'War Room' Actress Karen Abercrombie Stars in New PureFlix Legal Drama 'Eleanor's Bench'

Actress Karen Abercrombie knows a thing or two about a good role when she sees one. Since her career defining performance as Miss Clara in the 2015 Kendrick Brothers release War Room, the Pennsylvania native has gone on to star in critically-acclaimed movies Discarded Things and Hope Lives before her latest star turn in the current summer blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy Vol .3.

But it is her latest project, the Pure Flix limited series Eleanor’s Bench (streaming now) where Abercrombie may shine the brightest.  Starring in the title role, she plays Eleanor Thompson, a high-profile judge who has lost her faith after years of witnessing gang violence in her inner-city neighborhood. Rather than becoming jaded and scorned, Eleanor discovers her mission is to save at-risk youth from being swept up in a cycle of injustice.

I recently sat down with the always affable Abercrombie to discuss the importance of shows like Eleanor’s Bench, how much of herself she sees in her character, and what makes the show such a relatable story of spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.

For so many actors and producers, there is a certain trigger point or something inside of you that makes you say to yourself, “I have to take this part or produce this show.” For Eleanor’s Bench, what was that for you?

Oh Chris, it was really easy. Several years ago, the writer, Stephen Schultze, an incredible writer, spoke to me about the program. He and I have a couple of things in common, not just the arts or being born again believers. We have both fostered children for many, many years. And as a matter of fact, he has adopted and is raising a son with his wife. 

Just to open up the door for people, to open up a window so that they can see what goes on in these situations is very important. And I do believe too, that it may spur some people who have thought about fostering or doing a foster adoption. It may push them toward it. We dealt with a lot of older children. A lot of people don't want to deal with them. They just think it's too dangerous or you can't change them. But personally, I'm telling you from my own experience, it's not always easy. But when you see that love penetrate, and Lord knows I've called on Him, my husband's called on Him, it makes it so worth it. We're better people for it. He opened up our eyes, and gave us the strength that we needed. Some of the children that we took in we are still in contact with. We can make a difference. And it's just one of those ways that we rolled up our sleeves, took off our shoes, and stepped in. And it made a difference. And I know that we are better people for it.

Digging into the show a bit, Eleanor’s Bench is a touching program that shines a light on the juvenile justice system in an informative and enlightening way. Why is this important for viewers to see the juvenile justice system in this light?

Because I think a lot of people have no idea what goes on in the juvenile justice system. And I believe that when they see some of the background, some of the history that these children have had, some of the places they've come from, they can survive, even some can flourish. Minds will be changed. Humans have a tendency, and I've been guilty in my life to judge from afar, but when you step into someone else's shoes, or you're getting space in the room where you can watch things up close and personal, you become invested. And then out of that, minds are changed, hearts are warmed. Hopefully, we become better people.

In this program you play Eleanor, who is a strong powerful character yet with a tender side to her. How much of yourself is in this character or how much of this character is in you?

We share some life experiences with fostering children. I've always loved kids. I ran a children's theater company for many years and I’m going to open up another one soon. I love the hands-on helping to form a child, helping to tap into their creativity, because I believe that all of them have creativity. But sometimes when you have to go into a life situation where it's just survival, you don't even tap into that part of yourself. I’m very tender toward children. So yes, Eleanor and I, we share a lot of common ground.

This limited series seems to be chock full of important lessons about following God’s calling, practicing self control, learning from your past and discovering that we are enough and deserving of God’s love. Was this by design? Your thoughts.

Yes. When we get out of God's way and trust Him and allow him to really use us, all of the things you were talking about take place. And so in writing the story, Stephan (Schultze) was writing from truth in his heart. That's where we are telling this story from, and it is what it is. Some parts are raw, not crazy or violent, but raw. Stories that could change minds and hearts.

And that's important and so vital. Eleanor’s Bench has a really good cast with people like Cameron Arnett (Overcomer), T.C. Stallings (War Room), and Demond Wilson (Sanford and Son) all playing significant roles. How important was it to get the casting just right for this mini-series?

Honestly, not only for this series, but any and everything that I produce or allow myself to be attached to, it's important that we work with the best talent that we can get. Time and time again good talent always wins. That's all important. I've seen so many faith-based films that are well-intentioned, but if it's poorly done, poorly acted, it just gets on my nerves and I'm a believer. When this happens I'll turn it off and look for something else. We must put our best before the Lord. Always.

It is quite evident that Eleanor’s Bench is a truly relatable story with many complex issues that deal with spiritual, emotional and physical healing. Why is it so important to address these issues at this moment in time?

For such a time as right now. People need hope. They need to see hope in action. Not like a fairytale … poof … where everything's okay. But they'll see people working through some stuff, and they'll recognize how when they pray. It might not come out exactly the way they want it to or when they want it to. But you do your part, and put prayers in action. You pray and you keep walking toward that theme with the mindset of, I'm just not going to pray. I'm just going to sit here, but I'm going to pray and I'm going to do what I can to help. It will bring a lot of hope to a lot of people.

After people have had a chance to watch an episode or hopefully all six episodes of the series, what would you like to see viewers take away from that experience? What is your greatest hope for Eleanor’s Bench?

If they've walked away from the faith because my character did, but she starts to walk back to God, and that is where she gets her strength from. So maybe there are a lot of people out there who have just lost hope. But go back and hold onto the Rock of Ages, to the Alpha and Omega and stay hopeful and see what happens. And I would also like to see them walk away knowing we are more alike than we are different.

Eleanor’s Bench is currently available on the Pure Flix streaming platform.

WATCH A TRAILER FOR ELEANOR’S BENCH: