Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
At the Coffee and
Bible Time podcast.
Our goal is to help you delightin God's Word and thrive in
Christian living.
Each week we talk to subjectmatter experts who broaden your
biblical understanding,encourage you in hard times and
provide life-building tips toenhance your Christian walk.
We are so glad you have joinedus.
(00:25):
Welcome back to the Coffee andBible Time podcast.
This is Ellen, your host.
I am so excited about today'sepisode.
We are joined by a very specialguest, elizabeth Tabish.
You probably know her as MaryMagdalene from the hit series
(00:45):
the Chosen.
Elizabeth brings such depth andbeauty to her role and today we
are going to get to hear abouther personal faith journey.
We'll talk about how God's wordhas shaped her life, what it's
like preparing for such ameaningful and deep role, and
(01:06):
just how being a part of theChosen has strengthened her
faith.
Elizabeth Tabish is an actressand filmmaker known for her
portrayal as Mary Magdalene inthe Chosen.
She received her MA in theaterand BA in screen studies from
Oklahoma State University.
Elizabeth has produced anddirected a number of
(01:30):
award-winning short films, andshe currently lives in Ohio with
her husband and likes to paintin her spare time.
Please welcome Elizabeth.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Absolutely, it's my
pleasure.
Thank you for having me welcome, elizabeth.
Absolutely, it's my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
Well, our Coffee and
Bible Time listeners are people
who just have a desire to knowGod more.
So I was thinking, maybe justhaving you start out by telling
us a little bit about theimportance of faith in your life
.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Faith has been a
journey for me.
I remember as a little girlreally loving all the stories in
the Bible and being veryexcited about Jesus, and as I
got older I became a little bitmore cynical about religion and
(02:25):
churches.
I had some friends that stoppedbeing friends with me because I
didn't go to their church andthere was some you know, some
not so great experiences andthroughout those years I just I
became a little bit moreskeptical and cynical.
And throughout those years Ijust I became a little bit more
(02:47):
skeptical and cynical and youknow, I kind of lost my way for
some time and I think I confusedchurches with Christianity,
with what Jesus is teaching usand um, and showing us how to be
.
(03:08):
And so it took, it took a littlebit of a dark night of the soul
for me to go through someexperiences that, um, that I
really struggled through and um,and I even I tried to quit
acting and there was just likethis, this moment of my life
that felt very lost and verylonely and um, and I was looking
(03:31):
for God, but I just didn't feellike I could find God anywhere
and um, and then I booked thisrole on the show and um, it felt
like a, an answered prayer thatI forgot I had prayed a long
time ago and um, and theexperience of of playing this
(03:54):
character has um been sopersonal to me and I don't think
I would have been able to playher had I not gone through some
of those more challengingexperiences.
(04:18):
But it's also brought so muchlight into everything in my life
and it's reminded me of whoJesus is and personal, and so
it's such a journey, it's suchan ongoing thing where I can
continue to learn about Jesus.
I can continue to learn abouthow God works in mysterious ways
(04:40):
and to see God in so many morethings, 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 toremember that when things get
difficult and challenging, um toremember, to go, to remember to
(05:03):
go to what Jesus taught andfind the love in this world.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
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 isby reaching this low point.
And you know, in our faith isby reaching this low point and
you know, wondering God, whereare you?
And I think it's incrediblejust how God almost reached out
(05:31):
to you in this way and certainlyallowed you to play this the
incredible character of MaryMagdalene.
Tell us about what impacted youthe most as you studied to
prepare and play her part.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
I think the writers
have done such a brilliant job
in using certain texts toillustrate her story, and one of
them in season two, she'slearning the scripture and it's
if I go to the heavens, you arethere.
If I make my bed in the depths,you are there.
(06:09):
This idea that God iseverywhere and even when we're
in our darkest, most lonelyplaces, god is still with us and
can bring us out of thoseplaces, is still with us and um
and can bring us out of thoseplaces.
And so every season I feel likethere's this new lesson for me,
(06:30):
written through the script,written into the script, that
reminds me of these.
You know, I'm I'm learningabout, about the gospels and I'm
learning about um, evenprophecies from the old
Testament that that I don'tthink I would have otherwise,
and it's so well written thatthere's all these different
(06:51):
characters and all thesedifferent storylines that you
can.
You know, at any point in yourlife and whatever you're going
through, there's someone thatyou could probably relate to and
see how God shows up in theirlives and how Jesus shows up and
can transform and change things.
So it's just an ongoing journeyand it's such a gift to get to
(07:12):
play Mary, who goes through sucha transformation.
