Here's Where You Know The Cast Of Redeeming Love From
The following article includes references to domestic abuse and sexual assault.
"Redeeming Love" is a western romantic drama, based on the 1991 bestselling historical novel of the same name by Francine Rivers. The film, which features "Fate: The Winx Saga" star Abigail Cowen, scored an international release date of January 21, 2022. Though filmed entirely in Cape Town in South Africa, "Redeeming Love" is set in 1850s California and takes place during the Gold Rush. The story is about "a young woman who was sold into sex trafficking and follows her journey out of it," Cowen explained to Flaunt Magazine. As she begins to heal, it becomes about "finding love while also dealing with the trauma and atrocities that go along with sexual abuse," she added.
Rivers used the book of Hosea from the Bible as inspiration for her Christian narrative. However, viewers can expect the film to take a more modern approach to the biblical story. Much of the plot structure has remained intact, but the film is framed in a way which addresses themes that are very prevalent for a modern audience. "In today's world, it's exactly the type of story that we need," said "Redeeming Love" star Famke Janssen at a screening Q&A session (via YouTube).
Abigail Cowen was passionate about Redeeming Love
Abigail Cowen plays Angel, the lead character in "Redeeming Love." At a young age, Angel is left motherless, is abused, and is soon forced into a life of sex work. "It's definitely a very different role than anything I've ever played before," Cowen shared with Flaunt.
However, the actor immediately knew it was something she wanted to be a part of. "Reading the script for the first time, I was just in awe of the authenticity and the rawness of it all," she explained during a cast Q&A. After auditioning, she wrote the film's writer and director, D.J. Caruso, a personal essay "about why [she] was so passionate about" the film and the role of Angel. Her essay only confirmed what Caruso already knew — that Cowen was perfect for the part.
Viewers will no doubt recognize Cowen, who is the star of Netflix's fantasy drama "Fate: The Winx Saga." In the gritty live-action reboot of the Nickelodeon cartoon series "Winx Club," Cowen plays the lead character Bloom, a powerful fairy who attends Alfea College. The first season of "Fate" premiered on Netflix in January 2021, while the second season is reportedly slated for a 2022 release. Prior to "Fate," Cowen appeared in the "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" as Dorcas. This was a special experience for the actor. "It was the first show that I was truly a part of ... and it definitely made me who I am as an actor today," she told Flaunt.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Nina Dobrev is glad people are still watching Vampire Diaries
Like her co-star Abigail Cowen, Nina Dobrev is also taking on a darker, more mature role in "Redeeming Love." The actor plays Mae, Angel's mother, a young woman who is not ready to have a child and struggles to raise her daughter alone until she dies when Angel is 8 years old. This is not the first time Dobrev has worked with the film's writer and director. "D.J. [Caruso] and I worked on an action movie called 'XXX: The Return of Xander Cage' and that was so, so fun in a very different way, but ['Redeeming Love'] was extremely fun and challenging and beautiful," Dobrev said in a Q&A.
Dobrev is best known for her role in teen drama "The Vampire Diaries," which aired from 2009 to 2017. Although the show has been off the air for over five years, Dobrev said she feels there's been a resurgence in its popularity, thanks to its current home on Netflix. "During the pandemic, I was getting recognized more than I had in years, and I think that's why," she said in an interview with the platform. "It's pretty cool that this thing we put so much of our love and heart and energy into is continuing to be enjoyed," Dobrev added. Viewers may also recognize Dobrev from her role in the Netflix Christmas film "Love Hard," which saw her character Natalie get catfished by a man she met on a dating app.
Livi Birch is already a seasoned actor
Livi Birch plays the younger iteration of Abigail Cowen's character, Angel. Birch largely depicts Angel's life before her mother died, and at this point, she is still referred to by her birth name, Sarah Stafford. Birch explained that she thinks one of the "pivotal" moments for her character is when she asks her mother, Mae, if she'd be happier without her. "I think that really shows that Angel/Sarah really cares about how other people feel, and she's really selfless when she's doing those things," she said in a Q&A event with the cast.
Birch, who is only 11 years old as of this writing, is already a well-known young actor thanks to her starring roles in the 2020 films "Tulsa" and "The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland." Starring as titular character Tulsa in the Christian drama was the most mature role the actor had to date, but she said it wasn't difficult to adapt to a more dramatic part. "I always get into my characters," she explained to Celebrity Haute Spot. "But it was kind of cool to be doing one that was based on a true story," Birch added.
