22-year-old actress Madeline Carroll has starred alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. She has co-starred on film and television with Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Jim Carrey, Tim Allen, and Martin Short among others. She has been modeling and acting professionally since the age of 3. She was ready to throw in the towel and quite acting when she got a call to star in the film I Can Only Imagine.
After her breakout role in the 2010 film Flipped, Madeline decided to pursue a degree in production and screenwriting.
“When I was younger, I worked a lot and did a lot of big movies and then I just went to school for a while – high school and UCLA – and took a break for a minute and came back,” she says. “Right around the time I got this part [in I Can Only Imagine] I was going to quit acting, so it completely threw me back into the game.”
By the age of 18, she had refused dozens of acting roles she felt would not be honoring to God. She turned down a dream job in the industry after an experience she had in a worship service. Madeline wrestled with God’s call on her life and wondered if God was done using her in the industry.
After praying and asking God to bring her roles that would honor Him, she got a call from the production team that were casting the film I Can Only Imagine. Encouraged by the audition alone, Madeline felt like God might not be done with using her to influence the industry she was serving.
I recently talked with Madeline about the experience she had getting the role of Shannon, Bart Millard’s girlfriend in the film, and wrestling with God’s purpose in her life. Listen to the full interview below.
Check out the Exclusive Interview with Madeline Carroll below:
I Can Only Imagine is now available on Digital, DVD and BluRay.
Carl Barnhill has served on staff at some of the largest churches and organizations in the country. He served as Media Director at Precept Ministries International, directing the television and radio program Precepts for Life with Kay Arthur, broadcasted to over 98 million homes around the world. He served as Video Production Director at Pinelake Church in Brandon, MS. He most recently served as Video Coordinator for Newspring Church in South Carolina. He currently serves as Creative Director and Owner of[twelve:thirty]media, serving churches and ministries all over the world through motion graphics content and church media coaching.
