Actress Jillian Murray, who rose to prominence in the aughts after garnering roles in popular sitcoms such as “Drake & Josh” and “Sonny with a Chance,” recently marked a new milestone in her decades-long career after signing a multipicture, multiyear deal with Great American Media.
Ms. Murray, 39, whose on-screen credits include a slew of Lifetime movies, including 2021’s “Deadly Dating Game” and 2022’s “Killer Stepmom,” will star in a variety of forthcoming original films for the Fort Worth, Texas-based media giant, which oversees a collection of family-oriented and faith-based networks like Great American Family, Great American Faith & Living, and Great American Pure Flix.
The “Code Black” actress told The Epoch Times via email that she was thrilled to turn the page on this next chapter.
“Just to be included in a network that is growing so quickly and so many people are loving feels very special,” she shared, reflecting on the benefits of partnering with a values-driven media company like Great American Media.
“There are bad apples in every industry. But it seems there are just a lot more of the dark people drawn to the entertainment industry for whatever reason. There are also a lot of big egos out here and lots of narcissistic personalities so I think it turns into the perfect storm for bad things to happen to vulnerable people,” she explained.
“But I have been lucky enough to not have any really traumatic experiences and I also have been blessed to work with respectful people,” Ms. Murray added.
Bringing ‘Fantastic Scripts to Life’
Ms. Murray has worked with Great American Media in the past, landing several roles on Great American Family’s “Great American Christmas” lineup, an annual holiday franchise the cable television network first kicked off in 2021.Most recently, Ms. Murray was cast in the network’s 2023 original holiday film “Christmas Keepsake,” starring opposite Australian actor Daniel Lissing, known for his roles in “When Calls the Heart,” “The Rookie,” and “S.W.A.T.” She was also featured in Great American Family’s “A Brush with Christmas” the year prior.
“It is a joy to welcome Jillian Murray to the Great American family,” Bill Abbott, Great American Media’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “Every film Jillian stars in does very well, and she has quickly become a viewer favorite and rising star.”
The actress took to Instagram earlier this month to share her excitement over the new deal.
“I’m so excited to develop projects I’m passionate about and bring fantastic scripts to life with incredibly talented writers, directors, and actors,” she penned.
“I’m extremely grateful to have a network that believes in me and my creative vision. I’ve been eager to push for more rom-coms since it’s what I grew up watching so getting a chance to work in that genre feels very close to my heart and I look forward to finding timeless stories to share with everyone,” Ms. Murray continued.
Good Storytelling
Elaborating on the importance of a phenomenal screenplay, Ms. Murray intimated her appreciation of Great American Media’s craft of storytelling, telling The Epoch Times that she was looking forward to working with the company on projects that really resonated with audiences.“Getting to choose scripts I really think the audience will love is the most exciting part [of this partnership]. I’m looking forward to finding the gems,” she offered.
“I’m drawn to any project that lingers in my mind after reading it. Something that sticks with me for a number of reasons. It could be a unique story or point of view. It could be really comedic dialogue that had me laughing out loud, or even something that really pulled at my heartstrings,” she continued. “Every script is different and finding the special ones is a thrilling experience.”
Despite her enduring affinity for romantic comedies and holiday flicks, Ms. Murray said her favorite movie to work on to date has been the 2011 martial arts film “Never Back Down 2: The Beatdown”—and for good reason. She met her now husband—singer-songwriter and fellow actor Dean Geyer—during the production, a moment she said “definitely impacted [her] entire life.” The movie also starred “American Horror Story” veteran Evan Peters and “Suicide Squad” actor Alex Meraz.
Ms. Murray and Mr. Geyer, who starred in the hit Fox television series “Glee,” tied the knot in September 2017, just shy of a year after becoming engaged in December 2016.