Eric Dane is committed to the story
Eric Dane plays Duke, the main villain in "Redeeming Love." After Sarah's mother dies, she's brought to Duke to have a better life. He's a wealthy man who claims to be searching for a daughter to adopt, but instead, he wants a young girl to be his mistress. It's at this point that Sarah Stafford becomes Angel. "You'll be my little Angel from now on," Duke tells her.
Viewers will, of course, recognize Dane, who has appeared in a variety of television and film roles during his busy career, which spans more than two decades. The actor is best known for his role as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka. McSteamy in "Grey's Anatomy" and its spin-off "Private Practice." Fans of The WB's "Charmed" will also recognize him as Jason Dean.
Since 2019, Dane has starred in HBO's drama "Euphoria" alongside Zendaya and Hunter Schafer. This role couldn't be more different from his "Grey's Anatomy" or "Charmed" characters, but that's exactly what Dane intended when he signed on to star in "Euphoria" — and now "Redeeming Love," too. "I just got tired of playing characters that appear to be the right fit," he explained to Entertainment Weekly. Dane is no longer interested in playing "nice guy" roles; instead, he's breaking out of the mold and pushing boundaries with each new part he plays. "Euphoria" in particular, brought new challenges for the actor, who had to work with an intimacy expert to shoot a full-frontal nudity scene. "Those scenes are very difficult to shoot," Dane revealed. He added, "I'm willing to do anything that's critical to the story..."
Clyde Berning is a Shakespearean star
South African actor Clyde Berning plays Rab in "Redeeming Love." Rab appears to be Mae's most recent love interest, and after her death, she trusts him to look after her daughter, but instead, he sells Angel to Duke.
Berning may be one of the lesser-known names in this film, but he has an extensive background in theater, having starred in productions of "Hamlet," "Anthony and Cleopatra," and "The History Boys." He also holds dozens of screen credits in popular television shows including Starz's historical adventure series "Black Sails."
In 2015, he starred in the Afrikaans film "Uitvlucht" alongside his wife, Lika Berning, who also had an associate producer credit for the film. However, the pair have no problem mixing business with pleasure, the actor revealed. "None of the other marriage stuff affects it," Berning explained, per Expresso Show. "When we step onto set, it's all work, and it's business — and it's play," he added. Lika Berning's father was a writer and producer on the film in addition to directing it, so the movie really was a family affair.
Tanya van Graan has notable television credits
Tanya van Graan plays Duke's friend Sally in "Redeeming Love." In the trailer, viewers can see Sally try to deter Rab from selling Angel to Duke, but he ignores her warning. Viewers may recognize the South African native from the television series "Raised by Wolves" and "Professionals." The latter, which was filmed in Ireland, saw van Graan share the screen with "Smallville's" Tom Welling. "Lights. Camera. Action...lots and lots of action," van Graan wrote on Instagram when she shared the trailer for the show's first season.
Viewers may also know the actor and former model from her work with Marie Claire. In 2013, van Graan collaborated with the publication to raise awareness for organ donation. "My life is always about a purpose-driven life and [to] be able to help people," she said in a video for Marie Claire. Van Graan expressed her passion for the cause, adding that "when you die, that you can still keep doing that is amazing."
Famke Janssen sees value in the story of Redeeming Love
Dutch actor, writer, director, and former fashion model Famke Janssen plays the Duchess, the proprietor of a brothel called the Palace, in "Redeeming Love." After enduring years of abuse, Angel escapes from Duke. However, she is soon forced to turn to sex work and is later trapped at the Palace by the Duchess, who is a hard and cruel mistress. During a cast Q&A, Janssen revealed how important she thinks it is to tell a story like "Redeeming Love," a film where "despite every evil force [Angel] encounters — people and life — she not only prevails, but she comes out stronger with love."
During the Q&A, Janssen made it clear that she didn't agree with her character morally in any way. However, she was impressed by the Duchess' business acumen and admitted she was really fun to play. "A woman in that time, it was unheard of to have your own business ... I can see where she was coming from and [she was] very much a survivor," Janssen noted.