When we first see her, she's soin the worst pit of despair,
possessed by seven demons,struggling with addiction,
suicidal, having these PTSDflashbacks of an assault from a
(07:36):
Roman soldier Like these.
Are not all of them asrelatable as others, but some of
these are real experiences thatso many people have at any
chapter of history and followhow he lives and follow how he
(08:05):
loves and reaches out to peopleand 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 adulterouswomen, he forgives them.
Missing him do all of thesemiracles and healings and
expressions of love that it'ssuch an invitation to learn how
(08:30):
to do that too and try to dothat too in our own lives.
So, yeah, it's all beenteaching me a lot.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
It sounds like it.
I know the Chosen has just been, I think, an incredible journey
for so many people, even justwatching it, because I feel like
sometimes just reading theBible it's kind of just, I want
to say like two dimensional,like it's just.
It feels flat and all of asudden, when I watched the
(09:02):
Chosen, you realize, you knowthe depth that these people were
, people who had feelings, theyhad emotions, they had humor,
like all the different.
It brings it so much to lifethat I think resonates with so
(09:22):
many people.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
I think what's hard
too for some people, just
delving right into the Bible, isnot knowing where to begin and
where to, how to piece certainthings together and how to piece
certain prophecies that arefulfilled by Jesus, how to like
connect all of that, and it canbe really overwhelming, and it
and because it's a written piece, it's kind of if reading is
(09:45):
difficult for some, or um, focusis difficult, like you kind of
you end up missing out on themessage, and so it's nice to to
have this as a tool to watchthese parables and these stories
and these messages played outand illustrated by you know,
(10:05):
through storytelling, to helpunderstand what that means, as
Jesus is listing the Beatitudes,to have these flashes of
examples of everything he'stalking about, and it helps
solidify and help us understandwhat that means, you know.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Absolutely Well.
We're coming up on season fivealready of the Chosen, the Last
Supper.
Tell us how does the seasondiffer from previous seasons?
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I think, well,
there's no turning back.
This feels very much like it'sthe beginning of the end.
I think all of the disciplesand followers are realizing
(11:01):
something major is about tohappen, and then all of the
emotions that come with that.
You know this sort of processof grieving and then hoping that
maybe it's not going to happenthat way and trying to change
things and trying to help insome ways.
I think especially for Mary.
She is struggling to acceptwhat, what must happen, and, and
I think for everyone else,everything's just ramping up.
(11:24):
The stakes are higher,everything is nearing this
moment of crucifixion and it'sso close, it's happening so soon
and we as viewers know that,but these characters don't.
They don't know what's going tobe happening and they certainly
(11:46):
don't know that there will be aresurrection.
So everyone just feels verynervous and scattered and a
little.
You know, jesus is acting inways that we have not seen him
(12:08):
behave ever before.
We're seeing him flip tablesand get very emotional in large
public gatherings and really saywhat he thinks to the Pharisees
in a very public space, and, uh, I think everyone just does not
(12:29):
know how to respond and it'sit's one of those uncomfortable
things that we have to sort oflive with throughout the season
of always being a little behindwhat Jesus is doing and a little
confused about how to how toproceed.
So it's it's a complicatedseason but it's.
It's so beautifully written anddone and um, really memorable
(12:56):
moments from the gospels are areplayed out and, yeah, it's
going to be special and um outand, yeah, it's going to be
special and, um, some iconicthings happening.
Speaker 1 (13:12):
It sounds, um, very
sort of intense and really like
just delving, yes, deeper intowhat's going on in the minds of
these characters as they'rewitnessing.
Just as you described theseunexplainable.
It seems like Jesus so manytimes say, does or says the
opposite of what you might think.
Yeah, yeah, certainly, alldivinely, you know, inspired
(13:38):
every step that he took, and soit can be so hard for people to
understand took, and so it canbe so hard for people to
understand.
Were there any specific scenesor moments from the last supper
season that you wereparticularly, uh, emotional for
you to?
Speaker 2 (13:54):
film there was, uh,
yeah, there's a scene, uh, where
there's a group of us, a smallgroup, and we finally get to
tell Jesus altogether, wefinally get to thank him for all
the things he's done for us,and it's a really special scene,
(14:20):
especially knowing what'scoming after, especially knowing
what's coming after that.
Um, before that happens, we getto share our gratitude with
them.
Speaker 1 (14:30):
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 justthrough your voice, um, how
special that really, really wasit's a good scene, it's a really
it's a beautiful scene, one ofmy favorites, I think and I'm
(14:53):
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 inMary's relationship with Jesus
during season five?
Speaker 2 (15:08):
It's an interesting
thing because they don't have
very many interactions.
In season five there's a momentin episode one where she kind
of checks in on him and noticeshe's acting a little funny or
sad, not funny.
