Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Actress Kristin Wollett Is Helping To Shake Up The Entertainment Industry
…And now for my last one: Love people well. If we, as human beings, loved each other the way we were created to love — without fear of rejection, without the need for recognition, and with all of our hearts — this world would be such a beautiful place. If we could see people, truly notice them, and love them the way God created them, everything would change. That’s the legacy I want to leave: to love people well…
I had the pleasure of talking with Kristin Wollett. Kristin is an American actress, writer, and producer whose multifaceted career spans acting, screenwriting, and literature. Adopted six days after birth, Wollett spent most of her childhood in Florida, where her creative inclinations and passion for performance began to take root.
Wollett graduated from the University of Florida and initially pursued a corporate career. However, her enduring love for storytelling and performance led her to transition into acting. She gained experience in local theater before moving into film and television, working primarily in the Southeast. Her breakout opportunities included a role as a wedding singer in Random Tropical Paradise (2017), Ashley Dalton in the family-oriented medical drama series County Rescue (2024), a cameo as Ivy, a news reporter, in God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust (2024) and the forthcoming film, The Neglected (2025), where she plays the wife of Josh Duhamel.
In addition to her on-screen accomplishments, Wollett is an accomplished writer. Her debut romantic comedy novel, As A Last Resort, is slated for publication in the fall of 2025, and she has received awards for her screenwriting. She credits her persistent dedication to craft and a pivotal moment of encouragement from director Charles Martin Smith during her time as a stand-in on Dolphin Tale for solidifying her commitment to the industry. Smith’s simple advice — “Just keep going” — has remained a guiding principle throughout her career.
Wollett’s talents extend beyond acting and writing. She has a background as a professional dancer, having performed with the Tampa Bay Storm in the Arena Football League. Her versatility includes roles as a singer, stunt driver, and precision driver in commercial work. As a musician, she is an award-winning oboist and a published poet. These diverse experiences illustrate her wide-ranging creative pursuits and commitment to exploring new avenues of artistic expression.
A deeply rooted faith plays a central role in Wollett’s life and career. Her work on County Rescue, which features faith-based themes, aligns with her values, as does her partnership with the Great American Family network. Wollett describes her faith as her compass, influencing her approach to her career, family, and daily interactions.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Wollett leads a busy family life. Married to Justin Wollett for over 13 years, the couple resides in Florida with their five children, all under the age of 10. She credits her husband’s unwavering support as a cornerstone of her ability to balance a demanding career with the responsibilities of motherhood.
Looking ahead, Wollett remains focused on expanding her creative repertoire. She is involved in an upcoming thriller, The Neglected, alongside Josh Duhamel, with a release anticipated in 2025. She also continues to build her literary career, with her romantic comedy As a Last Resort scheduled for publication in September 2025 by Forever, an imprint of Hachette Book Group.
Yitzi: It’s a delight and an honor to meet you. Before we dive in deeper, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share with us the story of your childhood and how you grew up?
Kristin: Oh, I love that question. What a great opener.
Well, I was actually adopted. At six days old, I flew to Atlanta, Georgia, where I met my mom and dad. And that’s how it all started. We lived in Georgia for about two years before moving to Florida. My little brother and I grew up in a small town there, Punta Gorda. I loved the community I grew up in, and eventually, I went to the University of Florida, which is where I met my husband.
From a very young age, I always had a passion for acting. I loved performing and being in front of people. I think part of it was that I loved making people feel something. I loved making them laugh, learning what made them happy or sad — just exploring the whole spectrum of emotions. That passion really started in high school.
When I went to college, I took a few acting classes here and there, but I ended up going the corporate route, as so many of us do. I thought, “Well, I’ll do acting as a side thing and focus on the business world.” And that’s what I did.
But there was always something missing. I liked my jobs, and I liked the bosses I worked for, but something just kept gnawing at me. So, I finally leaned into acting full time. Oh gosh, it’s probably been, what, almost 20 years now? Don’t tell anyone how old I am!
I finally pursued acting, and it’s been my full-time job for over a decade now. It’s been such a blessing. I’ve done everything from improv and traveling with troupes to live theatre. But I love film and TV — that’s where my heart is.
And, of course, along the way, I got married and had a bunch of kids, if that counts!
Yitzi: Oh, well, that’s an amazing story. Can you share how you got your first break — the beginning of your journey into entertainment?