You may recognize this Dutch star as Jean Grey from the "X-Men" series and as Margaret from the European heist movie "The Vault." Janssen said that the pandemic has given her a new appreciation for her career. "I feel so privileged that I've been able to do a job that provides humor or joy or excitement in people's homes. We need these things right now," she told Looper.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Jamie Lee O'Donnell shows her versatility
At the Palace, Angel befriends some of the Duchess' other girls, one of whom is Lucky, played by Jamie Lee O'Donnell. "The only girls who leave here are too old, too sick to work, or dead," Lucky warns Angel, who desperately wants to leave the Duchess' control.
Viewers will, of course, recognize this Irish star from the sitcom "Derry Girls," in which O'Donnell plays brash teen Michelle Mallon. The British series, which is set in 1990s Derry, has become an international hit thanks to its syndication on Netflix. O'Donnell's breakout role and the popular series mean a lot to the actor. "I'm just delighted that a show, such a female-lead comedy and about Derry, is doing well across the world. It's amazing," she gushed to British Comedy Guide. O'Donnell has thrived as a result of the show's success, but the star admitted that she had to adjust to being recognized daily.
O'Donnell has also starred in the prison drama "Screw." She was completely drawn to the gritty series and said she instantly felt a connection with her character Rose. "There's something about her which just spoke to me: she undervalues herself a lot, and doesn't see the strength inside her," O'Donnell explained to The Guardian. "Screw" is a vastly different series from "Derry Girls," and that's exactly why O'Donnell chose it. "I was actively looking for something like this so I can show people what I can do," the actor revealed to NME.
Ke-Xi Wu is a gifted writer, too
Taiwanese star Ke-Xi Wu plays Mai-Ling in "Redeeming Love." She is another one of the Duchess' girls who Angel meets at the Palace. If you're a fan of Asian cinema, you'll have definitely seen Wu before. The actor's long list of Asian film, series, and theater credits includes "Dream Raider" and "The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful."
In 2019, Wu penned the script for "Nina Wu," a Midi Z-directed feature which she also starred in. Wu's writing was inspired by the #MeToo movement. The actor explained that she had been working on the script for years but said she later "rewrote the whole script and the structure and everything" following the movement, per Deadline.
Midi-Z, who has worked with Wu on several other projects, praised the powerful story. "It's very original, very creative, very positive, and as a male director I could not have written a script like this," he said.
Tom Lewis and Abigail Cowen had a connection
British actor Tom Lewis plays Michael Hosea, Angel's love interest. The pair meet when Angel is working at the Palace. Michael sees her and immediately becomes enamored with her. He visits Angel at work just to talk, and they fall in love and later run away together. Their love story is the most hopeful thread throughout the film. What writer-director D.J. Caruso liked most about it is that "there is no judgment in that love," he revealed during a Q&A for "Redeeming Love." Michael doesn't want to change Angel. He helps "her discover how beautiful she really is," Caruso explained.
A lot of passion went into this script and these scenes, and Tom Lewis was just as excited about telling this story as his co-star Abigail Cowen was. When they met, "It became immediately apparent that we just connected on this script," Lewis said in the cast's session. The pair were on the same wavelength throughout filming: "We had a very very similar way of working, and what we wanted to do with the scenes was exactly the same," he added.
Lewis is best known for playing Tom Sowdon in "Gentleman Jack," another project he was incredibly passionate about. What excited Lewis most was how timely the period drama felt for a modern audience, he shared with the BBC. The show, developed using real-life diaries, follows Anne Lister, a British diarist Lewis called "a strong, female lead character," noting that audiences "wouldn't believe she did all the things that she did" if they didn't know she was based on a real person.
Logan-Marshall Green was on The O.C.
Logan Marshall-Green stars as Michael's brother, Paul Hosea, in "Redeeming Love." Paul disapproves of his brother's relationship with Angel and does everything he can to keep them apart. Viewers will likely recognize Marshall-Green, who has been on screens since the early aughts. Most notably, he played Trey Atwood in "The O.C.," until he was dramatically shot by Mischa Barton's character Marissa Cooper. Marshall-Green later had a supporting role in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and a main role in the second season of "Big Sky."
The actor also made his debut as a director and writer with the 2019 film "Adopt a Highway." This was a really personal project for Marshall-Green, and he spent "a good six or seven years" developing it. "I don't think there's anything more stressful than saying those five words: 'Would you read my script?'" Marshall-Green admitted to SAG Indie. "Acting's easy compared to asking people to spend two hours reading something you spent years making," he added.
