“I got the call to audition, did a monologue, got another call and went to audition in Atlanta,” Finley explained. “After that, I got another call to audition again about a week later. Then, I got a call to meet at Starbucks with Tamlin, and he offered me the part.” The award-winning movie brought actors and attention to LaGrange, awareness to mental health, the creation of the inaugural Hope Givers festival and most importantly an inside look at the struggles Layfield had to face. “We all really bonded during the filming of that. It is so cool to see the filming in the story’s hometown happen because that is rare,” Finley said. “Tamlin is still on this journey, and the Hope Givers bring huge awareness to it all. This is all in hopes that it can save a life. That is so cool and important to be a part of.” Not only was the movie filmed in his hometown but also in Hall’s grandparents’ home. “It was very emotional to do this film because there was so much real stuff going on,” she said. “The days when we were shooting the very heavy scenes, the whole set got very respectful.” Over the years, Finley has played dozens of roles and
characters in the theatre and on screen but her favorite role comes from Agatha Christie’s novel turned play, “And Then There Were None.” Finley said she loved that role so much because the growth and transition the character went through was exciting. “It was crazy, and it was so fun,” Finley said. “I got to be drug across the stage by my neck, and it was so cool. I like the characters that change. I really like going from one thing to something else.” She said she has never been the type of person to really plan ahead, so the future could hold anything. “I am a year at a time because every audition could change your life,” Finley said. Aside from being a teacher, mother and actor, Finley is a fourth-generation farmer. When she’s on the farm, Finley said she can take on a whole new role. “Horses and cows and dogs and cats, I have it all. It does not really match the rest of my life, but that is the place where I can go breath and let everything go,” Finley said. “Look how great everything is in this moment. Whatever other stress I have, I will walk out the door and look at this beautiful pasture, and its fantastic.”
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Finley is shown performing in “A Shot in the Dark.”