Laura Osnes attends the New York screening of Netflix’s musical drama series “Soundtrack” at Metrograph in New York City, on Dec. 02, 2019. (Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
Laura Osnes became famous for her role in the 2007 Broadway version of “Grease.” She then starred in other big musicals like “South Pacific,” “Anything Goes,” “Bonnie & Clyde,” and “Cinderella.” But in 2021, her successful career in theater hit a rough patch when she faced criticism from cancel culture.
Ms. Osnes, who is 38 years old, talked about a tough time she went through, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her personal health decisions became the focus of gossip in the media, which was really hard for her. She said, “It’s a journey I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through, but it taught me to keep going even when things are tough.” She believes that going through hard times is like being purified by fire, and it shows that good things can come out of difficult situations.
Wanting to start anew, Ms. Osnes and her husband, photographer Nathan Johnson, decided to leave New York City. In the fall of 2021, they moved to Franklin, Tennessee, which is close to Nashville.
“The change happened really fast,” she remembered. “We realized we didn’t feel like we belonged in New York City anymore, and saying goodbye was really hard for me. But now, living in Tennessee, we’ve found so much peace, balance, and a sense of community. It’s been really good for us!”
Ms. Osnes said that beginning again wasn’t simple, but the move led to new chances, creativity, friendships, and exciting experiences that felt meaningful. Living in Tennessee and choosing to forgive also helped her heal her hurt feelings.
‘On the Other Side’
In October 2022, the experienced singer shared her feelings from the tough year before by releasing her first EP called “On the Other Side, Part I.” It had five new songs, like “Thick Skin” and “Great Divide,” which talked about her experience dealing with being canceled. She’s also working on two more new songs of her own.
Before this, Ms. Osnes often appeared in Hallmark movies, like “In the Key of Love” in 2019 and “One Royal Holiday” in 2020. But in 2023, she had her first role on Great American Family network, in a movie called “A Dash of Christmas” where she starred alongside actor Christopher Russell.
That year, Ms. Osnes and her husband started their own production company called Rebel Rocket Entertainment. Right now, they’re making a documentary series about a theater group in their area. This theater group is special because it’s made up of adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“I was in one of their musicals recently, and it really changed my life,” she said. “We’re trying to find a way to share this amazing and important content with more people soon!”
Recently, the actress directed Great American Family’s first Easter movie called “Just in Time,” which came out on March 26. She said she was touched by the movie’s big ideas, like redemption and making things right again, especially because of her own tough times.
“In the movie, we watch as people fix their relationships by forgiving each other, letting go of control, talking openly, and, most importantly, finding strength in their faith. I really connected with my character, Hannah, because she has to go through tough times to understand she needs something bigger in her life.”
“Hannah doesn’t start out having any faith in God. In fact, she’s been pretty hurt and disappointed by Him in her past. But being able to incorporate my own faith-journey into Hannah’s journey made the process so meaningful for me,” she continued. “My prayer is that any moving moment in my performance points straight to Jesus, providing truth, authenticity, and depth to this film that may not be as evident otherwise.”
Putting Her Faith First
Ms. Osnes mentioned that picking projects that match her beliefs and what she values has always been important to her. But she admits it’s not always easy to do that in the entertainment world. “I haven’t always made the right choices and had to learn from mistakes,” she said. “But I try to remember the words from Proverbs 3:5-6: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t rely only on what you understand. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.’”
“God has always shown me that He’s there, even when I don’t know what’s going on or why things happen. Sometimes, I’ve felt calm about certain job choices, or felt uncomfortable about them. He’s given me what I needed even when things were hard, and he’s closed doors I thought I wanted so that better opportunities could come my way,” she explained.
“I really don’t know how people in showbiz handle all the ups and downs—emotionally, mentally, and financially—without having a strong belief system. But for me, I try to make wise choices and do what I feel God wants me to do. It’s reassuring to know that as long as I trust and follow Him, He’ll show me the right way,” she said. She also mentioned that she’s always grateful for the chances and platforms that God gives her.
“I’ve always believed in just loving people, and I realized early on that it’s never worth giving up my beliefs for a job or role. It’s tough not to want to please everyone in showbiz… we all enjoy the attention and applause,” she said. “But my best advice is to stop seeking approval from others and focus on making God proud instead.”
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