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As the daughter of a music and drama professor, it’s no surprise Nan Gurley put her talents to work as a singer and actor from a young age. Her 50-year career has been filled with exciting projects and dramatic performances — from accompanying symphonies to bringing classic roles to life on stage and, most recently, starring as Corrie ten Boom in the 2023 film “The Hiding Place.” But Nan’s passion isn’t limited to creative self-expression. More than anything, she wants to bring the gospel of Jesus to this world, which has inspired her to co-write the “Women Who Dare to Believe” musical and co-host a podcast by the same name.

Today, Nan is getting honest about the struggles of aging as an actor, the delights of exploring new creative endeavors, and the Bible study habits, books, movies and podcasts that ignite her love for Jesus.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to a meal than palate and preference. How does your go-to order at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

Growing up, time at the dinner table was central in my home. My parents had the gift of hospitality in spades! Mom was a professional food writer for local newspapers and magazines. Dad was a great cook too, and they loved working together in the kitchen. Dad was a college music and drama professor and loved having the students who couldn’t go home for holidays over for dinner at our house. We had a very long dining room table, and Dad would go out in the yard looking for flowers, fall leaves or anything else that would make a great centerpiece. The table was set with linen napkins and silverware. Visiting ministers came home with us after church for lunch. There were always guests at the table, and the food was always fabulous. The conversation was lively, with lots of laughter.

My husband and I have continued the tradition of hospitality in our home, and I love to cook as well. Restaurants have always been a second-best choice in my mind when it comes to food. For me, the best memories, best conversation, best fellowship and best food happen when prepared by loving hands who care about the people they are serving.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests, but we tend to hide them. What do you love doing that might surprise (or shock) people? 

Long ago, I stopped separating the secular from the spiritual. As a follower of Christ, I see everything I do as an act of worship, whether it’s taking a walk and noticing God’s creation or standing at my easel and attempting to capture beauty with oil paint. Because of this perspective, I find refreshment in just about everything I do (except dusting, vacuuming and cleaning up cat vomit).

I love hiking and disconnecting from electronics. I also love to cook. I have a killer spaghetti sauce recipe that I modified from one of my mother’s sauce recipes. I’ve been making it for years, and it’s one of those sauces that simmer all day long on the stove top. When everyone comes home at the end of the day, the fragrance has filled the entire house. I enjoy noticing their faces when they walk in the door. I can see their anticipation of sitting down at the table to a pile of pasta with the sauce steaming on top and fresh grated Parmesan cheese. It refreshes me to create this moment.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

I’ve had a very happy and successful 50-year career as a professional actor and singer. But there comes a time when you age out of most roles, and it becomes someone else’s turn. This is the way it’s meant to be, but our cultural obsession with youth can make this transition difficult. I’m in the process of learning to embrace it — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Along with the physical changes that come with age, I’m beginning to notice that younger people begin to marginalize you. You can even be somewhat invisible to people simply because of age. I feel I’ve got more to offer than ever, but not everyone feels that way about the older generation. I’m afraid of being “put out to pasture” and unable to contribute anymore.

But I’m determined to keep creating no matter what. I want to be who I am in each season of life and resist the temptation to go the route of endless face-lifts and denial of the true wisdom and beauty of old age. But it’s a struggle. Other cultures around the world have deep respect for old age — I wish ours did.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours? 

I’ve spent the last 50 years (I started young!) onstage singing and acting my way through dozens of roles — from Mama Rose in “Gypsy” to the witch in “Into the Woods,” Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” and Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” I’ve sung with symphony orchestras and jazz bands, recorded audio books and enjoyed being a voice-over talent for radio and TV commercials. I’ve produced educational TV programs for children on public TV, and I’ve toured with my own one-woman show.

My most recent theatrical endeavor was playing the role of Corrie ten Boom in the film “The Hiding Place,” released worldwide in August 2023. Playing Corrie ten Boom is perhaps the greatest honor of my life — and it was also one of the greatest challenges. Her story still speaks profoundly to us today, and I felt pressure to do her and the story justice.

I also co-wrote a musical with my best friend, Bonnie Keen, called “Women Who Dare to Believe.” In this musical, we portray 21 different women from Scripture. We also currently have a podcast called “Women Who Dare to Believe,” and it’s available on all streaming platforms. In the podcast, we take a deep dive into the lives of the women of the Bible. Our main goal is to help women see these characters not as dusty icons on a shelf but as real flesh-and-blood women who still speak and have much to teach us today about following Christ.

