Connecting With Ellen Bry
Playing nurse Shirley Daniels on the hit show "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s, Ellen Bry was a welcomed visitor in homes across America. Now, she's ready to welcome people to the home of The Lost and Found Family.
Ellen plays the lead character, Ester Hobbes, in this new family film that is available on DVD beginning September 15. The story of a foster-care family and their live-in landlord will touch your heart, according to Ellen.
"It's a wonderful film that has a light touch; it teaches by example and good role modeling, instead of having a heavy-handed message," Ellen says. "I think it's wonderful that there's a film about foster care—it can't help but build awareness about this issue."
In the film, Ester moves in with a foster family as a last resort after her husband's death. She is trying to come to grips with her new reality in a household dealing with the stark realities of trying to help five troubled kids turn their lives around.
"One of the things that drew me to this character is that there is transformation and change in Ester from the beginning of the movie until the end. It's exciting to play a character that starts at one place and has a metamorphosis that leads to a completely different place at the end of the movie," Ellen says. "Ester really is dealing with a midlife crisis. But it isn't internally driven. She is actually very happy and content with her lifestyle. Instantaneously, however, her life is shattered as her husband unexpectedly dies. She's strong and determined enough to keep moving forward ... even into the scary unknown."
As an actress, Ellen deals with the unknown on a regular basis. The next role is always an audition away—with lots of other actresses seeking the same roles. The Lost and Found Family, however, provided her a working opportunity without the pressure of the usual casting process.
"I didn't have to do any of the typical hoop jumping to get this role," Ellen says. "It came down to a phone conversation with Barnet Bain (the director), which went extremely well. Our visions for the film were in synch. I just feel very blessed that I could play this role. It was wonderful ... I like to say this opportunity dropped from heaven for me.
"One of the greatest experiences with this role is that it was really a collaboration with Terry and Bobbie Collis (the producers) and Barnet Bain. They were very open to my ideas about the character."
One of Ellen's ideas was to have Ester learn to trust God more and more over the course of the film.
"I deliberately tried to make her first attempt at talking to God very self-conscious and awkward," Ellen says. "Yet she persists with praying and as her faith becomes stronger, her trust in God becomes stronger. I see Ester becoming more godly and graceful as she divests herself of her material goods. The more she gives up, the more love comes into her life."
That strength allows Ester to begin to make a difference in the lives of her new family, providing hope not only for the other characters, but also for those of us who watch The Lost and Found Family.
"It's an important movie for people to see."
Playing nurse Shirley Daniels on the hit show "St. Elsewhere" in the 1980s, Ellen Bry was a welcomed visitor in homes across America. Now, she's ready to welcome people to the home of The Lost and Found Family. Ellen plays the lead character, Ester Hobbes, in this new family film that is available on DVD beginning September 15. The story of a foster-care family and their live-in landlord will touch your heart, according to Ellen.
"It's a wonderful film that has a light touch; it teaches by example and good role modeling, instead of having a heavy-handed message," Ellen says. "I think it's wonderful that there's a film about foster care—it can't help but build awareness about this issue."
In the film, Ester moves in with a foster family as a last resort after her husband's death. She is trying to come to grips with her new reality in a household dealing with the stark realities of trying to help five troubled kids turn their lives around.
"One of the things that drew me to this character is that there is transformation and change in Ester from the beginning of the movie until the end. It's exciting to play a character that starts at one place and has a metamorphosis that leads to a completely different place at the end of the movie," Ellen says. "Ester really is dealing with a midlife crisis. But it isn't internally driven. She is actually very happy and content with her lifestyle. Instantaneously, however, her life is shattered as her husband unexpectedly dies. She's strong and determined enough to keep moving forward ... even into the scary unknown."
As an actress, Ellen deals with the unknown on a regular basis. The next role is always an audition away—with lots of other actresses seeking the same roles. The Lost and Found Family, however, provided her a working opportunity without the pressure of the usual casting process.
"I didn't have to do any of the typical hoop jumping to get this role," Ellen says. "It came down to a phone conversation with Barnet Bain (the director), which went extremely well. Our visions for the film were in synch. I just feel very blessed that I could play this role. It was wonderful ... I like to say this opportunity dropped from heaven for me.
"One of the greatest experiences with this role is that it was really a collaboration with Terry and Bobbie Collis (the producers) and Barnet Bain. They were very open to my ideas about the character."
One of Ellen's ideas was to have Ester learn to trust God more and more over the course of the film.
"I deliberately tried to make her first attempt at talking to God very self-conscious and awkward," Ellen says. "Yet she persists with praying and as her faith becomes stronger, her trust in God becomes stronger. I see Ester becoming more godly and graceful as she divests herself of her material goods. The more she gives up, the more love comes into her life."
That strength allows Ester to begin to make a difference in the lives of her new family, providing hope not only for the other characters, but also for those of us who watch The Lost and Found Family.
"It's an important movie for people to see."
