{"id":49516,"date":"2026-03-03T08:29:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=49516"},"modified":"2026-03-03T08:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T13:29:10","slug":"minnie-driver-says-playing-sarah-meant-wrestling-with-faith-and-doubt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/03\/minnie-driver-says-playing-sarah-meant-wrestling-with-faith-and-doubt.html","title":{"rendered":"Minnie Driver Says Playing Sarah Meant Wrestling With Faith and Doubt"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fred Duval \/ Shutterstock.com | Inset: FOX \/ YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As FOX’s sweeping biblical miniseries The Faithful: Women of the Bible<\/em> begins airing, actress Minnie Driver says stepping into the sandals of Sarah was far more than another historical role\u2014it was a deeply spiritual journey that demanded “big leaps of faith.”<\/p>\n

The British American actress, known for decades of acclaimed film and television work, portrays Sarah, the wife of Abraham, in the dramatization of Genesis that unfolds through the perspectives of the Bible’s matriarchs. The series, which will premiere March 22 and continues with new episodes through Easter, brings to life the emotional and spiritual struggles of women whose stories shaped the foundations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.<\/p>\n

Driver said she felt an immediate connection to Sarah’s story and its themes of longing, doubt, and belief. “Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to playing women who take big leaps of faith\u2014whether romantically, spiritually or morally,” she shared around the series’ debut. “Stepping into the role of Sarah required embracing all three and more, as Sarah is an extraordinary human, having a deeply spiritual experience.”<\/p>\n

In scripture, Sarah’s journey is marked by both promise and pain. Married to Abraham yet unable to conceive, she wrestles with years of barrenness and uncertainty over God’s covenant. The series portrays the couple’s anguish and the complicated decision to seek an heir through Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant\u2014a storyline that highlights both human frailty and divine faithfulness.<\/p>\n

Driver said that complexity is what drew her most strongly. “Her path to faith was a really interesting and difficult journey,” she explained. “As with all great storytelling, Sarah’s life and predicament are both relatable and fascinating.” She added that portraying Sarah and other biblical matriarchs felt long overdue in mainstream storytelling: “It is a great pleasure, and not before time, to bring Sarah’s story and the stories of all these remarkable, biblical matriarchs into the light.”<\/p>\n

The series is produced by Fox Entertainment Studios, with veteran producer Carol Mendelsohn of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation<\/em> among its executive producers. Each episode centers on women navigating love, marriage, motherhood, and faith amid the unfolding covenant story of Genesis. The production aims to blend dramatic realism with reverence for Scripture, presenting ancient narratives through an intimate human lens.<\/p>\n

Observers say Driver’s involvement reflects a broader shift in entertainment, as established actors increasingly take part in faith-centered projects. Christian film commentator Christian Toto noted that the landscape has changed significantly in recent years. “Faith-based content used to mean Kirk Cameron and a sea of unfamiliar faces,” he said. “Now? Bigger names like Ben Kingsley, Dennis Quaid, Kelsey Grammer, Minnie Driver and more are scrambling to add spiritual movies and TV shows to their resumes.”<\/p>\n

Toto attributes the trend partly to the success of recent faith-driven productions such as The Chosen<\/em> and other biblical or spiritually themed films that have drawn large audiences. “The biggest reason, though, is simple,” he said. “Many of these projects are successful. \u2026 They all drew a big crowd, and that matters even to an industry less than keen on telling a spiritual story.”<\/p>\n

For Driver, however, the appeal appears less commercial than personal and artistic. She has spoken of Sarah not merely as a historical figure but as a woman whose faith emerged through hardship and trust. The actress described Sarah’s experience as profoundly human\u2014marked by questions, waiting, and eventual fulfillment of promise.<\/p>\n

As audiences watch The Faithful<\/em> unfold during the Lenten and Easter season, Driver hopes Sarah’s story resonates beyond the screen. Her portrayal invites viewers to see the matriarch not only as Abraham’s wife but as a woman whose faith journey mirrors the struggles of many believers today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As FOX’s sweeping biblical miniseries The Faithful: Women of the Bible begins airing, actress Minnie Driver says stepping into the sandals of Sarah was far more than another historical role\u2014it was a deeply spiritual journey that demanded “big leaps of faith.” The British American actress, known for decades of acclaimed film and television work, portrays…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":49519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nMinnie Driver Says Playing Sarah Meant Wrestling With Faith and Doubt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Minnie Driver reflects on portraying Sarah in FOX's Women of the Bible series, exploring faith, doubt, and biblical matriarchs now on 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