Exploring Faith and Redemption through The Chosen

Experience a heartfelt conversation with actress Elizabeth Tabish, known for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in the hit series, The Chosen. As she shares her personal journey through faith and storytelling, Elizabeth reveals how embodying one of the most transformative figures in Scripture has profoundly influenced her own beliefs and understanding of God's grace. 

From her initial excitement as a young girl captivated by Bible stories to the skepticism she faced in her faith journey, Elizabeth's candid reflections invite listeners to explore the multifaceted nature of faith. Discover how her struggles and ultimate redemption have shaped her portrayal of Mary, emphasizing the show's powerful message of love, forgiveness, and hope. 

As we delve into the upcoming Season Five, Elizabeth discusses the added emotional depth, revealing the challenges her character faces as she supports Jesus amidst the tension leading up to the crucifixion. This season promises intense narratives that mirror the complexities of our spiritual journeys, highlighting the significance of relationships and the importance of being present in challenging times. 

Join us for this inspiring episode that touches on the role of storytelling in personal transformation and invites us all to recognize the Spirit in our everyday lives. Be sure to listen, share, and subscribe for more uplifting content that helps you grow in your walk of faith!

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If you are a Christian woman seeking to know God deeper, study Scriptures, pray with and for others, strengthen your faith, and support other in doing the same, this is the place for you! 

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Elizabeth Tabish
• 5:00 Elizabeth's Personal Faith Journey
• 27:31 The significance of Mary's story in The Chosen
• 42:16 Lessons learned through portraying Mary Magdalene
• 1:02:01 Preview of Season Five and Character Development
• 1:12:31 The Impact of The Chosen on Viewers

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

At the Coffee and Bible Time podcast. Our goal is to help you delight in God's Word and thrive in Christian living. Each week we talk to subject matter experts who broaden your biblical understanding, encourage you in hard times and provide life-building tips to enhance your Christian walk. We are so glad you have joined us. Welcome back to the Coffee and Bible Time podcast. This is Ellen, your host.

Speaker 1: 0:32

I am so excited about today's episode. We are joined by a very special guest, elizabeth Tabish. You probably know her as Mary Magdalene from the hit series the Chosen. Elizabeth brings such depth and beauty to her role and today we are going to get to hear about her personal faith journey. We'll talk about how God's word has shaped her life, what it's like preparing for such a meaningful and deep role, and just how being a part of the Chosen has strengthened her faith. Elizabeth Tabish is an actress and filmmaker known for her portrayal as Mary Magdalene in the Chosen. She received her MA in theater and BA in screen studies from Oklahoma State University. Elizabeth has produced and directed a number of award-winning short films, and she currently lives in Ohio with her husband and likes to paint in her spare time. Please welcome Elizabeth.

Speaker 2: 1:41

Absolutely, it's my pleasure. Thank you for having me welcome, elizabeth. Absolutely, it's my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1: 1:45

Well, our Coffee and Bible Time listeners are people who just have a desire to know God more. So I was thinking, maybe just having you start out by telling us a little bit about the importance of faith in your life.

Speaker 2: 2:02

Faith has been a journey for me. I remember as a little girl really loving all the stories in the Bible and being very excited about Jesus, and as I got older I became a little bit more cynical about religion and churches. I had some friends that stopped being friends with me because I didn't go to their church and there was some you know, some not so great experiences and throughout those years I just I became a little bit more skeptical and cynical. And throughout those years I just I became a little bit more skeptical and cynical and you know, I kind of lost my way for some time and I think I confused churches with Christianity, with what Jesus is teaching us and um, and showing us how to be.

Speaker 2: 3:08

And so it took, it took a little bit of a dark night of the soul for me to go through some experiences that, um, that I really struggled through and um, and I even I tried to quit acting and there was just like this, this moment of my life that felt very lost and very lonely and um, and I was looking for God, but I just didn't feel like I could find God anywhere and um, and then I booked this role on the show and um, it felt like a, an answered prayer that I forgot I had prayed a long time ago and um, and the experience of of playing this character has um been so personal to me and I don't think I would have been able to play her had I not gone through some of those more challenging experiences.

Speaker 2: 4:18

But it's also brought so much light into everything in my life and it's reminded me of who Jesus is and personal, and so it's such a journey, it's such an ongoing thing where I can continue to learn about Jesus. I can continue to learn about how God works in mysterious ways and to see God in so many more things, and to see God in in so many more things, and to see, see so much love in so many things, um that that I, you know, I realized that it's, it's all around us and um, and to remember that when things get difficult and challenging, um to remember, to go, to remember to go to what Jesus taught and find the love in this world.

Speaker 1: 5:10

Yes, thank you for just being so transparent, because I think, quite honestly, you know, that's how so many of us have grown in our faith is by reaching this low point. And you know, in our faith is by reaching this low point and you know, wondering God, where are you? And I think it's incredible just how God almost reached out to you in this way and certainly allowed you to play this the incredible character of Mary Magdalene. Tell us about what impacted you the most as you studied to prepare and play her part.

