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Nancy Travis believes Americans are “more alone than ever,” fueling a stronger connection to stories of resilience.
The “Last Man Standing” alum stars in Lifetime’s “Rescued by Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story,” based on the 2017 case of a couple who were abducted from their home and locked in a hidden bunker while their captor tried to drain their life savings.
“I think people feel more alone than ever,” the actress told Fox News Digital while discussing America’s growing appetite for films with a message of hope.
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Nancy Travis, who starred in “Grosse Point Garden Society” and “Last Man Standing,” is now appearing in the Lifetime film “Rescued By Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story.” (Sally Montana/NBC via Getty Images)
“I think a lot of our lives are lacking in community,” she said. “They’re certainly lacking since COVID. There’s a lack of in-person community. Some people spend a lot of time at home behind a computer, and that’s their human interaction. I think people are looking for some kind of connection and some kind of feeling, especially now.”
Nancy Travis attends the Lionsgate “Ordinary Angels” premiere at the SVA Theater on Feb. 19, 2024, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)
“First of all, for many, it’s hard to get a job,” she said. “It’s hard to make ends meet. Times are difficult. And I think that resonates in that people feel like there’s no support system. This story is an extreme example of something catastrophic happening, but I think there’s that fear that even on a smaller level, something catastrophic could happen.”
“I see myself as a very positive, glass-half-full kind of person, but I definitely feel around me just fear. A lot of fear,” the 64-year-old added.
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The star shared that while working on the film, she spoke to Connie. It changed her perspective.
“They have a strong faith,” she said about the couple. “I personally feel that you need some kind of faith, whether it’s in yourself, your community or your God. It’s anything that helps get us by. And I think what drew me to Connie and Larry’s story is that they’re ordinary people, and this extraordinary thing happened to them. They managed to persevere through their faith, and they made it through.”
Nancy Travis visits SiriusXM Studios in New York City on May 24, 2023. (Jason Mendez/Getty Images)
“The message they want to tell people is that regardless of your hardship, you’re not alone,” Travis said. “They’re Christians. They believe in Jesus and God, and that gave them comfort. They would even say that it helped guide them to survival. It also gave them a certain type of peace — that if things didn’t work out, if they didn’t survive this ordeal, they were not alone in that trial.”
Lifetime’s “Rescued By Faith: The Connie and Larry Van Oosten Story” airs April 4 at 8 p.m. (Lifetime)
Travis said that in her life, family has been central to supporting her, even during challenging moments.
“I’m thankful that I am not alone, that I do have family,” she said. “The theme of this film is that, with faith, everything will turn out OK at the end of the day, even if it doesn’t mathematically add up to that OK. I think just knowing that takes an anxiety away. It doesn’t mean that it takes away grief, because I think grief is very profound and manifests in people in different ways. But it’s knowing that in hard situations, you do everything that you can, and it’s enough to know that you’ve done that.”
From left: Before “Rescued by Faith,” Bradley Whitford, Nancy Travis and Mariska Hargitay worked alongside each other in the “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” episode “King of the Moon.” (Peter Kramer/NBC)
Travis also leans on the family she’s made in Hollywood. She described how the “Last Man Standing” cast has remained close over the years. The sitcom, starring Tim Allen, concluded its nine-season run in 2021. The show was previously canceled by ABC in 2017 despite high ratings but was revived by Fox.
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Tim Allen and Nancy Travis are seen in the ABC series “Shifting Gears” after “Last Man Standing.” (Raymond Liu/Disney)
“[Tim and I] have certainly had a very long partnership,” she said about the actor, 72. “We did that show for nine years and had no idea that it would have that longevity. But he’s such a wonderful comedian and actor. And he’s very generous with what he does. He doesn’t have to have all the punchlines. He doesn’t have to be the center all the time. And I was very impressed that he was willing to share that and share his talent with us.”
“We were so blessed to be on that show,” she reflected. “We really did create a family. I am still close to all of the actors. It’s just a nice thing in this business, especially when jobs really come and go. And it’s so wonderful that we all remained friends. I’m still friends with Tim. I was happy to be asked to be on his show, ‘Shifting Gears,’ for a few episodes. And that’s the other thing. He keeps his acting family close.”
Nancy Travis said her “Last Man Standing” co-star, Tim Allen, is “a wonderful comedian and actor” who “keeps his acting family close.” (Fox/Getty Images)
“The ‘Last Man Standing’ family always showed up for each other off camera,” she continued. “There were weddings. Children were born. There were passings. My kids had a bar mitzvah, and everyone showed up. Everyone has become an integral part of each other’s lives. We shared so many of life’s milestones and celebrations. Those things really stand out in your mind.”
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“Last Man Standing” aired for nine seasons over nearly 10 years from Oct. 11, 2011, to May 20, 2021. (Fox/Getty Images)
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Today, Travis is eager to tell more stories that will speak to everyday Americans.
“I feel as a performer, I just really want to tell the truth,” she said. “I want to be honest in my performance so that there isn’t a fake moment, whether it is something like ‘Rescued by Faith’ or ‘Last Man Standing.’ Even when I’m on stage, I want to tell the truth in a way that resonates with people. I hope that they are moved or entertained or just take something away that impacts their day in some way. We are all human with different journeys.”