More than a decade after “Touched by an Angel” ended, Roma Downey is back at CBS with a new inspirational historical series, “The Dovekeepers.”
“I find that as a woman in my 50s, it’s often a time when people are stepping back from their career and I feel very encouraged that I’m moving into a whole new chapter for my career,” Downey told reporters Monday at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena.
“It’s complicated for an actor in their 40s and 50s,” she continued. “The truth is there aren’t many roles for them. I’m a creative person and I’m really enjoying this time in my life, to be able to produce projects that are meaningful and that are adding something to the world.
Based on Alice Hoffman’s historical novel of the same name, “The Dovekeepers” is set during the siege of Masada. The miniseries focuses on four extraordinary women whose lives intersect in a fight for survival during the siege.
The miniseries certainly feels on par with Downey and husband Mark Burnett‘s popular “The Bible” miniseries from last year. Downey feels that much of what made “Touched by an Angel” a success is happening again right now.
“Twenty years ago, I was just a child. I think we were certainly out there at the time with ‘Touched by an Angel’ and we were the little train that could,” she said. “In our first season, we didn’t know what would happen. We had 20 million people tune in for a very core message of faith and love. And I think today, we’re seeing the desire for that is back. With the ratings we received on our ‘Bible’ series, about one hundred million, I think it shows that people are interested in these themes and that they’re hungry for product that inspires. And so, I’m encouraged by that hunger and delighted because it’s the kind of stuff I like to make.”
Starring Cote de Pablo, Rachel Brosnahan, Kathryn Prescott and Diego Boneta, “The Dovekeepers” airs on March 31.
Watch the first look trailer below.