It’s difficult to be an outspoken Christian, pro-lifer or conservative and likewise be famous. There are only a small variety of celebrities daring enough to be open about these opinions within the face of an elite that is normally firmly liberal and secular, and infrequently condemning of anyone with more traditional opinions.
There are a couple of exceptions of A-listers, equivalent to Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt, who talks of his Christian faith, and cinematic legend Clint Eastwood, who is correct wing. It’s so difficult to be conservative in Hollywood that ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ star and practising Catholic Gary Sinise founded a society for like-minded stars to fulfill and network, although its membership was kept secret.
Recently within the UK there was a media fuss when Crystal Palace defender and England team player Marc Guehi wrote “Jesus loves you” on a rainbow armband he was asked to wear to support LGBTQ+ causes. This got here just a couple of days after he was reportedly “reminded” by the Football Association that religious messages on football kits will not be allowed, as he also wrote “I really like Jesus” on one other armband in black marker pen.
It is perhaps brave to boldly declare such beliefs, but to publicly discuss abortion, faith and conservative politics is a triple-whammy that few have enough courage to declare. Here are some individuals who have dared to say what they imagine:
Kelsey Grammer: “When things are at their worst, that is when Christ is closest”
The star of hit sitcoms Cheers and Frasier, is unusual in Hollywood for being openly Christian, conservative and pro-life, and yet still successful, perhaps due to his winsome personality. Grammer is well-known to be a born again Christian, and has spoken about his faith and his Republican politics. But perhaps the bravest statement he has made was in an interview with mainstream UK newspaper The Times several years ago, when he spoke boldly in favour of pro-life beliefs.
“[It] gets a bit dishonest to call something reproductive rights whenever you clearly have a selection well before a baby is conceived,” he told The Times.
He even strayed into essentially the most controversial issue of exceptions if a girl is made pregnant by a sexual attack. “If someone has to die in consequence of rape, then we must always kill the rapist, not the unborn child,” he said. “It’s a dicey area, but when you’ve respect for all times, and respect for selection, you then cannot take life away from an infant.”
The subject is a deeply personal one to the actor, because as a young man, Grammer’s 18-year-old sister was kidnapped, raped, and murdered in Colorado by a person who was eventually caught and put in prison, where he stays to at the present time. This tragedy contributed to a serious alcohol and drug addiction at the peak of his fame. He told The Independent of a conversation he had with God: “‘Where were you?’ The answer got here: ‘I used to be right there.’ I do think that when things are at their worst, that is when Christ is closest.”
Patricia Heaton: “God is on top of things”
Best known for her role in Everybody Loves Raymond, for which she received many awards, Patricia Heaton has defied Hollywood convention to be publicly Christian, pro-Israel, Republican, and against abortion.
According to the Catholic World Report, when she realised that acting, reasonably than Christ, was the centre of her life, she told the Lord: “I’ll do whatever you wish” and she or he then found a “profound peace”. She believes that in the identical way a recovering alcoholic has to commit day by day to being sober, a Christian in Hollywood has to day by day recommit to their faith. She said: “Once I spotted that God is on top of things and calling the shots, it enabled me to loosen up.”
Jim Caviezel: “It wounds God to kill unborn babies”
Best known for taking part in Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, the Person of Interest actor has spoken of how playing the Saviour led to fewer profession opportunities. He often speaks boldly about his faith and the importance of devotion to God, and he publicly endorsed Donald Trump within the last election. He told Catholic News Agency: “It wounds God to the deepest core to kill those unborn babies.”
Margaret Colin: “I’m very pro-woman and pro-child”
A seasoned activist for ‘Feminists for Life’, Margaret Colin has publicly challenged laws that widen access to abortion. She has played roles in Independence Day, As the World Turns and Gossip Girl. She spoke about her faith and her pro-life beliefs to US TV channel EWTN, saying that she found it easy to discuss with fellow actors about these issues: “I’ve been very pro-woman and pro-child and really non-violent so there’s actually sort of a whole lot of things for us to discuss.”
Dean Cain: “I’m conservative but socially, I’m very liberal”
The Superman TV star has played lead roles in lots of Christian movies, reflecting his own growth in faith. He also starred within the pro-life film Gosnell. He told Fox News that it was “shocking” that “abortion on demand” up until the moment of birth is the stance of many politicians today, although he shouldn’t be in favour of a whole ban. He also spoke against Joe Biden’s proposal to reinstate Roe vs Wade. However he is not universally pro Republican, telling the Hollywood Reporter: “The truth is, I’m conservative but socially, I’m very liberal.” He told The Christian Post that his faith grew after having his son: “There are so many conversations I’ve had with God on the hardest points and times of my life, and there is nowhere else to show should you haven’t got that faith.”
Alexa PenaVega: “God continues to comfort and hold us in his arms”
Alexa has been in lots of TV movies and likewise had a task in Spy Kids. Recently she and her husband suffered the tragedy of losing a toddler, and so they told followers on an Instagram post: “It has been a painful journey. But within the pain we’ve found peace. God continues to comfort and hold us in his arms … This little girl has already modified our lives in so some ways. She was absolutely beautiful.”
But even before this sad experience, the actress recognised the worth of life and spoke against abortion, although to achieve this could harm her profession. “I remember once I first began really speaking out about it and it was considered taboo and cliché and other people stopped working with me due to it,” she told pro-life podcast ‘Speak Out’ last yr.
Heather Tomlinson is a contract Christian author. Find more of her work at https://heathertomlinson.substack.com/Â or via X (twitter) @heathertomli
