Connect Bridgeport
Ad
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Community News
    • Anniversaries
    • Announcements
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Calendar
    • Churches
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Directory
    • Farmer's Market
    • File Complaint
    • Greeting Cards
    • Library
    • Lost And Found
    • Obituaries
    • Parks & Recreation
    • Sponsorships
  • Trading Post
    • For Sale
    • Local Deals
    • Services
    • Yard Sales
  • Visitors
  • Relocation
  • Education
  • Jobs
  • Alumni

Meet the Cast of "A Promise to Astrid:" Luba Hansen as Cindy Tourville

By Julie Perine on October 15, 2018

Before filming “A Promise to Astrid,” one of Luba Hansen’s favorite roles was Amy Boyd in the horror flick, “Friendish Fables.”
 
“I got to play this woman who becomes a spider and eats cheating men,” she said. “It was so much fun shooting the scene.”
 
Hansen worked with director, Brad Twigg on various other films over a three- to four-year period. He was, in fact, her connection to the JC Films production of “A Promise to Astrid,” a faith-based film about a Massachusetts woman who spent her humble life secretly helping others.
 
As director of photography, Twigg recommended Hansen for the role of Cindy in “Astrid.” JC Films co-owner, writer and executive producer Jason Campbell asked for her resume, head shot and reel of her previous work and thereafter offered her the role.
 
“I was thrilled,” Hansen said. “A lot of the work I’ve done is with horror films or theater, but this is the first film in which I got to portray an actual person who is still living.”
 
She liked that the movie is based on a true story and was happy to talk with Cindy Tourville, the woman from Massachusetts who knew Astrid and observed all her selfless deeds. Between the phone conversation and reading the book “A Promise to Astrid,” penned by Michael Tourville, Hansen liked the project even better.
 
“It was very sweet and it was something so new to me,” she said.
 
Hansen even saw a little of herself in Astrid.
 
“She was a very positive person and I think I am, too,” she said. “I always try to see the good in people.”
 
When she’s not acting, Hansen lives in the DC area, where she and a friend run Healthy Fresh Meals, a meal delivery service.
 
“The business is about two and a half years old,” she said. “We prepare and deliver between 1,500 and 2,000 meals per week.”
 
Hansen said she has three criteria for consideration of any role she seeks.
 
“One is if it pays a lot of money and two is if I’m really fascinated by the story or it endears me,” she said. “Three, even if it doesn’t pay a lot – but will provide me with projects in the future.”
 
If two of the three criteria are satisfied, Hansen generally accepts the role. In the case of “Astrid,” it was the latter two that led to her decision.
 
“I was fascinated by the book and hope it will lead to future films with Jason,” she said.
 
Hansen as born in Tula, Russia and lived as a child in an orphanage. She was adopted at age 10 by an American family. She feels very fortunate about the latter, but also appreciates her early life.
 
“I remember a lot about living in the Russian orphanage,” she said. “What I learned from my childhood experiences made me a better person as an adult.”
 
When she arrived in the U.S., she couldn’t speak a word of English and had to learn the language “from scratch.”
 
She remembers it all vividly. She also recalls the moment she was inspired to become an actor.
 
“My American parents took me to see Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in DC,” she said. “It was the first play I had ever seen. I didn’t understand a word of it, but I loved the actors, the costumes and the way they moved and their voices changed through the whole process. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
 
After attending the University of Maryland, Hansen moved to New York City, where she worked and lived before moving back to the DC area.

Share


Sign up/stay connected

Create your profile to start adding photos, posting comments, and more.

SIGN UP

Ad
Ad
Ad

Blogs [ view all ]

  • Photo

    From the Bench: Indians' 2021 Football S...

    It was the morning of Dec. 6 and instead of getting himself psyched up for that evening’s Class AA title game be...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Time Travel: Virginia Avenue Train Wreck...

    This photo, believed to be from 1967, is of a train wreck that took place at the Virginia Avenue crossing just off of...

    Posted by Dick Duez

  • Photo

    City Faces in Different Places

    This week's City Face is Whitney (Jackson) Chapman. Whitney grew up in Bridgeport and now lives in Johnstown. She is a...

    Posted by Julie Perine

  • Photo

    ToquiNotes: Sometimes Messy Secret Hidde...

    I am not the right person to talk to when it comes to the fine arts or an evening involving the arts. It is not that I do...

    Posted by Jeff Toquinto

  • Photo

    Off the Shelf: New Arrival of Tax Instru...

    The library has received several boxes of tax instructions from the IRS.  We had previously received their form bookle...

    Posted by Sharon Saye

  • Photo

    The Grapevine: Easter Bread Orders being...

    As the month of February slips away, the Corona virus pandemic continues.  Although it is reported to be getting...

    Posted by Rosalyn Queen

  • Photo

    Healthy Faces: Meet Dr. Elizabeth Hess

      "Healthy Bridgeport" is comprised of health-concious individuals; the same group that served a...

    Posted by Julie Perine

  • Photo

    Sweat & Smiles: Putting Love and Belongi...

    At your most primal level you want belong.   This conditioning started in your DNA way back before you had...

    Posted by Melissa Romano

Calendar [ view all ]

Fri
26

Dine & Donate with Mr. Taco @ Jackson Square!

Mar
30

Heritage Christian School OPEN HOUSE

Apr
28

DigiMarCon At Home 2021 - Digital Marketing, Media and Advertising Conference

 



Bridgeport, WV
Editorial Board Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeRSS

©2014 Connect Bridgeport.