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Sherman was born in Southern California and graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration from California State University of San Bernadino. She is married with two young daughters, and owns CrossFit Firestone gym in Brea, CA. Sherman began her career in entertainment as a singer before transitioning into acting.
Sherman has a passion for helping at-risk youth and foster children. She has previously spent time in South Africa volunteering in orphanages and providing love, gifts and food for orphaned children, many on whom are infected with AIDS. She also spent years volunteering at an organization called Cherish, which supports and educates young mothers and pregnant teens.
Sherman’s first film of 2017, The Vault, is a horror/thriller starring James Franco, Taryn Manning and Francesca Eastwood. The film follows two estranged sisters, who are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother, but the bank is no ordinary bank. Sherman plays the character of Lauren. The film is expected to be released in Fall 2017.
Sherman will also appear in Lionsgate’s, Day of the Dead, a remake of the 1975 George A. Romero zombie classic, starring Sophie Skelton and Johnathon Schaech. In the film, a small group of military personnel and survivalists dwell in an underground bunker as they seek to find a cure in a world overrun by zombies. Sherman plays the character of Linda. The film is expected to be released late 2017.
The third of Sherman’s upcoming films for 2017 is Saban Films’, The Forgiven, starring Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana. The film is set in post-Apartheid South Africa, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets with a brutal murderer seeking redemption. Directed by two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffé, Sherman plays the character of Linda Coetzee. The film is expected to be released in late 2017.
We had an opportunity to chat with Debbie about her upcoming films. Check the interview below.
You have three high-profile films releasing in 2017! Congratulations! First, let’s talk The Vault. It’s a horror/thriller starring James Franco, Taryn Manning, and Francesca Eastwood. You play the character of Lauren. Tell us more.
Thank you so much! I couldn’t be more excited to have theses three films releasing this year. The Vault was my first supporting role and I had such a great experience on set. As you mentioned, The Vault stars James Franco, Francesca Eastwood, Taryn Manning, Scott Haze and Jeff Gum. In this film, two estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother, but it’s no ordinary bank. Dan Bush and Conal Byrne wrote the film and Dan Bush directed. As for my character, Lauren, you wouldn’t want me to spoil anything, would you?!
No spoilers [laughs]. Horror films can be challenging to play. Tell us how you approach these types of roles.
I approach these roles as if they were reality. Becoming the character and really seeing myself as her can be challenging in the scary horror scenes. Each character is different, too. They each have their own background, situations, and story. This leads to having a new and fresh approach to each character. While some roles may be similar, each character is their own person and I treat them as such.
You will appear in The Forgiven with Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana. You play Linda Coetzee. Tell us more about the film and your role!
The Forgiven was one of the best career experiences I have ever had. This film is set after the end of the Apartheid in South Africa. Archbishop Desmond Tutu meets with a brutal murderer who is seeking redemption. Forest Whitaker, Eric Bana and Jeff Gum are some of the fabulous cast in this film, and let us not forget about the incomparable Roland Joffe, our fearless director. I have never felt so nurtured by a director. He really took the time to guide me and he helped me dig so deep in this role. Through his direction I was able to tap into my character, Linda Coetzee, on a whole new level. I am grateful for all of my experiences on and off set in South Africa. I grew so much personally and professionally.
You graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration. You started your career as a singer before becoming an actress. Did you use singing as a way in? Did you take any acting classes?
I’ve always been an entertainer. Singing, dancing, acting; you name it, I love it. I took drama and choir throughout school. After high school, I decided to get a degree in business as it seemed the most practical thing to do a the time. Truth be told, I secretly wish I would have continued on to get my MBA, but everything is about timing and for me and an MBA wasn’t in the cards at that time. After college, I had the opportunity to sing in a girl duo with my best friend. We had the best time writing, recording, shooting our music video and performing. We both put music on hiatus to have kids, and when I had the opportunity to return to the entertainment industry last year, it was to act in The Vault. So here I am, three films down, looking expectantly into my future as an actress.
South Africa has received a lot of help from production companies that filmed there. You also spent time volunteering in South African orphanages, helping at-risk youth and foster children. Tell us more.