Kristin: Yes! Gosh, I love this because it shows how such a small interaction can be so life-changing for someone.
Dolphin Tale came to film in Clearwater, Florida, a long time ago. I was chosen to be a stand-in for one of the main actresses. So, I got to spend a couple of months on set, and it was such an amazing experience.
I remember the director of Dolphin Tale, Charles Martin Smith. He’s a phenomenal actor and a wonderful director. And I was nobody — I was just a stand-in. But one day, he came up to me and said, “So, you want to do this?”
And I said, “Yeah, this is exactly what I want to do.”
He goes, “Okay, just keep going. Just keep going.”
It wasn’t some huge, inspirational speech, but it stuck with me. He was basically saying, “You just have to keep going. You just have to keep trying. It’s not going to happen overnight. Maybe it does, but probably it doesn’t.”
I’ve kept that advice in the back of my mind for my entire career. I’ve had some really great wins, and I’ve had some really tough losses — projects I really wanted or movies I was dying to be a part of — but I just keep going. I keep studying, I keep auditioning, and I keep a positive attitude about it all.
That simple but foundational piece of advice has honestly made such a difference for me. It’s been a guiding principle throughout my journey.
Yitzi: So you probably have so many amazing experiences and interactions and memories from all the different sets you’ve been on, the different productions. But can you share with the readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Kristin: Yes! One of my favorite memories happened a couple of years ago on the set of County Rescue, which is a family-friendly medical drama that airs on Great American Family. I play the lieutenant of an EMS station, so I’m a paramedic.
As actors, a lot of the jobs we take might only last a day or two — especially for things like commercials where you just pop in and pop out. But the really neat thing about County Rescue is that all of us were on set for six weeks straight, filming the entire first season. The show focuses on eight paramedics, and over that time, I got to know my castmates like family.
They went from being total strangers to castmates, and now they’re absolutely people I would take a bullet for. They’re family to me.
One of the most beautiful moments on set was at the end of season one. We were doing some promotional content, sitting around on a couch for a media interview. And I’ll never forget it — we all looked at each other, and it was one of those moments when the world feels like it just stops. Like, everything becomes still, and it feels like the world takes a deep breath.
We looked at each other, and someone said, “I really think this is special. I think what we’re doing is different.” And in that moment, we all just felt it.
When the first season aired, it did really well. We just finished shooting season two in Chattanooga, and I still hold on to that moment — looking around at my new family and thinking, “This is something special. This is going to change something.” And it has.
It’s been such a cool experience, not just for me personally, but also for family-friendly content and for the network, Great American Family, which has been amazing. That moment on the couch was truly one of those pivotal moments in my career that I’ll always remember and hold close.
Yitzi: It’s clear there’s something special. You know, I think one of the most frequent things the actors I talk to wish for and long for — is to keep that connection, that camaraderie from a set, and to keep it going. The fact that you’ve done that is very unique, and I’m sure people would love to hear the formula — how you made that happen.
Kristin: It really is so special. I think part of it comes down to the fact that, as an actor, you have to be very vulnerable. There’s a level of trust you have to build with the people you’re acting with. And when you’re spending 12 hours a day with the same people, you get to know each other so quickly.
You learn what makes them tick, what excites them, and what they’re passionate about. You talk about your kids, your families, and even your struggles. And when you have scenes that are emotionally challenging or really hard to perform, those are the people you turn to. They’re not only there to help you get into the right headspace for your character but also to help you step out of it when the scene is over.
It’s this deep, fast bond that forms because you’re leaning on each other so much — not just for the work but also for emotional support. That’s been one of the greatest blessings of County Rescue: we were able to create that bond with eight of us, which is incredible.
And what’s even more amazing is how diverse the group is. We span all ages, from our youngest castmate, who’s 24, to our oldest, who I think is 65. We come from all over the United States, with different walks of life and backgrounds, but they’ve all become my family.
So, fingers crossed! Let’s hope season two does well, because this experience has been truly one of a kind.
Yitzi: It’s been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story of a humorous mistake that you made when you were first starting acting and the lesson that you learned from it? Don’t say anything embarrassing. The purpose of this question isn’t to embarrass you, but to be vulnerable for the readers.
Kristin: I love that.
Okay, so when I was first starting out — now, things have changed drastically from when I started acting to now. And I know casting works a little differently now than it did back then.