Speaker 2: 5:49

I think the writers have done such a brilliant job in using certain texts to illustrate her story, and one of them in season two, she's learning the scripture and it's if I go to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the depths, you are there. This idea that God is everywhere and even when we're in our darkest, most lonely places, god is still with us and can bring us out of those places, is still with us and um and can bring us out of those places. And so every season I feel like there's this new lesson for me, written through the script, written into the script, that reminds me of these. You know, I'm I'm learning about, about the gospels and I'm learning about um, even prophecies from the old Testament that that I don't think I would have otherwise, and it's so well written that there's all these different characters and all these different storylines that you can. You know, at any point in your life and whatever you're going through, there's someone that you could probably relate to and see how God shows up in their lives and how Jesus shows up and can transform and change things. So it's just an ongoing journey and it's such a gift to get to play Mary, who goes through such a transformation.

Speaker 2: 7:18

When we first see her, she's so in the worst pit of despair, possessed by seven demons, struggling with addiction, suicidal, having these PTSD flashbacks of an assault from a Roman soldier Like these. Are not all of them as relatable as others, but some of these are real experiences that so many people have at any chapter of history and follow how he lives and follow how he loves and reaches out to people and isn't scared of the outsiders, he takes care of them, he's not afraid of lepers, he heals them. He's not afraid of adulterous women, he forgives them. Missing him do all of these miracles and healings and expressions of love that it's such an invitation to learn how to do that too and try to do that too in our own lives. So, yeah, it's all been teaching me a lot.

Speaker 1: 10:42

It sounds like it. I know the Chosen has just been, I think, an incredible journey for so many people, even just watching it, because I feel like sometimes just reading the Bible it's kind of just, I want to say like two dimensional, like it's just. It feels flat and all of a sudden, when I watched the Chosen, you realize, you know the depth that these people were, people who had feelings, they had emotions, they had humor, like all the different. It brings it so much to life that I think resonates with so many people.

Speaker 2: 11:25

I think what's hard too for some people, just delving right into the Bible, is not knowing where to begin and where to, how to piece certain things together and how to piece certain prophecies that are fulfilled by Jesus, how to like connect all of that, and it can be really overwhelming, and it and because it's a written piece, it's kind of if reading is difficult for some, or um, focus is difficult, like you kind of you end up missing out on the message, and so it's nice to to have this as a tool to watch these parables and these stories and these messages played out and illustrated by you know, through storytelling, to help understand what that means, as Jesus is listing the Beatitudes, to have these flashes of examples of everything he's talking about, and it helps solidify and help us understand what that means, you know.

Speaker 1: 12:25

Absolutely Well. We're coming up on season five already of the Chosen, the Last Supper. Tell us how does the season differ from previous seasons?

Speaker 2: 12:43

I think, well, there's no turning back. This feels very much like it's the beginning of the end. I think all of the disciples and followers are realizing something major is about to happen, and then all of the emotions that come with that. You know this sort of process of grieving and then hoping that maybe it's not going to happen that way and trying to change things and trying to help in some ways. I think especially for Mary. She is struggling to accept what, what must happen, and, and I think for everyone else, everything's just ramping up.

Speaker 2: 13:26

The stakes are higher, everything is nearing this moment of crucifixion and it's so close, it's happening so soon and we as viewers know that, but these characters don't.

Speaker 2: 13:44

They don't know what's going to be happening and they certainly don't know that there will be a resurrection. So everyone just feels very nervous and scattered and a little. You know, jesus is acting in ways that we have not seen him behave ever before. We're seeing him flip tables and get very emotional in large public gatherings and really say what he thinks to the Pharisees in a very public space, and, uh, I think everyone just does not know how to respond and it's it's one of those uncomfortable things that we have to sort of live with throughout the season of always being a little behind what Jesus is doing and a little confused about how to how to proceed. So it's it's a complicated season but it's. It's so beautifully written and done and um, really memorable moments from the gospels are are played out and, yeah, it's going to be special and um out and, yeah, it's going to be special and, um, some iconic things happening.

Speaker 1: 15:13

It sounds, um, very sort of intense and really like just delving, yes, deeper into what's going on in the minds of these characters as they're witnessing. Just as you described these unexplainable. It seems like Jesus so many times say, does or says the opposite of what you might think. Yeah, yeah, certainly, all divinely, you know, inspired every step that he took, and so it can be so hard for people to understand took, and so it can be so hard for people to understand. Were there any specific scenes or moments from the last supper season that you were particularly, uh, emotional for you to?

Speaker 2: 15:56

film there was, uh, yeah, there's a scene, uh, where there's a group of us, a small group, and we finally get to tell Jesus altogether, we finally get to thank him for all the things he's done for us, and it's a really special scene, especially knowing what's coming after, especially knowing what's coming after that. Um, before that happens, we get to share our gratitude with them.