South Africa was an amazing adventure for me last year. Filming of course was amazing, but my off-time was filled with some very special people. I was privileged to meet the beautiful children at the Siyaphambili Orphanage. Many of these children have HIV and were completely alone before being taken in by this orphanage. The time I spent with these children, who are so full of life, love and appreciation, is a time I will forever cherish. I am looking forward to the day I get to see them, again. Thankfully, the orphanage director sends me frequent updates on the kids, so I can still feel connected to the in some way. To find out more about these truly deserving children please visit http://siyaphambili.org.za. Another organization that I am involved with is Compassion PT. This organization provides physical therapy to people in impoverished nations. My husband and I sponsor the salary of a physical therapist at Compassion PT’s clinic in Kenya. This clinic provides more than 10,000 visits per year to people in the community. Many people travel for days just to be seen by a physical therapist. Natalie Winblad, founder of Compassion PT, said the following, “It can be the difference between between a child left on the floor for his entire life because he needed some help learning mobility or a little girl with cerebral palsy who can now sit and hold her head up because a therapist fashioned a neck brace.” I am hoping to visit the Kenya clinic to get to see the amazing work this organization is doing first hand. Many lives have been radically impacted by the compassion of this clinic and its staff. To find out more and to donate you can go to www.compassionpt.com.
With several films releasing in 2017, are there other productions you’re working on for 2018 already?
I am filming several movies this year that will be released in 2018. I am dying to tell everyone about my upcoming roles and projects, but for now, I must keep you all in suspense. To stay up to date on my upcoming roles you can visit my IMDb page at http://www.imdb.me/debbiesherman.
What types of roles do you hope to be cast in moving forward?
I’d love to play a strong and compassionate woman. A woman who is loving and caring (as we need more of this in our current world), but is also strong and fearless. I think sometimes our society tries to pit women as either a hardcore, compassionless woman boss or a meek, pushover in the kitchen type woman. Women are so much more than the categories we have been so unfairly placed in. We can be strong, fearless, compassionate, kind, loving and tough. A one word label just doesn’t cut it. So, having an opportunity to play the role of a woman who embodies all of these characteristics would be my dream role.
Thus far, what has been your best experience working in the industry?
I have been so blessed to have worked on some fantastic sets with some amazing cast and crew. I have had zero bad on-set experiences. One film in particular that really stands out is my time on the The Forgiven set. Everyone was so very talented and the crew was one of the hardest working, most talented crew I have ever had the privilege of working with.
What do you like to do between productions?
Number one always is spending time with my husband and kids. We love going to the movies, the park, Disneyland, and spending time in our pool and at the beach. My husband and I also own a gym near our home called CrossFit Firestone (www.crossfitfirestone.com). I love our gym as it has something to offer for everyone. We offer CrossFit, pilates, yoga, barre, cycle and bootcamp. I love doing a different type of workout every day, so for me the way we set up our gym works out perfectly. Plus we offer child care, so for a working mom like me, having this service is key. When I’m not filming or at the gym, I love to travel. I am on a mission to see the whole world and I am slowly but surely chipping away at it. This summer I will be with my family in Prague, and I am looking forward to exploring this European gem. We have plans to visit a Czech Republic orphanage, while we are there. I am so looking forward to meeting the children.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
I just finished shooting a Mother’s Day campaign for 31BITS. This fantastic company provides dignified work opportunities for artisans in Uganda and Bali. These artisans make stunning and fashionable jewelry pieces by hand. Their brand new spring collection is trendy and classic all at the same time. I just adore all of my hand made pieces. Knowing that the jewelry I am wearing provides healthy and fair working opportunities for people who would otherwise be without work makes my heart do a little happy dance. Plus, every piece is just stunning! To learn more about 31BITS or to order some fabulous jewelry be sure to visit http://www.31bits.com/. And be on the look out for yours truly and my sweet girls in their Mother’s Day campaign!
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would ___________.
Travel the world! I am a huge fan of the world! Haha! I want to see every country, experience every culture and meet people from different backgrounds. If you’ve seen my website, www.debbie-sherman.com, you’d know traveling is a huge part of my life. I have an entire section on my site documenting my world travels. I love traveling with my husband and two young daughters. Having the opportunity to show my girls different cultures and language is such a blessing. I really want my girls to know that the world is accessible to them and it is to be cherished. Traveling is another part of being an actress that I just love. Filming in different cities and countries and meeting new people from these places makes my job so enjoyable.
Connect with Debbie:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DebbieSherman33
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiesherm/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedebbiesherman/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.me/debbiesherman
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/debbiesherm
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/debbiesherman/
Web: http://www.debbie-sherman.com
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