If you haven't seen Marshall-Green on screen, you may have seen his name and photo in the news because of his very public divorce. The actor and director married fellow actor Diane Gaeta in 2012; they separated in 2019 and Gaeta announced she was filing for divorce, suggesting that Marshall-Green cheated on her (in a since-deleted Instagram post). The pair finalized their divorce in 2020, per People.
Josh Taylor has bonded with his co-stars
Josh Taylor plays Alex Stafford, Angel's estranged father in "Redeeming Love." Angel meets her father for the first time when she is six years old after learning she was the result of an affair he and her mother had years earlier. Taylor shared the trailer on Instagram and commented that it was "looking great. Had the pleasure of working on this with [D.J. Caruso, Cindy Bond, Abigail Cowen, and Nina Dobrev]," he added. Taylor appears to have grown close with his co-stars (Abigail Cowen and Nina Dobrev, pictured above) while filming the movie in South Africa.
Viewers may recognize Josh Taylor for some of his roles in popular television series. He guest-starred as Johnny Dalkeith in royal drama "The Crown," and had a recurring role as Viscount Bollington in the British historical drama series "Poldark." British theater fans may also know Taylor from the Nigel Williams play "My Brother's Keeper," which returned to the stage after 34 years, per The Playground Theater.
Brandon Auret likes showing 'a lighter side'
Brandon Auret plays Magowan, a brute who works for Dutchess as her bodyguard at the Palace. The trailer shows Magowan giving Angel a brutal beating, while calmly saying, "I'm gonna kill you." Angel, who is trapped by the Duchess, begs for death, but for whatever reason, Magowan doesn't follow through on his threat.
The South African actor is recognizable for his roles in the films "Elysium" alongside Matt Damon, and "Rogue" alongside Megan Fox. Many of Auret's previous roles include action and violence similar to his "Redeeming Love" character, though he is often seen playing some kind of soldier or combat operative. "I did national service in 1991," he recalled to News 24. "That's the reason the armorers love me so much."
However, Auret admitted that he might be ready for a change in the type of roles that he plays. "I don't know how many more times I can play a Recce or a soldier without trying to, you know, break away from the characters and stuff like that," Auret told the outlet. "Rogue" was the opportunity for the actor to shed this frequent casting, but only slightly. "It was nice to play a soldier who had a lighter side," he explained.
Daniah De Villiers has befriended a lion
Daniah De Villiers plays Mirim Altman in "Redeeming Love." Mirim becomes a close friend of Angel's after she leaves the Palace; she is the love interest of Michael's brother Paul.
The South African actor might not be a household name yet, but she's certainly a dedicated performer. She devoted three years of her life to filming the 2018 feature film "Mia and the White Lion." De Villiers' character Mia moves to South Africa with her family at the age of 10. There, she develops a close bond with a wild Lion cub named Charlie — portrayed by Thor, a lion rescued from captivity in South Africa, per the Kevin Richardson Foundation.
The movie follows Mia's life over three years as she watches Charlie grow up and become too big to be a house pet. Just like Mia, De Villiers spent years watching Thor grow up off-screen, too. "I think that's what makes this film such a unique concept, the fact that it's real and authentic. Mia's everyday life became my everyday life story," the actor explained in an interview with Parviz Khosrawi.
Amy Louise Wilson is a creative playwright
After Angel leaves the Palace with Michael, she begins the gradual process of healing. At the same time, she befriends Susannah Axelrod, played by Amy Louise Wilson. Together, Angel and Susannah offer help and support to other former sex workers.
Wilson is a South African actor and playwright, who is best known for her role as Briseis in the BBC mini-drama "Troy: Fall of a City." Viewers may also know her as Michelle from "Dead in the Water," the 2018 sci-fi film which also starred her "Redeeming Love" co-star, Brandon Auret.
The actor has an extensive stage background. Theater fans may have heard of Wilson's play, "Another Kind of Dying," which won South Africa's Distell National Playwright Competition in 2020, per Electric South.
Though the play, which Wilson wrote, has seen great success in South Africa, the actor and screenwriter indicated that she's sometimes struggled to indulge her creative side. "I think all artists battle with the fear of failure," she told Cape Town Magazine. However, "a healthy amount of insecurity is not necessarily a terrible thing as it keeps one humble," she added.