Hollywood star Kevin Costner has revealed that before his long, illustrious run in the film industry, his career began as a shepherd in a church Christmas nativity play.
The award-winning 70-year-old actor told Christian Post that he began with no idea of what acting was and instead was told to just stand still.
“I was a rascal,” explained Costner, “I was asked to be a shepherd. I didn't even know what acting was; you just be a shepherd.
“You have this big, long stick, so don't fight any kids with it."
Whilst it wasn’t the most elaborate way to begin his acting career, he described how his faith was always central to his upbringing, with the church setting the foundations for what has been an extraordinary set of work.
He said: “I didn't go through life dreaming of being an actor, but the Church was very much a part of my life."
With award nominations in classics like ‘Dances with Wolves,’ ‘Field of Dreams, ’ and ‘The Bodyguard,’ and a recent triumph in ‘Yellowstone,’ Costner has had a very successful four decades in the film industry.
Although he is doing a full 180 turn as he is returning to a place of faith in a new two-hour ABC special, ‘The First Christmas.’
This bit of work brings a human perspective to the birth of Jesus Christ from the side of Mary and Joseph, exploring the spiritual element to the real reason for Christmas.
In his interview with Christian Post, he highlighted the importance, saying: “I didn't want to just be a famous face in front of a religious story.
“I wanted to be very human about it. The story is the story, and I felt that if I humanised myself a little bit, maybe the entry into a story we think we know so well becomes more human, too."
He added: "It's a chance to refocus, to recalibrate, to take stock of the people who matter to us.
"Sometimes we go overboard, but we're human. Let's give ourselves a break. … Just because you have ornaments and decorations doesn't mean you don't have faith. It doesn't mean that God hasn't had His hands on your life."
Costner has stressed the importance of many to “keep Christ in Christmas” as the world is slowly starting to lose focus on the reason for the season.
'The First Christmas' will premiere on the 9th of December and will be available to stream on Disney+ the following day.
