Actress Chrissy Metz (“This is Us,” “Breakthrough”) stars in Lifetime’s film “Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story,” which premiered July 19, portraying Nicole Jolly, a firefighter who survived a harrowing life-threatening experience through resilience and spiritual strength.
The film chronicles Jolly’s journey of overcoming a devastating fire that threatened her life, highlighting themes of faith, courage, and personal transformation, as she rescued those trapped in the California wildfires. Metz, known for her emotional depth and performances, brings Jolly’s story to life with authenticity.
“I was drawn to Nicole’s story because of her heroic way of handling an incredibly difficult and scary event,” Metz said. “Playing her helped me learn about surrendering and trusting, which are challenges I personally struggle with.”
Metz emphasized that the film goes beyond mere entertainment, serving as an inspirational narrative for viewers facing their own challenges. “We’re not just creating a movie, but reaching people and inspiring them, giving them back hope,” she explained.
“I really felt that with this role, and it was certainly challenging mentally, emotionally and physically, but as I believe that God doesn’t give us anything we can’t handle, and I’m hoping that through this story, people will be in,” she said. “Fire that doesn’t have to be a fire, physically, that they’re going through, but that we all have something that that we’re going through, and with hope and inspiration, we can get to the other side of it.”
The actress highlighted the significance of Lifetime’s commitment to faith-based programming, noting that audiences are increasingly seeking meaningful content.
“People are yearning for connection,” Metz said. “Especially during challenging times like the pandemic, even those who weren’t religious started to pray, seeking something deeper.”
Lifetime’s recent slate of faith-centered films represents a growing trend in entertainment that addresses spiritual themes and personal resilience. ” Faith in the Flames: The Nicole Jolley Story” leads a collection of movies that explore complex human experiences through a lens of hope and spiritual growth. Upcoming films include “Terri Blackstock’s If I Run,” “Before Your Father Finds Us” and “Finding Faith.”
“The reason why these films are being made is because there’s a need for them, and there’s a want and a desire, and it’s so refreshing,” she said. “I’m so grateful. And I just think people are searching for something they haven’t found, and I think that a lot of that has to do with their spirituality and their faith. So, I’m very excited.”
The actress been open about her own struggles with anxiety, sees the film as an opportunity to demonstrate that challenging experiences can be transformative.
“The only way through is through,” she reflected. “What’s on the other side is so much more than you can imagine. This role helped me anchor my own understanding of surrendering and trusting in something greater.”
“Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story” is now playing on Lifetime television and is available to watch on the Lifetime website.
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