When I first started, I really, truly thought that if I sent out mail — like, I would physically mail a headshot and a letter saying, “Hey, this is who I am. I really want to be in the movies you’re casting. I think I’m a great actress” — that something would come of it. I mean, I was just starting out. I had barely taken classes, maybe for a year or two.
To me, as a very optimistic 20-year-old — actually, I should say teenager — it made absolute sense. It felt like a great idea. So I printed out all these headshots, wrote these letters, and stuffed them into about 30 of those white manila envelopes — you know the kind I’m talking about, the ones that really stand out. I looked up every single casting director who had ever worked on any movie I loved and sent my headshot and resume to them. Then, I just waited, thinking my phone was going to ring.
I was so excited. Honestly, “annoyingly optimistic” is probably the best way to describe me back then. But, spoiler alert — nobody called.
Eventually, after taking a lot of classes and actually starting to meet casting directors and getting cast in some projects, I found out that casting directors absolutely hate that. Apparently, sending unsolicited headshots and letters like that is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a young actor. It comes across as desperate, and that’s not the impression you want to leave.
So yeah, I sent out those letters to about 30 casting directors. I’m sure some of them are still around — hopefully they don’t remember me from that! But at the time, I was just trying to do everything I could think of to introduce myself.
Looking back, it’s hilarious and cringeworthy all at once, but it taught me an important lesson about how to approach people in the industry.
Yitzi: I think I made the same mistake when I first started as a journalist. I went on IMDb Pro, found the publicists for all the A-list actors, and sent out emails, expecting everyone to respond eagerly. And… nobody did. So, yeah, we’re in the same boat. It totally makes sense.
Kristin: I love that, though. Well, see, I think that shows grit. It shows this innate desire to be successful, to get yourself in the game, and to do anything possible to get yourself in front of the right people. So I think that’s great. I really do.
Yitzi: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. We love hearing stories where someone who was a little further ahead opened a door or created an opportunity that changed someone’s career trajectory. Do you have a story like that — either where someone did that for you or where you did that for someone else?
Kristin: I absolutely have a wonderful story that I love to tell about this because I truly believe it changed the trajectory of my career.
There’s a casting director named Beverly Holloway. She’s pretty well known in the Christian film network, and she does this incredible thing every Tuesday night. She hosts live Facebook chats where actors can sign on and ask her questions. But she also does something even more special — she offers a space where actors can submit monologues to perform live. It’s not a competition, but you do your monologue for her and everyone watching, and she gives you feedback. She points out your strengths, suggests areas to work on, and even redirects you on the spot.
Long story short, I submitted a monologue, and it got chosen. I had the chance to perform it live in front of her and a couple hundred other people who were watching on Facebook Live that night. Beverly was so gracious and kind in the way she redirected me. I had such a great time doing it again after her notes — which, for an actor, getting to play in that kind of space is such a gift. She really creates that space for actors to grow and enjoy the process.
About a month or two later, the breakdown for County Rescue came out. Because Beverly had seen me perform that monologue on her Facebook Live, she decided to invite me to audition for the show. I auditioned along with a lot of other actors, and I ended up booking one of the series regular roles — Ashley, who I play on County Rescue.
I truly believe that the space Beverly creates on Tuesday nights is amazing. She donates her time to help actors by providing feedback, redirecting them, and helping them strengthen their craft. And then she takes it a step further by remembering those actors when opportunities come up, which is exactly what she did for me.
I can see step by step how her generosity and effort poured into my career, and I’ve been lucky enough to be on the receiving end of it. It’s completely changed the trajectory of my career, and I am so grateful to her for that.
I also have to thank Diego, who is her manager. He’s actually the one who chose my monologue in the first place — Beverly doesn’t pick the monologues herself; Diego does. So I owe him a huge thanks as well. Those two people have been pretty amazing.
Yitzi: Amazing story. Okay, so you have so much going on. You told us a bit about County Rescue. Please tell us more about it, share some exciting projects you’re working on now, and maybe give us a sneak peek into what’s coming up in the near future. And tell us — why do we have to watch County Rescue?
Kristin: Yes, sounds good!
Well, season two of County Rescue airs — I believe it’s going to be at the end of February. It’s such a beautiful show. It’s family-friendly, it’s on Great American Network, and it has a really strong cast and a fantastic writer attached to it. I think it’s just a beautiful show overall, and a lot of people have really grown to love it.