Speaker 1: 16:32

It sounds like even for you now, like it's just. You almost sound choked up, like it's just so touching I'm, I'm feeling, you know just through your voice, um, how special that really, really was it's a good scene, it's a really it's a beautiful scene, one of my favorites, I think and I'm excited for people to see it. It's uh, it's very special, yeah would you say, elizabeth, that there is sort of a shift in Mary's relationship with Jesus during season five?

Speaker 2: 17:10

It's an interesting thing because they don't have very many interactions. In season five there's a moment in episode one where she kind of checks in on him and notices he's acting a little funny or sad, not funny. I mean he's acting a little funny or sad, not funny, I mean he's acting overwhelmed. And she checks on him and then the scene. There aren't a lot of interactions, but I do think there is a totally different attitude and a totally different set of goals or just a totally different goal for her, instead of sort of passively following and waiting and being patient.

Speaker 2: 18:08

There's another side to Mary that comes out this season where she is very actively trying to pursue help for Jesus and we see her kind of go out of this comfort zone but we've seen her do that before of leaving the group. But this time she's on a mission and um and she wants to help. She wants to do anything she can to help Um and some of that is her not really accepting what she, you know, knows is going to be happening soon, um, and then she finds some help in understanding that this must happen this way and that it's going to ultimately be a good thing for humanity, for humankind. So there are some pretty pivotal changes in her understanding of things and the understanding of the story as it's playing out, and therefore her relationship with Jesus is changing as well filming an episode?

Speaker 1: 19:29

is it something that you just, I don't want to say weighs heavily on you?

Speaker 2: 19:31

but you, you're you have a lot to think about after you're done the second we get scripts um into into the end of filming it.

Speaker 2: 19:41

It's it's on the forefront, the whole story and Mary's journey and it's on the forefront. The whole story and Mary's journey and how to portray her and how to honor this story is always in the forefront of my mind and it's a difficult thing to let go of. I don't know if I ever fully do. I'm always thinking about it and in so many ways it's so much a part of my life. It's not just portraying this, it's also really letting it affect me and learning from it and and interpreting and just delving into these stories and her story. And you know, it's over 2,000 years later and it's still such an important story and these are still such important historical figures and there's a reason for that. And you know, I think living with it and thinking about it often is my little attempt to try to honor it in some way.

Speaker 1: 20:54

Yeah, absolutely. Well, tell us, as we start to wrap things up here, being one of the actors, what is it like when fans of the show or someone really talks to you about the impact the show has had on them, like, how have you seen the?

Speaker 2: 21:23

Chosen impact the world for God's glory.

Speaker 2: 21:24

For me it has been so many stories of people reaching out or reaching out about their friends or people they know who have watched this and related so much to Mary's story and see themselves in her.

Speaker 2: 21:38

And a lot of these people have very painful backgrounds with addiction or with assault or with abuse and they relate so much to Mary's shame and fears and PTSD and struggles with addiction. And then I get to hear them find that other side to it of and then I'm redeemed and this very happy ending and this very joyful conclusion and story arc for Mary and um and they get to watch themselves in this character in a lot of ways, grow and transform and learn and change and um, and so there's a there's a bit of a role model in her for all of us gals that struggle with shame and with painful experiences and addiction and to see that there's actually a very happy ending here and that means so much to get to portray that and to know that that's affecting people and that people are connecting to it. That's kind of any actor's dream and it's a gift to me to be able to be a part of that.

Speaker 1: 23:14

It absolutely must, because it is the greatest story ever told, and what an incredible opportunity, elizabeth, for you to be a part of that. Well, what are your last words here for the fans of the Chosen and what are you most excited about for them in this season, five coming up.

Speaker 2: 23:30

I'm, um, I'm so grateful for them. I'm so thank you, guys for taking a chance on this show and and growing with us. And, um, I think season five is is going to feature so many familiar stories and moments from the Gospels, and we all know what's ahead. You know, even though the characters don't, we all know what comes next the crucifixion and then ultimately, the resurrection and these are such special stories to so many people, and so thank you for trusting us to help tell these stories the best we can people, and so thank you for trusting us to help tell these stories the best we can. And it's just, it's such a joy to get feedback and to know that that people are responding well and enjoying it and learning and growing from it as well. I'm really, really excited to get to share season five with everyone. It's a special one.

Speaker 1: 24:24

All right. Well, elizabeth, I know I'm personally so excited about it coming up. I want to thank you so much for taking the time to join us today and for just devoting this season of your life to portraying Elizabeth and sort of being this light for people as they, too, recognize that Jesus came for all.

Speaker 2: 24:52

It's been a pleasure, it's really been a dream to get to play Mary. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 24:58

All right, well, listeners, if you haven't already be sure, and check out the Chosen, you can watch all of the past seasons and we're excited about season five coming up. So we thank you for listening. No-transcript.