number of Black-centered Christmas movies out there that address the lack of diversity in festive genre fare like The Best Man Holiday, Black Nativity and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Directed by Preston A. Whitmore II, This Christmas is another Black-centric holiday movie that was released in 2007 and borrows its title from the 1970 Donny Hathaway song of the same name. The comedy-drama features a predominantly Black ensemble cast and follows the chaos that ensues as the Whitfield family reunites to celebrate Christmas together for the first time in four years.

Read on for a guide to the ensemble cast of This Christmas and the characters that they play in the festive movie.

Loretta Devine – Shirley Ann “Ma’Dere” Whitfield

Boston Public star Loretta Devine plays Shirley Ann Whitfield, affectionately known as “Ma’Dere.” She’s the matriarch of the Whitfield family and gathers her six children to celebrate Christmas together at the family home in Los Angeles.

Idris Elba – Quentin Whitfield, Jr.

Quentin is the eldest son of the Whitfield family and a debt-ridden jazz saxophonist who followed in his absentee musician father’s footsteps and hasn’t been home in four years. He’s played by MCU franchise actor and Luther star Idris Elba.

Delroy Lindo – Joe Black

The Good Fight’s Delroy Lindo plays Ma’Dere’s boyfriend Joe Black. He’s a church deacon and has to contend with Quentin’s contempt after the prodigal son returns home for the holidays.

Regina King – Lisa Whitfield-Moore

Lisa Whitfield-Moore is Ma’Dere’s oldest daughter – a harried wife and mother of two who resents the fact she stayed home to run the family business while her siblings followed their dreams. She’s played by Academy Award-winning actress Regina King.

Laz Alonso – Malcolm Moore

Laz Alonso of The Boys plays Lisa’s no-good husband Malcolm. He’s not only cheating on his wife but also pressuring her to convince her siblings to sell the family business to fund his own company.

Sharon Leal – Kelli Whitfield

Middle daughter Kelli Whitfield is a successful but selfish businesswoman who graduated from Harvard and established a career in advertising in New York. Kelli is played by Sharon Leal, who recently had a recurring role as M’gann M’orzz in Supergirl.

Columbus Short – Claude Whitfield

Scandal series regular Columbus Short plays the role of Claude Whitfield. He is Ma’Dere’s middle son and a U.S. Marine who, unbeknown to his family, is AWOL from the military and secretly married to a white woman.

Lauren London – Melanie Whitfield

Melanie is the youngest daughter of the Whitfield family and a flighty college student who has trouble deciding on her major. She’s played by The Game star Lauren London.

Chris Brown – Michael “Baby” Whitfield

Rapper and actor Chris Brown rounds out the main cast of This Christmas as Michael. He is the baby of the Whitfield family and an aspiring musician who is scared to tell his mother he wants to be a singer.