Actor Neal McDonough, who’s portrayed numerous movie villains, has launched a new film company that will feature faith-based content.
McDonough, who has appeared in “Minority Report,” “Band of Brothers” and “Desperate Housewives,” started the McDonough Company with his wife, Ruve.
In an interview with The Christian Post, the actor said that representing his faith as a devout Catholic is “the only thing” he knows.
“It’s hard because I’ve done so many different characters and done so many things, and in some of them, I play horrible villains in a lot of the things that I do, and I won’t do kissing scenes, so I have to be the best villain out there,” he said.
McDonough, who’s been married to Ruve for nearly 20 years, shared that he refuses to do kissing scenes with his co-stars “because these lips are meant for one woman.”
“But now, Ruve and I are producing our own films. All of our projects have a faith backdrop to it,” he said.
While not all the content will be explicitly faith-based, McDonough asserted that it will be “faith-friendly in so much that we want to reach out to people who aren’t just Christians.”
The couple hopes the messages in the company’s films will reach people of all backgrounds and encourage them to make the world “a better place.”
McDonough also says that his numerous portrayals of villains are antithetical to who he is in real life.
“So, it’s a great challenge as an actor; it’s a great challenge as a man. It’s also a great challenge as a child of God to press on with the right material,” he added.
After years of being unable to launch a film company, McDonough hopes his new endeavor would glorify God.
“Now I have that opportunity because Ruve and I are doing it ourselves and are so blessed to have companies that support us and back us and want to make more films and TV shows, or reality shows or any kind of show that gives glory to Him,” he said. “Not just to make a movie, but to do a movie that actually gives Him glory — that’s our goal,” he added. “And that’s what we’re after, and we’re very fortunate to be able to do it.”
He added that the company is expected to be online in the near future.
During his interview with The Christian Post, McDonough discussed the upcoming Christmas special Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir, which will premiere on BYUtv and PBS starting Dec. 13.
The holiday special, hosted by McDonough, will include musical performances of holiday favorites by Tony Award-nominee Megan Hilty (“Wicked”) and choir.
“This show is something that we’re all so proud of, and we can’t wait for everyone to watch the show and take those messages home with them and celebrate Christmas the way it’s supposed to be celebrated with family and talking about the ultimate family and ultimate sacrifice of someone who gave Himself for us,” the actor said. “It’s a humbling feeling to be part of an event like this. I am the luckiest guy in the world.”