I mean he's acting a littlefunny or sad, not funny, I mean
he's acting overwhelmed.
(15:31):
And she checks on him and thenthe scene.
There aren't a lot ofinteractions, but I do think
there is a totally differentattitude and a totally different
set of goals or just a totallydifferent goal for her, instead
(16:02):
of sort of passively followingand waiting and being patient.
There's another side to Marythat comes out this season where
she is very actively trying topursue help for Jesus and we see
her kind of go out of thiscomfort zone but we've seen her
do that before of leaving thegroup.
(16:24):
But this time she's on amission and um and she wants to
help.
She wants to do anything shecan to help Um and some of that
is her not really accepting whatshe, you know, knows is going
to be happening soon, um, andthen she finds some help in
(16:46):
understanding that this musthappen this way and that it's
going to ultimately be a goodthing for humanity, for
humankind.
So there are some prettypivotal changes in her
understanding of things and theunderstanding of the story as
(17:09):
it's playing out, and thereforeher relationship with Jesus is
changing as well filming anepisode?
Speaker 1 (17:27):
is it something that
you just, I don't want to say
weighs heavily on you?
Speaker 2 (17:30):
but you, you're you
have a lot to think about after
you're done the second we getscripts um into into the end of
filming it.
It's it's on the forefront, thewhole story and Mary's journey
and it's on the forefront.
(17:51):
The whole story and Mary'sjourney and how to portray her
and how to honor this story isalways in the forefront of my
mind and it's a difficult thingto let go of.
I don't know if I ever fully do.
I'm always thinking about itand 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 itand and interpreting and just
(18:28):
delving into these stories andher story.
And you know, it's over 2,000years later and it's still such
an important story and these arestill such important historical
figures and there's a reasonfor that.
And you know, I think livingwith it and thinking about it
often is my little attempt totry to honor it in some way.
Speaker 1 (18:52):
Yeah, absolutely.
Well, tell us, as we start towrap things up here, being one
of the actors, what is it likewhen fans of the show or someone
really talks to you about theimpact the show has had on them,
(19:15):
like, how have you seen the?
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Chosen impact the
world for God's glory.
For me it has been so manystories of people reaching out
or reaching out about theirfriends or people they know who
have watched this and related somuch to Mary's story and see
themselves in her.
And a lot of these people havevery painful backgrounds with
addiction or with assault orwith abuse and they relate so
(19:51):
much to Mary's shame and fearsand PTSD and struggles with
addiction.
And then I get to hear themfind that other side to it of
and then I'm redeemed and thisvery happy ending and this very
joyful conclusion and story arcfor Mary and um and they get to
(20:13):
watch themselves in thischaracter in a lot of ways, grow
and transform and learn andchange and um, and so there's a
there's a bit of a role model inher for all of us gals that
struggle with shame and withpainful experiences and
(20:38):
addiction and to see thatthere's actually a very happy
ending here and that means somuch to get to portray that and
to know that that's affectingpeople and that people are
connecting to it.
That's kind of any actor'sdream and it's a gift to me to
(21:04):
be able to be a part of that.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
It absolutely must,
because it is the greatest story
ever told, and what anincredible opportunity,
elizabeth, for you to be a partof that.
Well, what are your last wordshere for the fans of the Chosen
and what are you most excitedabout for them in this season,
five coming up.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
I'm, um, I'm so
grateful for them.
I'm so thank you, guys fortaking a chance on this show and
and growing with us.
And, um, I think season five isis going to feature so many
familiar stories and momentsfrom the Gospels, and we all
know what's ahead.
(21:49):
You know, even though thecharacters don't, we all know
what comes next the crucifixionand then ultimately, the
resurrection and these are suchspecial stories to so many
people, and so thank you fortrusting us to help tell these
stories the best we can people,and so thank you for trusting us
to help tell these stories thebest we can.
(22:09):
And it's just, it's such a joyto get feedback and to know that
that people are responding welland enjoying it and learning
and growing from it as well.
I'm really, really excited toget to share season five with
everyone.
It's a special one.
Speaker 1 (22:22):
All right.
Well, elizabeth, I know I'mpersonally so excited about it
coming up.
I want to thank you so much fortaking the time to join us
today and for just devoting thisseason of your life to
portraying Elizabeth and sort ofbeing this light for people as
(22:45):
they, too, recognize that Jesuscame for all.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
It's been a pleasure,
it's really been a dream to get
to play Mary.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
All right, well,
listeners, if you haven't
already be sure, and check outthe Chosen, you can watch all of
the past seasons and we'reexcited about season five coming
up.
So we thank you for listening.
No-transcript.