As for future projects, I have a very exciting one coming out in a few months, but it hasn’t been officially announced yet. I’m playing Josh Duhamel’s wife in a new thriller that’s coming out, and I believe it will be released this summer. Dylan Sprouse is also in it, and David Lipper directed it. It was such a phenomenal project to work on.
The movie is called The Neglected. And working with Josh was amazing. He’s such a strong actor, so gracious and collaborative. The whole experience was incredible, and I’m really excited for people to see it.
Another thing I’m really excited about — I’m also an author! My very first debut romantic comedy, As a Last Resort, got picked up by one of the big five publishers. It’s being published by Forever, which is an imprint of Hachette Book Group, and it’s coming out in September. I’m unbelievably excited about it.
The dream with writing these books is to eventually turn them into movies. That’s the main goal. But for now, I’m thrilled to have the novel coming out. I look at books so differently now — when I see something on a shelf, I think, “Wow, that took years to get there.” It’s definitely not an overnight process, and I’m so proud to be part of it.
So, between County Rescue, The Neglected, and my book coming out this year, it’s shaping up to be a really exciting time!
Yitzi: So you mentioned County Rescue. How would you compare and contrast your personal character, Kristin, with the character you play in the series? How are you similar, and how are you different?
Kristin: Oh, that’s such a great question. I think the main thing that Ashley and I have in common is our faith. Ashley is the pillar of faith in the show, along with her husband, Andy, played by Brett Varvel, who’s just one of the most amazing actors I’ve ever worked with. And for me, in my life, faith is absolutely my most important thing. God is number one — my faith is number one — and everything else falls into line after that. So that’s definitely our most similar feature.
As for how we’re different, Ashley is a very calm, grounding, and sensible woman. And I am a little bit crazy. I talk with my hands all the time, and I have about 700 thoughts running through my mind at once. Have you ever heard that example of someone having multiple tabs open in their head, like a computer? Well, I have about 17 tabs open at all times. I am not organized, and I’m not very grounded in that kind of way. So yeah, that’s probably our biggest difference. Ashley is like a nice, calm ocean, and I’m just a raging tidal wave.
Yitzi: I love how confident and open you are about your faith. I really admire that, and I’m the same way. Interestingly, in my experience interviewing people, it’s not as uncommon as you might think. A lot of people bring that up — the importance of God in their lives and having faith. It’s just something you wouldn’t necessarily know from the surface, but so many people talk about it.
Kristin: That’s awesome. And that’s one of the beautiful things about Great American Family. It’s wonderful that I was paired up with them through County Rescue, because so much of their content is faith-based. Now, that’s not to say that every single storyline is overtly about coming to Jesus, but there’s this underlying current of redemption throughout. And I think that’s so important.
Getting to play this role has been such a blessing because I get to live that out day in and day out on set. One really neat thing about our set is that we have a mix of people. Some are Christians, but there are also people who don’t believe. To me, that’s such an amazing opportunity — to be a light and to be a witness to them. It’s not like I have to pull out my Bible and have deep theological conversations every day, but I want to live my life in a way that looks different. I want people to look at me and think, “Oh wow, there’s something different about her.”
If I can live my life loving people the way God created me to love them, that’s the testimony I want to leave. That’s the legacy I want to leave. And when people ask why, I want to be able to say, “Oh, let me tell you about my faith.”
Yitzi: I love it. Okay, let’s continue. What do you feel about this explosion of popularity for The Chosen and similar shows?
Kristin: I love it. Oh my gosh, it makes me so happy. Even if someone comes just for the entertainment value, just because they’re curious about it, and then they actually get to see the gospel laid out on screen — that’s phenomenal. Sidenote, getting cast in that show is my number one career bucket list item.
Yitzi: Yeah. Amazing. Unbelievable. Actually, this is our signature question. Well, actually, there’s one more question about County Rescue. What would you say are the lessons that society can take from the themes and motifs of County Rescue?
Kristin: Oh, that’s such a good question. I’d say the biggest lesson people can take from County Rescue is that things don’t always go the way you want them to in life, but God is always present. He is always faithful. He is always constant.
Yitzi: Beautiful. This is our signature question. You’ve been blessed with a lot of success now. Looking back to when you first started, can you share five things you know now that you wish someone had told you back then?
