Roma Downey – the Hollywood star recognized not just for her lead function within the Nineties collection “Touched By An Angel” but in addition for her gentle Irish accent – is making her means again to the small display screen, this time in a faith-based collection. from “7. sky”.
Downey has had a wealthy profession. She was an angel named Monica, First Woman Jackie, Single Mom Kathleen and Mom Mary.
A producer, director and studio head, the 63-year-old superstar pulls double obligation in her newest enterprise, “The Baxters,” a Prime Video present based mostly on the e book collection by Christian novelist Karen Kingsbury.
The present sees Downey function one of many present's govt producers, including yet one more on-camera function to her resume: a matriarch named Elizabeth.
“We simply felt it was God's second; it was simply windfall,” Downey informed CBN Information of her partnership with Kingsbury, 60. “We felt it was a blessing.”
Unbeknownst to the opposite, Downey had learn “Redemption,” the very first e book in Kingsbury's “The Baxters” collection, and was instantly drawn to the story.
“I simply couldn't put it down,” she recalled. “I actually realized concerning the challenge as a fan. I preferred the e book. I noticed it visually. I used to be like, 'This has obtained to be a TV present'.”
Within the years since “Touched By An Angel” led to 2003, Downey stated she's heard from so many followers asking for a present to fill the “void” left by her faith-based collection airing within the mainstream market. After studying “Redemption,” the faith-filled actor and producer felt like she had discovered the right supply materials for a burgeoning collection — a present that's each unflinchingly Christian and undeniably studio-quality.
Downey referred to as Kingsbury quickly after to ask if she would contemplate promoting the rights to show the favored e book collection right into a multi-season present. The request appeared like kismet.
“She stated, 'It's so particular that you just referred to as me,'” Downey defined. “She stated, 'My father, earlier than he died, stated to me, 'You need to method Rom Downey in 'Touched By An Angel' to make your e book right into a TV collection.” So at that second we felt prefer it was God's second.”
“It turned out even higher than we hoped,” she continued. “We’re delighted to launch Amazon Prime Video this Easter. I’m delighted that they’ve given me the Easter time slot.'
Hear them within the newest episode of “Fast Begin”
Amazon is giving Downey coveted launch time for good purpose; final 12 months her studio LightWorkers Media introduced “On a Wing and a Prayer” — a faith-based movie starring Dennis Quaid — to Prime Video, and it was a transparent success for the platform.
Utilizing her identify and expertise to enchantment to a Christian viewers, Downey insisted that religion — and prayer in Jesus' identify — be the main target of the collection.
“I stepped in entrance of the digital camera – and hadn't performed that for some time – to play Elizabeth Baxter myself; I liked that she was a prayer warrior, I liked her kindness, I liked how a lot she loves her youngsters, I like how fierce she is when she loves her youngsters,” the superstar stated. “[I] I like that it's a present about religion and the values we maintain pricey, but it surely's not a preachy present.”
The collection is undoubtedly bolder than the stereotypical religion collection: it tackles a myriad of real-life points, together with infidelity and the potential for divorce, all within the pilot episode. However it tackles such tough subjects from an unapologetically biblical perspective.
Prayer is the driving drive that strikes the story ahead.
“I believe how they take care of it, how they take care of it as a household, separates it from different exhibits that we've seen,” Downey stated of her upcoming present. “We see Mother and Dad Baxter cease in the midst of the scene… and we see them praying. And I don't know that we've ever seen that on a TV present. And so they pray within the identify of Jesus. I discover it very transferring and highly effective. … I believe individuals of religion will like to see a church-going household on the heart of this new collection.”
For Downey, the collection—like every of her tasks—is greater than only a medium; it’s a ministry.
She stated she hopes the present will divulge to viewers what is feasible when God is “on the heart of your loved ones and on the heart of your life.”
“[That’s] what made such a distinction in my life,” mirrored Downey. “And I hope [people] see the way it performs out within the lives of the Baxter household. I simply suppose that we, in our non secular group, need to see on display screen a household that has the issues which can be pricey to us at coronary heart.”
“It's superb,” she added, “how few packages there are that remember individuals of religion on this means. I believe individuals will prefer it. I hope we get an important response.”
The collection is streaming on Amazon Prime Video beginning March 28.
