VIP: Nicollette Sheridan's spooky 'Christmas Spirit'

Nicollette Sheridan likes being the boss.

"It's wonderful to have your fingers in all the different pots," she says about producing and starring in the Hallmark Channel movie The Christmas Spirit, airing Dec. 1. Sheridan came up with the story and worked closely with the writer of the film, which involves the spirit world — a familiar topic for the actress.

"My grandmother was a spiritualist and a healer," Sheridan, 50, reveals. "She'd have spirits visit her often, like Olympia Dukakis does in our movie.

And, Sheridan has had a spooky visit of her own.

"I had my experience with a spirit once. He appeared to be an Indian guide, very calm and very large. He came to my bedside at 3:04 a.m. Two minutes passed. and I closed my eyes and thought, 'Thank you for coming to me. Please go away.' I've not seen him again."

Sheridan hopes her Christmas Spirit character will return in another holiday movie.

"I might write the next one," she says, "and I'll think about directing another one. ... I was inspired by movies that touched my life, like It's a Wonderful Life, Dickens' A Christmas Carol and Mary Poppins," Sheridan says. "I wondered, 'Where did Mary Poppins come from, and where did she get her powers from?' "