Also, about 10 years ago, I began pursuing fine art and am currently (as of this writing in November 2024) preparing for an art show at the end of this month. I call this Act III of my life. After all, I’ve always wanted to learn the art form of canvas and paint, and several years ago, I started studying with Dawn Whitelaw. She is an internationally renowned landscape and portrait artist as well as my mentor. I feel very blessed; it is a huge honor and opportunity to study with a master. I launched nangurleyfineart.com this year and am working hard to get the word out about this stage of my career.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

It was a mind-blowing moment for me when I realized that the third person of the Trinity has a permanent home inside me. It’s a “Wait, what? Really?” kind of awareness that transforms everything. I still can’t wrap my head around the idea that he would even want to live in me! So this changes my approach to everything. The Holy Spirit was present at Creation. He is the Author of creativity. Why wouldn’t I ask him to guide me in all things? He’s bound to have better ideas than I do!

That’s why, before I begin anything — a performance, a rehearsal, a blank canvas, a speech, an interaction — I always pray. I say, “OK, Lord. You gave me this gift. You gave me this opportunity. You woke me up today. Let’s do this together. I’ll take my cues from you. And please make it obvious because you know I’ve got a tendency to mess things up!”  And he does it! Things don’t always turn out perfectly, of course. But I always learn something, and it’s always interesting. So I keep reminding myself to entrust the outcomes to him.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Some people divide things sacred and things secular. But you know, God can surprise us in unlikely places. How do you find spiritual renewal in so-called “nonspiritual” activities?

For me, there is no substitute for the habit of daily Bible reading. I learned to study the Bible through the teachings of Kay Arthur. She wrote a great series of Bible studies called “Precept Upon Precept” that taught you how to study the Bible inductively. It literally changed my life. I felt like someone in a desert who finally found water. I couldn’t get enough. It was this foundation that helped me mature in Christ the most. I’m still learning from it today. Through inductive Bible study, I’ve dug deep into learning about God’s character, which has shaped me and given me courage as a follower of Christ like nothing else.

Also, I’ve recently learned the joy of praying the Psalms. In my prayer life, I can sometimes feel like I’m saying the same things over and over, but praying the Psalms has been like a spiritual B-12 shot. I also adore the book of prayers called “In the Valley of Vision.” I highly recommend it!

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith. But you know about some really great stuff too. What are some of your favorite resources?

Since I grew up in a home centered around the dining room table, I love the movie “Babette’s Feast.” It’s a story of redemption and reconciliation that inspired me deeply. The acting is superb. Another movie I love is “All Is Lost,” starring Robert Redford. There is no dialogue in this movie, but it speaks volumes!

For a good podcast, check out “Prophecy Pros Podcast.” These guys have a good grasp of where we are in the prophetic timeline of Scripture, and it’s very encouraging and enlightening. I also recommend listening to “Culture and Christianity” with Allen Jackson Ministries. Jackson has a great way of showing believers the importance of taking our faith into the marketplace.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.

There is absolutely no substitute for deep Bible study. If you don’t know the character of God, you’ll have a hard time loving him. There is a tendency in the church today to ignore the Old Testament. But this is where we find the beginning of the covenant and the very reason for Jesus coming to earth. Lots of great people write lots of great books, but don’t start there for your spiritual growth. Go to the source of all those great books. Ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and sit down daily to learn from him. It’s the single most transformational thing you’ll ever do.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

I sense God saying that a Renaissance is coming. I think the church in America may be on the threshold of a renewal. We’ve largely been silent and somewhat ineffective in our culture in the past several years. I think that may be changing, and I’m excited!

For years, I’ve been praying that God would raise up Christian artists, scientists, bankers, writers, teachers, homemakers and students who are excellent and professional in all they do and who are on fire and full of the Holy Spirit. I’m sensing a new opportunity to take the gospel into every arena of life, and I want to be a part of that. I’m currently praying and listening and asking God to make it very clear to me what my next move is going to be.

How can we take the gospel into every arena of our lives? Perhaps it starts with a simple prayer: “Lord, I’m yours. What would you have me do?”

As you listen for the Holy Spirit’s answer, our prayer for you is: “that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11, ESV). Amen.

Nan Gurley is an award-winning songwriter, singer, children’s book author and actor, having performed with symphonies and jazz bands and providing voice-over talent for TV and radio. She’s taken on dozens of roles, from Mama Rose in “Gypsy” to Hermia in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” More recently, she starred as Corrie ten Boom in “The Hiding Place,” released in 2023. She’s also the co-host of the “Women Who Dare to Believe” podcast, which explores the lives of women in the Bible. Painting is the latest endeavor she’s added to her resume, launching nangurleyfineart.com in 2024.

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