Queen for a Day
In her first leading role, 25-year-old Tiffany Dupont plays the biblical character of Esther in One Night With the King, which she describes as a beautiful love story—and an inspiring film for all types.
by Mark Moring | posted 10/10/2006
 1 of 3
Four years ago, Tiffany Dupont was crowned Miss University of Georgia. Today, she's the queen of Persia.
Tiffany Dupont as Esther
Dupont plays the lead role of Esther in the new film One Night With the King, which opens in almost 1,000 theaters this Friday. The film, three years in the making from Gener8Xion Entertainment, is the story of the book of Esther, the courageous young Jewish woman who risked her life to ask Xerxes, king of Persia, to spare the lives of her people. The screenplay was adapted from Tommy Tenney's book of the same title.
It's the first leading role for Dupont, 25, who had parts in 2003's Cheaper by the Dozen and 2004's The Work and the Glory, in addition to TV roles with Joan of Arcadia and The Bedford Diaries. In One Night With the King, Dupont joins Luke Goss, who plays the role of Xerxes, and veteran stars Omar Sharif (Prince Memucan), Peter O'Toole (Samuel, the Prophet), and John Rhys-Davies (Mordecai).
Dupont—a committed Christian who has said she only wants to play wholesome roles, a la Reese Witherspoon—recently chatted with us about the movie, about her co-stars, and about how her pastor was the one who told her she'd landed the role of Esther.
I hear there's a cool story about how you learned you got the part.
Tiffany Dupont: Yes. I go to a Calvary Chapel church out here in Los Angeles. I had been here about two years at the time. I'm very close with my church, very close with the pastor and his wife, and I work with a girls ministry here.
Anyway, I had auditioned like five times for the role, but I still hadn't heard anything. So I'm at church one Sunday, sitting with the pastor's wife. Then the pastor starts talking about this movie, and that they're praying for it, they're excited about it, and all that. All of a sudden he goes, "And one of our own is going to be playing Esther!" And I was like, "What???" I was the only one at our church who had tried out for it, so I knew it was me. And they filmed the whole thing of me getting the role at my church.
The pastor announced it from the pulpit?
Dupont: Yes. Only in Hollywood, huh? It was such a sweet moment. Aside from my parents not being there, it was pretty much perfect. Everyone stood up and applauded. I was crying. I was caught off guard for sure.
What a great story. Before all this, you were familiar with the story of Esther, right?
Dupont: Yes, but there's not a whole lot to the story in the Bible. But this script painted it out so beautifully, with more details.
Dupont with Luke Goss, who plays Xerxes
What was it like making a film in India?
Dupont: It's always going to be difficult shooting in a foreign country; it was extremely trying and challenging. We all had awesome days and very difficult days. But it brings you all together.
It's an irreplaceable experience, but a very hard experience. Playing a lead character, knowing that this whole film is on your back and you could totally ruin it—that's a lot of pressure. And working 12 to 14 hour days, that's hard enough. Then, you put that in India, with food that your stomach doesn't agree with, and you feel like you're literally a million miles away from home, and it's just a little scary.
Browse More Movies
CT Movies Home Page | Now Showing | New on Video | All Reviews
Coming Soon | Discussion Guides | Interviews | Commentary
News & Misc. | Special Sections | About Us
Your Feedback | About Us | CT Mag Home Page
| |
|
Printer view