Kristin: Okay, great. I love this. These are more like life lessons, but I think they’re so important for life — and they’ll definitely help in this industry.
The very first thing is to be kind, always. You never know what someone’s day looks like. You don’t know what call they just got, what they’re dealing with at home, or what they’re carrying. So always, always be kind and gracious. That would be number one.
Number two, never burn a bridge. By that, I mean in any situation — even if you’re upset or something doesn’t go the way you wanted it to — always be gracious in your response. Never leave something unresolved. Always apologize first. Always make sure things are settled because you never know when you’ll cross paths with that person again. Life has a way of bringing things full circle, and you just never know.
The third thing I would say — especially to an actor — is to study your craft. Yes, there are people who have innate talent, but even if you have that, you still need to study and learn. You have to make it a priority. Chasing your dreams means doing everything you possibly can to be successful, and that includes putting in the work to grow. Always go back to class, learn more, explore new ways to approach things, and seek out people with more experience than you. Never stop learning.
Okay, I want to save my last one because it’s the most important one for me, but I need one more before that. Here’s a good one: Don’t listen to the people who say it can’t be done. There are so many naysayers out there, and it’s so easy for them to poke holes in someone who’s chasing their dreams. But the truth is, they’re not the ones chasing that dream — you are. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, who encourage you, and who inspire you. Keep going after the things you want in life. Reach for the stars, reach for the things people say can’t be done. And if someone tells you it’s impossible, just say, “Okay,” and then ask yourself, “But if it were possible, how could it be done?”
And now for my last one: Love people well. If we, as human beings, loved each other the way we were created to love — without fear of rejection, without the need for recognition, and with all of our hearts — this world would be such a beautiful place. If we could see people, truly notice them, and love them the way God created them, everything would change. That’s the legacy I want to leave: to love people well.
Yitzi: Can you share with our readers the self-care routines you follow to help your body, mind, and heart thrive?
Kristin: Oh gosh, to be honest, as a mother of five, self-care doesn’t really exist — at least not in this stage of life. My youngest is two, and my oldest is nine. We actually had our fifth child when my oldest was six, so all five of them are barely under seven years apart.
In this stage, I’d love to say that I have lots of quiet time, that I sit and read my Bible, have a facial routine at night, or do yoga. But the reality is, I don’t do a lot of that. I pray while I’m changing diapers. I go to a Bible study on Wednesday nights, and my husband and I get a little bit of quiet time together after the kids go to bed. That’s really it.
To be honest, this is just the season we’re in right now, and even though it’s very hard, there’s so much beauty in the chaos. I know it’s temporary, and it will change. Maybe one day, I’ll take care of my skin the way I should, but for now, I don’t — and that’s okay.
Yitzi: Your honesty is so refreshing. It’s clear that you’re thriving, even amidst the chaos. What do you do to keep yourself upbeat, keep your mind clear, and stay optimistic?
Kristin: You know, I have a really solid rock as a husband. He is an absolutely phenomenal, God-fearing man who keeps me grounded. He leans into fatherhood the way he should, as a solid biblical example of what a leader in a household and a father should be.
He’s such an encourager, and he gives me the time and space I need when I really need it. That support is a huge part of why I can do all the things I do.
Yitzi: Yeah, this is our final, aspirational question. Because of your great work and the platform you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most good to the most people, what would it be?
Kristin: That’s a good question. I’d say this: See people and notice people the way that God sees them. If we take the time to really listen when we ask, “How are you doing?” or “How’s your day?” — and we genuinely care about the answer — could you imagine how amazing this world would be? If we truly loved and cared for people the way God does, the way we were originally created to, it would make such a difference. Taking the time to really see and notice people the way we’re intended to would transform so much.
Yitzi: So beautiful. How can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they watch your shows, purchase your book, or support your work in any way?
Kristin: The only social media platform I’m active on is Instagram, and my profile is @ktwollett. Season two of County Rescue is coming out on Great American Family this February, so they can tune in there. The Neglected will also be coming out at some point this year — I don’t have a release date yet.
My book, As a Last Resort, is a romcom being published this September and it’s available for pre-order! Pre-orders are a game changer for authors, so that would be the best way to support me. Those are the big things for now.
Yitzi: I’ve really enjoyed our interview. I wish you continued success and blessings
Inspirational Women In Hollywood: How Actress Kristin Wollett Is Helping To Shake Up The… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.