There is no doubt that Natalie Grant is now one of the most recognizable names in Christian music, a fact reflected in her 4 Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition to working hard on her illustrious music career, Natalie has founded and chairs Abolition International, a foundation dedicated to the eradication of sex trafficking and exploitation of women and children. Now the 12-year music industry veteran is taking on yet another role: lead actor in a motion picture. Natalie makes her acting debut in the gmc World Premiere Movie Decision, a touching and dramatic movie dealing with family, loss, love and faith, premiering October 16th on gmc.
Watchgmctv.com recently chatted with Natalie Grant to get the scoop on Decision, which also stars Grammy Award winning Country artist Billy Dean. She shared with us why she chose to take the role, what she hopes viewers take away from the movie, and what she’s learned about herself in the process.
watchgmctv.com: Decision is your acting debut and a lead role at that. What was the experience like for you, and how it was different than your role as an artist?
Natalie Grant: Well, it was definitely challenging because I filmed while I was 8 1/2 months pregnant! But there are many ways that it is different from being an artist and some ways where it was similar. Different because in my music artistry I'm constantly trying to be real, transparent, honest. But in the film, it was all about putting myself in someone else's shoes. I found the experience similar to my artistry in that there are elements of performing in both.
watchgmctv.com: What led you to want to be a part of this film and role?
Natalie Grant: You know, I wanted to be part of something that is providing faith-based entertainment that families could watch together. I remember how on Saturday nights, there were re-runs of Lawrence Welk. My mom would make popcorn and my entire family—all five of us kids and my parents—would sit down and watch it together. There’s not a lot of opportunity to do that now, not a lot of programming out there that has something for everyone, so I wanted to be part of creating something like that.
Truthfully, I was drawn to it initially because I knew acting is something I had never done before and I was up for a new challenge. But then I read the script and I loved the positive message it conveys, and I also felt as though I could empathize with my character.
watchgmctv.com: How did the opportunity present itself?
Natalie Grant: Acting was certainly not on my bucket list. I never took a drama class, nor studied acting in any way. I never even considered it, but when the producers called and told my manager that they’d written the role with me in mind, I was flattered. And I thought, ‘Why not?’ I’ve always been a ‘take every opportunity and run with it’ kind of person. I didn’t want to wake up one day and say ‘Why didn’t I try that?’
Still, the first day of filming, I thought, ‘What were you thinking?!’ Of course, they made it as easy for me as possible. I was very pregnant, packing an extra 40 lbs, so they filmed it in Kingston Springs, close to home. It was a great experience.
watchgmctv.com: Ilene, your character, plays a single mom after a tragic event with her husband—played by Billy Dean—how did you draw inspiration for your character?
Natalie Grant: My oldest sister is a single mom. I have seen the challenges and incredible hard work it takes to do it well. But also as a wife and mother myself, I was constantly trying to put myself in Ilene's shoes, trying to imagine what it would be like to lose my husband and raise my kids alone.
watchgmctv.com: What do you hope the gmc viewer takes away from the movie?
Natalie Grant: Hope. There is hope in the darkest of situations. And sometimes God will use the most unlikely characters to lift us up and help us experience that Hope.
watchgmctv.com: Did you learn anything about yourself in the process of filming Decision?
Natalie Grant: Never film a movie while 8 1/2 months pregnant! Haha. Seriously, I'm so grateful for my faith, but also my husband and incredible extended family who love me well. A movie like this makes you so thankful for the people God has put in your life to love.
watchgmctv.com: Would you have any words of encouragement for single parents out there that you gleaned from this story?
Natalie Grant: You cannot and should not do it alone. You must draw strength from your faith. Lean on God, who will never leave you or forsake you. And don't be afraid to ask for help from family and friends.
watchgmctv.com: Anything fun or interesting that you remember from filming or working with the cast?
Natalie Grant: When I first was told about the movie, I got excited about wardrobe. I thought, "I wonder if I'll get to wear any fabulous outfits?" I'd say 75% of filming I was wearing pajamas. and they weren't even cute pajamas! I'm such a girl....[laughs]
watchgmctv.com: Would you take another movie or acting role?
Natalie Grant: I'd love to.
watchgmctv.com: What’s next on the music front?
Natalie Grant: Just finished The Story... my single from that, “Alive,” went to radio last week. On this project, every artist takes on a character. I loved that approach. My song is the song of Mary Magdelene. It’s really more of a Broadway thing. It could be a full on production, it’s so good. This Christmas, we’ll go on tour with it—Max Lucado, SCC, Newsboys, Francesca Battestelli, Selah. We will perform it from start to finish, 14 or 15 dates... We hope it becomes what The Young Messiah once was. http://www.thestory.com/tour
watchgmctv.com: What’s the latest on The Home Foundation?
Natalie Grant: We went through a rebranding this year. Now called Abolition International. We partner with other organizations and people to help them raise funds to build shelters for girls saved from child-slavery. Right now, we have several shelters worldwide that we’re a part of: shelters in Greece, Moldolva, Dubai... but we’re really focused on building shelters domestically because there are so many victims here and there’s really no place for them.
I met a young girl in Sacremento, a Christian girl who went went to Jamba Juice, met a boy, went to a party with him, and three weeks later was for sale on Craigslist. When she was finally found, she was put in juvenile detention and treated as if she was a criminal. The system here just doesn’t have a place for these girls. And there’s so much red tape to go through to open a shelter here.
But now, we’re real close to opening shelters in Columbus, Ohio, in Sacramento, Atlanta, Detroit, Phoenix... several cities in the beginning stages of building. It’s just amazing what God is doing.
watchgmctv.com: So other than your family, and beyond the music, this really is your legacy, right?
Natalie Grant: The music thing gives me a greater platform for a message like this. Ultimately, this is the important stuff, empowering the average suburban Christian person to live their lives for something greater than themselves, equipping people to get involved in the lives of others. It’s very rewarding.
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