- Wednesday, November 29, 2023

A version of this story appeared in the Higher Ground newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Higher Ground delivered directly to your inbox each Sunday.

Hollywood stars are increasingly speaking out with an unfiltered boldness about life, faith and the truth about their industry, exhibiting a reflective sincerity that is deeply refreshing.

Some of the more valiant voices are helping shatter perceptions of the glitz and glamour emblematic of the entertainment complex, becoming quite candid about the negative sentiments — even if doing so poses risks to their careers.

Others are addressing the simple yet essential truths about the industry’s impact on hearts, minds and souls, providing a lens into what it’s like to be enmeshed in the fabric of fame. Let’s explore just some of these celebrities’ views and experiences.

First and foremost, “Band of Brothers” star Neal McDonough, an outspoken Catholic, has openly discussed how his personal policy of refusing to film sex scenes has cost him jobs in Hollywood. In fact, he told Closer Weekly a few years back he was axed from the show “Scoundrels” for refusing to perform love scenes with one of his co-stars.

“It was a horrible situation for me,” Mr. McDonough told the outlet. “After that, I couldn’t get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot. I am very religious. I put God and family first, and me second. That’s what I live by. It was hard for a few years.”

It’s commendable that the actor not only stood by his beliefs, but was also willing to openly share the ramifications he faced for sticking to those values. It’s a powerful testament to his integrity and to some of the pressures actors routinely face.

Next comes “Superman” star Dean Cain, no stranger to sharing his conservative and Christian leanings. Mr. Cain has recently been open about vacating his Malibu, California, home and moving to Nevada. “Governments can ruin an area,” he told Fox News, likening his old stomping grounds to a “land of ridiculousness.” “And that’s what’s going on in California.”

But, more importantly, Mr. Cain has also candid about his faith, telling Alabama Life & Culture his beliefs have strengthened over time. He also said parenthood and theological perspective have affected his approach to movie-making.

As Mr. Cain’s son grew older and started coming on set, creating positive content became paramount, with the actor seemingly more closely pondering entertainment’s power and sway and looking for ways to exude positivity.

“My faith just gets stronger as I get older, the more I learn, the more I know and the more I understand, and the more I understand that some things aren’t understandable,” he said. “That’s really been my journey. I’m really happy to go out and make as many faith-based films as I can.”

Next, comes actress Alexa PenaVega, who, alongside her husband, Carlos PenaVega, has written Christian books and shared biblical views on social media. In recent years, the couple moved with their young children away from Hollywood — something that initially wasn’t easy, as Ms. PenaVega found herself struggling to separate her identity from her acting career.

“I felt this tug in my heart. I felt it was God going, ‘You guys need to get out of here. It’s time,’” she told Fox News of leaving Hollywood. “I didn’t want to move. I knew it was the right decision, but it wasn’t something that I was so excited about.”

But Ms. PenaVega recalled praying one day and realizing she “needed a heart reset,” feeling she had become “trapped in the entertainment world and needed to take a step back.” It’s a remarkable epiphany that few celebrities are willing to have or even acknowledge, with fame, money, and accolades clouding such discernment.

“My job became my identity,” Ms. PenaVega added. “God pulled me out of that so I could learn how to be an awesome mom and an awesome wife. God helped us build that foundation in our family. And once I had that revelation, I felt at peace.”

Moving on, the next star candidly discussing the industry is “Hercules” alum Kevin Sorbo, who believes he was blacklisted in Hollywood over his Christian and conservative views. In a recent interview with The Washington Times, Mr. Sorbo further shed light on this silencing.

“People come up to me all the time on the set, very quietly, whether it’s another actor or a camera guy, and they say, ‘Hey, man, thanks for being a voice for us,’” he said. “Well, be a voice for yourself. Why just me?”

Beyond that, Mr. Sorbo has tackled the “woke insanity” and “cancel culture” he sees embedded in parts of Tinseltown. But it’s his admission that ideological freedom isn’t always prevalent in Hollywood that’s perhaps most eye-opening.

Last but not least, comes actor and comedian Rob Schneider. As I recently noted, Mr. Schneider detailed his newfound faith in a recent X post, sharing his thoughts on forgiveness, among other subjects. With faith often serving as a far-away concept among many Hollywood elite, the “Saturday Night Live” alum broke the secular protocol and offered a humility-filled message.

“As I am a new convert to Catholicism, I offer my apology for my lack of Christ’s forgiveness to my fellow man,” Mr. Schneider boldly wrote in his Oct. 31 post, referring to spats he found himself in surrounding COVID-19. “I was so angry at the people who shut down schools and indeed the world, and who coerced others to do things against their will which hurt many people deeply.”

Mr. Schneider is hardly alone on his journey to faith. From Chris Pratt to ‘90s star Melissa Joan Hart, others in Hollywood are increasingly finding and speaking about Jesus. You can read more about some of these incredible journeys here. At the end of the day, the primary lesson stands: There’s more to life than money and accolades — and it’s refreshing to see these stars realize it.

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