ROCKINGHAM — For one local high school student, sharing the true meaning of Christmas is more than enough for her.
Claire Maultsby, who lives in Richmond County, got her first of many hopeful opportunities to act on screen this holiday season. Playing the role of Olivia Williams, Maultsby was a main cast member in “Unwrapping Christmas,” a film produced by Christ Church.
The Amazon Prime movie, which was released earlier this month, focuses on a family of four, described to be on the “verge of collapse” as the holiday season approaches.
Throughout the film, Maultsby’s character and the three others in her family discover the “greatest gift of Christmas” with the help of a messenger.
Maultsby, a junior at Marlboro Academy, has spent the last year and a half starting her acting career. Working with Evolution Talent Agency in Charlotte, and taking private acting lessons, she was cast as Olivia, a high school senior trying desperately to hold her family together.
“I’d been auditioning for a while and this is a business that has a lot of rejection,” Maultsby explained. “Then my agent called me in August and told me Christ Church was looking for a girl my age for this movie.
“Because of COVID, I had to audition at home and send it in,” she added. “I found out in September that I had gotten the role and I spent a week and a half filming the movie at Christ Church and around Hickory.”
Maultsby, who described herself as quiet, said she didn’t tell many people about her first acting role. Despite being a little overwhelmed on her first day on set, she said the production was “the perfect learning experience and was very educational” in introducing her to the business.
No stranger to the spotlight, Maultsby has spent her childhood gearing up for her first film. As a kid in Rockingham, she participated in several productions with the Richmond Community Theatre.
She’s also danced competitively from a young age, and has been involved with pageants. Those experiences, Maultsby explained, helped her build the confidence necessary to be comfortable in front of cameras and others to perform in a variety of roles.
“I’ve always loved to read and watch movies. And I love storytelling, so I thought I should be a part of it,” Maultsby said of becoming an actress.
Maultsby (left) on set with Eugenio Cotto (right) in the scene where her character is met by the messenger.
Written by Juan Miguel Soler and directed by Matthew Todhunter, “Unwrapping Christmas” sees the four family members individually encounter the messenger, played by Eugenio Cotto.
Presented with a small gift box, each character meets someone from the Bible who is in a similar situation when they open it. The hope is that the four family members will use their shared experiences to overcome their troubles.
Olivia, played by Maultsby, is transported to a horse stall on Noah’s ark. There she meets Shem’s wife, Noah’s daughter-in-law.
“At first, Olivia tried to hold the family together and when that doesn’t work, she gets discouraged,” Maultsby said. “She also felt betrayed in her friendships and left out.
“What Olivia learns is this new perspective that there are so many things to look forward to when she gets past her current struggles. She realizes that people and things come and go, and that better things are always waiting.”
When meeting with Olivia, Shem’s wife (played by Madi Fiely) explains how Noah’s journey was also a struggle and that after the flood was over, God had washed all the bad things away and given them a fresh start.
The promise of a fresh start in college resonated with Olivia, allowing Maultsby’s character to find forgiveness for those who had betrayed her. It also helped Olivia bring her family closer together.
“I think the overall message from that scene is that the family unit can’t stay together without trusting Jesus,” Maultsby explained. “Going to church and staying together is a big part of that.
“Individually we can all fall short. But if we trust in Jesus and admit that we can’t do it without Him, we become stronger. I hope people keep that in mind during the holidays.”
Maultsby sits with Shem’s wife (Madi Fiely) while filming the Noah’s ark scene.
Of the experience, Maultsby said her favorite part was meeting the other actors and being in an environment with people who enjoy the same things she does.
By filming’s end, she said that she and co-stars Bohdana Madlova (mother), Aaron McCoy (father) and Ronnie McCoy (brother), along with the entire cast and crew, got along really well.
Maultsby said she could also draw some parallels with her character and the struggles a high school student can sometimes encounter. Those similarities helped her get into character and made filming a “surreal experience.”
“I prayed a lot about becoming an actress, and when this finally came my way, I knew it wasn’t a coincidence,” Maultsby smiled. “I think the movie turned out great and I’m happy with it.
“Now I have something to put on my resume and I’m excited for my future,” she closed. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity and look forward to doing more acting.”
