‘Dot Conner’ Actress Gili Gould Says Her Goal Is to Please God, Not Hollywood
Movies
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3:05 AM on Wednesday, September 10
By Michael Foust, Movies
The actress who portrays the lead character in the new family movie Dot Conner Webtective says her goal is to please God -- and not Hollywood -- in the roles she accepts. The faith-based film is based on the popular streaming series of the same name and follows a teenage sleuth named Dot Conner who must navigate her first week in high school as she investigates the mysterious disappearance of her father. It releases in theaters Sept. 19.
Gili Gould depicts Dot Conner, an energetic, fedora-wearing, tech-savvy detective who is driven by her faith.
"This story is definitely something that I wish that I had when I was a young kid," Gould told Crosswalk Headlines, adding she was an avid reader of Nancy Drew and Thea Stilton books. "I was always obsessed with mysteries."
The PG film carries the lighthearted adventure of Spy Kids, mixed with Mission: Impossible-style intrigue.
It is the first lead role for Gould, whose other major credit came in the Paramount Plus series 1883.
A Christian, Gould is selective in the roles she accepts -- a fact she acknowledged can be a bit discouraging at times.
"It has been a struggle, especially when you're offered big roles or offered auditions for a bigger network, but the production itself doesn't align with my values -- it's very difficult to turn down those. …Everyone says that they don't want fame, but at the same time, when you're an actress and you get that fame, it's like you almost get that recognition that you're doing great, that you're doing a good job. And I think that when you have to constantly reject those roles, it can kind of get a little discouraging.
"But at the end of the day," she quickly added, "those roles are not fulfilling at all to me and to my values. Yeah, I wish I had some giant role and I was some great movie star, but at the same time, I think I'm more fulfilled now, sticking to my morals and sticking to my beliefs."
Gould takes solace in the fact that family- and faith-based entertainment is growing. She has already earned recognition, winning Best Teen Actor at the 2022 Content Film Festival and Media Summit.
"I 100 percent believe that Christian media is going to explode, and I believe that Dot can be a great ignition for that, and can kind of kick-start that new media," she said. "And I'm just really honored to be a part of it."
The movie Dot Conner Webtective, Gould said, delivers a positive message that is both entertaining and faith-affirming. The official plot summary reads, "Amid the chaos, Dot discovers the truth of Philippians 4:13, proving that even in the darkest times, faith can light the way."
"For kids, I really want to express the joys of being a Christian," she said, acknowledging that it's common for children to view faith as boring or even scary.
"I think something that Dot does really well, and something that I strive to do in my spiritual life, is show that Christianity is so much fun -- that God created wonder," Gould said. "He created joy. He created curiosity for a reason, and I think that He wants us to pursue that."
The film is void of questionable content, she noted. It's rated PG for "some action/violence and thematic elements," according to the Motion Picture Association.
"It's just completely clean and completely fun, and that's just what we made this film for," she said.
Photo Credit: ©Huff Media Productions
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
