Featured Actress:
Francine Locke

Bio

Francine Locke has been acting and modeling for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois, but during her university years she found a natural talent and enthusiasm for acting. She has a long list of well known commercial and industrial clients, as well as numerous print clients, both in the States and Canada.

Francine took a nine-year sabbatical from the industry, due to the union strikes in 2000 and 2001. As a single parent from the time her son was one year old, her concern was for stability and she sacrificed her passion for a steady income. "I took a job in an environment that I naively thought would be fully supportive, but unfortunately found this to be far from reality. I was put up against some very dark forces, but I’m happy to say that I came out stronger than when I started." She also learned more about human nature and formed some very strong relationships in spite of the hardships.

She has always loved the acting profession and the different people she met on every job. She took the inevitable unemployed days in stride, enjoying volunteering or field trips with her son’s class. "I always loved that I could make decent money for a few days work, and then not worry about the mortgage. That was reason enough to be in this business."

During her time out of the business, however, Francine’s faith also took a turn. "I never really thought that I had been given a gift in being able to act on camera. It was more of a glamour thing. I’d hear people say I was tall and pretty and should be a model, so that’s what I went for. I liked the recognition." Now, on her second time around, Francine’s biggest desire is to make a difference.

"I know what I do is a skill and a gift that has been given to me. I want to take that gift and use it for God’s glory." She isn’t looking for roles that are stereotypical "happily ever after," but real characters, with real challenges and real issues. Even the "bad" characters, if they make someone think, are worthwhile roles to take on.

Francine Locke’s theater roles have been diverse. She is involved with her church dramas, but her true desire is to work in film. She says, "The intimacy and emotional commitment in film is so personal and intense; I feel so connected; I thrive in that environment."

Francine’s roles in The Bell Tolls (Spring 2008 release) and Take this Job (web series) gave her the opportunity to dig deeper than she would have with superficial "soccer mom" roles. She had to come to terms with her characters’ conflicts, in racially mixed relationships too close to home for comfort. Both roles pushed her to deal with the racial chasm and to find a way to dislike someone, simply because they looked different.

Another disturbing role is her character in The Discarded (still filming). Set against the backdrop of wealth and obsession, The Discarded is the modern day Hansel and Gretel. Carol, Francine’s character, is the self-absorbed and self-centered step mother, bent on happiness at any cost, as long as she doesn’t have to pay the price. But there is always a price...

She received the nomination for Best Supporting Actress in Stealing Home, at the 168 Film Festival in Burbank (82 films entered). She played opposite Frank Ashmore (V, The Practice, West Wing) who was nominated Best Actor. Stealing Home earned a total of 11 nominations.

Francine's experience with the 168 Project was wonderful. In addition to a great work atmosphere (overnight shoots), during the screenings the audience would erupt in applause when "to God be the Glory" would appear in the credits.

She wasn’t aware there was a Christian filmmakers group until researching the producers of some popular Christian films. From the 168 Film Festival, to Faith Based Acting (Brad Wilson seminar) in North Carolina, to the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival, also in North Carolina, and the upcoming ICVM Catalyst Conference, Francine is taking every opportunity to walk through the doors that – by God’s grace – continue to open for her.

At the end of summer, Francine Locke will be working on Tears of Yesterday, a film dealing with work relationships that tear down the family. The film ends in disaster, with an ironic twist. By the year’s end, she should be in Costa Rica for the feature Finding Josef, a story that spans decades and continents, and enduring family ties.

All in all, Francine is at a wonderful starting place as she moves forward with a well-grounded and re-focused career!

Learn more about Francine and keep up to date with what’s happening by following her blog.

Links

• The Official Francine Locke Website
• Francine's Blog
• Francine's IMDb Page
• Francine's Facebook Profile
• Francine's LinkedIn Profile

Videos

Commercial and Industrial Demo Reel

Photos

Headshots

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