Alan Ritchson on Faith, Doubt, Healing in ‘Ordinary Angeld

Alan Ritchson, known for his larger-than-life portrayal of Jack Reacher, finds himself more humbled in his newest role of Ed in the new film “Ordinary Angels.” As a widower and father of a little girl in need of a liver transplant, Ed faces mounting medical bills and a harrowing prognosis that could destroy what’s left of his world. He finds an unlikely source of hope in Sharon Stevens Evans, a flawed hairdresser with a big heart, portrayed by Hilary Swank.

Ed is a man of faith at the end of his rope. He struggles and he doubts. And that’s exactly what Ritchson says is so crucial to his story.

“What I found most important about the faith journey is the aspect of faith that we tend to ignore,” he said. “It’s the doubt that creeps into Ed Schmitt’s life. When you’re dealing with so much trauma and the problem of pain, it’s to be expected that there’s going to be some arm wrestling with God and doubt . . . what is faith if you haven’t experience doubt?”

Playing Ed, the recipient of Sharon’s selfless giving, also gave Richtson perspective on what service can do, not only for the one being helped but the one who helps. Sharon, who was broken herself, was transformed through her service.

“Sharon dealt with addiction,” he said. “She didn’t get fixed, get well, go to rehab, get clean, and then go start helping people and making a difference in the world. Sharon was healed and encouraged through the act of love and servie that she was giving. Her healing was taking place while she was serving others.”

Many people, Ritchson believes, count themselves out of service because they think they’re not worthy or not good enough. But Sharon’s story proves that a person doesn’t have to their lives together to make a difference.

“I think a lot of us think (we’re) not going to help until (we’re) well and fine and good and have everything (we) need to do so,” he said. “Or I’m not going to receive help until I’m worthy of being helped. I think that ain’t the way it works. This story reminds us that we can be ordinary angels to each other’s lives.”

“Ordinary Angels,” directed by Jon Gunn and starring Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones, releases February 23, 2024, in theaters from Kingdom Story Company and Lionsgate.

Watch below for an interview with Hillary Swank, Alan Ritchson and DeWayne Hamby.