Donna D’Errico visits Columbus for showing of film

Actress Donna D’Errico says she has been through some tough times, particularly, a very difficult divorce and child custody battle, but her faith and a return to the church is what got her through it all.

D’Errico says her latest movie, ‘Only God Can’ is about five women, friends since college. Each is dealing with a different set of problems. Each has lost her faith.

She and executive producer Linda Flannery say it will be hard for someone to watch the inspirational film and not come away feeling positive.

D’Errico is in Columbus Wednesday for a viewing of the film. At 6:30 p.m. at the Carmike 15 on Whittlesey Blvd, she will be available for a meet and greet with the public. A showing of the film will be at 7:30 p.m and tickets can only be purchased online at www.onlygodcanmovie.com.

D’Errico is a native of Dothan, Ala. but moved here at age six and graduated from Pacelli, a private Catholic school.

She went into modeling and was Playmate of the Month in Playboy magazine in 1995. She was one of the stars of the hit television series “Baywatch” and hosted a television show “BattleBots.” She has appeared in several films including “Candyman: Day of the Dead” and “Austin Powers in Goldmember.”

“I grew up going to church every Sunday. In my teens and 20s I got a little wild then I came back to the church. I went from good to bad to good,” said D’Errico who lives in Los Angeles.

She still has a sister here and visits “not as often as I would like to,”

“Columbus has really grown,” she said.

D’Errico said it is once considered “career suicide” to act in faith-based films but that has changed. “I don’t think Jennifer Garner’s career has been hurt by being in ‘Miracles From Heaven.”

In Only God Can, D’Errico plays an alcoholic.

“Her acting is amazing. I want people to see what an amazing actress she is,” Flannery said.

The film produced by Inspire You Entertainment of Charleston, S.C. is being distributed through a theatrical on demand process that relies on grassroots support to bring a film to a local theater. Churches may also arrange a showing. It has already won two awards, the Indie Fest Film Award of Excellence under the Christian category and the Inspired Faith Film Festival’s Sisterhood Award.

Among the film’s other stars is Greg Evigan who starred in the television series “B.J. and the Bear.”

D’Errico said she is working more behind the camera now. She is finishing a screenplay and is producing a documentary about her climbs on Mount Ararat in Turkey in search of the remains of Noah’s Ark.

Flannery gave a reason for the popularity of films such as Only God Can.

“People want good entertainment. They want to walk out of the theater feeling good,” Flannery said.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Donna D’Errico visits Columbus for showing of film."