Jen Lilley Opens Up on Jimmy Stewart Biopic, Faith, and Hallmark Future

Veteran soap star, Hallmark favorite, and faith-driven creative Jen Lilley is stepping into one of the most meaningful roles of her career. It just happens to be tied to one of Hollywood’s most beloved legends.

In a personal, wide-ranging look behind the scenes, Lilley opens up about portraying Gloria Stewart in the upcoming Jimmy Stewart biopic Jimmy. She reflects on faith, career reinvention, motherhood, and why this film feels less like another job and more like a calling.

With awards buzz already swirling and a stacked cast attached, this project is shaping up to be far more than a nostalgic tribute.

Jen Lilley Steps Into Hollywood History

For an actress with decades of collective film and TV experience, it takes something extraordinary to feel transformative. That’s exactly how Jen Lilley describes joining the cast of Jimmy, the highly anticipated biopic about American icon Jimmy Stewart.

Slated for a November 2026 theatrical release, the film dives into Stewart’s rise to fame, his quiet heroism, and the personal battles that shaped his humanity. Lilley portrays Gloria Stewart, the woman who stood beside the Oscar winner through war, fame, and raising a family.

The role resonated instantly. Gloria’s journey mirrors aspects of Lilley’s own life as a mother of four navigating strength, sacrifice, and purpose.

A Role That Felt Redemptive

The timing of the opportunity was oddly perfect. Lilley has been open about enduring a difficult two-year period marked by professional upheaval and personal soul-searching, including her recasting on Days of Our Lives.

Rather than seeing that season as loss, she now frames it as preparation. Landing Jimmy marked a turning point—one she describes as redemptive, affirming, and spiritually aligned.

The film arrived when her slate had been cleared, leaving space for work that carried deeper meaning.

The Man Behind the Icon: Why Jimmy Stewart’s Story Hits Hard

Jimmy Stewart’s filmography is etched into cinematic history with classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Philadelphia Story, and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. The man behind those roles, though, is far less understood.

That discovery became one of the most powerful aspects of the project for Lilley. Stewart wasn’t just a movie star playing heroes—he was one.

A third-generation military man, Stewart fought against studio pressure to avoid service during World War II. He ultimately became a combat pilot.

The psychological toll of war left him battling PTSD. That experience reframes his later performances with haunting clarity.

Rewatching a Classic Through a New Lens

Understanding Stewart’s real-life trauma gives profound weight to his portrayal of George Bailey. The despair, the quiet resilience, the everyman exhaustion—none of it was just acting.

Lilley notes that once you know Stewart’s truth, his most famous performance feels deeply personal. This biopic doesn’t mythologize; it humanizes.

A Cast Packed With Familiar Faces

One of the film’s biggest talking points is its impressive ensemble. It blends prestige talent with beloved fan favorites.

Leading the charge is KJ Apa, taking on the monumental task of portraying Jimmy Stewart himself. According to Lilley, Apa’s transformation is astonishing, especially when it comes to nailing Stewart’s voice and cadence.

The casting alone has fueled awards speculation months before release.

• Jason Alexander as Louis B. Mayer
• Max Casella as Frank Capra
• Sarah Drew as Hedda Hopper
• Neal McDonough as Alexander Stewart
• Christopher McDonald as Lionel Barrymore
• Rob Riggle as U.S. Army Colonel Terrill

Hollywood Glamour Meets Emotional Truth

The film boasts lavish period details—from 1940s aircraft to vintage bathing suits. But it never loses sight of its emotional core.

The love story between Jimmy and Gloria Stewart grounds the spectacle. There’s warmth, humor, and quiet intimacy amid the grandeur of old Hollywood.

Lilley describes Gloria as both maternal and powerful, steering the family ship while remaining deeply loving. It was a balance the filmmakers struggled to cast, so Lilley’s arrival felt almost serendipitous.

From Hallmark Royalty to Career Reinvention

For years, Jen Lilley has been synonymous with holiday romance and comfort viewing. She’s earned loyal fans through Hallmark Channel and Great American Family films.

Despite expanding into dramatic territory, she hasn’t abandoned the genre that made her a household name. She speaks candidly about why these films matter—not just to audiences seeking escape, but to actors craving connection.

Romance films, especially during difficult seasons, offer hope without cynicism. Sometimes that’s exactly what people need.

The Project That Surprised Her Most

Among her rom-com catalog, A Paris Christmas Waltz holds special significance. A former dancer, Lilley had quietly shelved that part of herself until the film reawakened it.

Reconnecting with movement and artistry proved unexpectedly healing. Hallmark may not have seen the last of her, she admits, leaving the door open for future collaborations.

Faith, Healing, and a New Mission Beyond Acting

Beyond film and television, Lilley is stepping boldly into authorship and ministry. Her devotional, Wake Up Your Faith: 365 Daily Encounters with Jesus, reflects a deeply personal philosophy: faith should be active, not performative.

Rather than traditional prayers, the devotional focuses on tangible action. It encourages readers to embody compassion in daily life.

Lilley sees this as a response to a church culture that’s grown comfortable rather than courageous.

Radical Honesty as a Source of Connection

Lilley’s transparency sets her apart. She openly discusses past struggles, including a 15-year eating disorder, emphasizing that growth comes from surrender, not perfection.

Her goal isn’t to instruct from a pedestal, but to walk alongside readers. The upcoming Wake Up Your Campus initiative aims to bring that message to colleges nationwide, expanding the devotional’s impact beyond the page.

What’s Next: Foster Care, New Series, and a Return to Soaps?

As if acting, writing, and motherhood weren’t enough, Lilley shows no signs of slowing down. This spring, she’ll release Called to Foster: An Honest Guide to Getting Started, co-authored with Dr. John DeGarmo, reflecting her real-life commitment to foster care advocacy.

She’s also developing two new series and teasing a top-secret project she can’t yet reveal.

Leaving the Door Open to Salem

Fans of Days of Our Lives will be glad to hear that Lilley harbors no ill will toward her former soap home. With Emily O’Brien now playing Theresa, Lilley remains deeply fond of the character she once embodied.

A return isn’t off the table—just not right now.

A Legacy Project Years in the Making

As Jimmy gets ready to introduce a new generation to Jimmy Stewart’s legacy, Jen Lilley finds herself caught between nostalgia, truth, and change. This isn’t just another biopic.

It’s a reminder that even the biggest icons are, at their core, just people. Sometimes, the roles that shape us the most show up only after everything else has faded away.