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Diving Into Roman Women Clothing In The Upcoming Film, FABIOLA. You Can Be A Roman Lady In This Film!
Industrious Family Films is looking forward to casting several women in the roles of the Fabiola film. Unfortunately, all of the main feminine roles are currently filled, but there are places for women as extras in several scenes. These characters are going to be a great exploration of Roman women clothing. Read all about these characters to help you decide if you want to apply as a supportive character in addition to the ones listed below.
Please know that we are currently involved in an online Catholic acting class and would highly encourage you to join us if you wish to get a role in Fabiola.
The Lead Roman Women In FABIOLA
Fabiola - A pagan woman living in Rome. Fabiola is rather conceited when it comes to the Christians, believing them to be Rome's enemies and ignorant bigots. Fabiola is deeply attached to her father, Fabius, who spoils and dotes on her without reservation.
As time goes on, Fabiola begins to realize that there is a stark divide in the behavior of the people around her. She resolves to associate with those she wishes to be like and is surprised to find that they are all Christians.
This fact gets her thinking. Is everything she's heard about the Christians true? Or is it a misconception and a lie?
She is ready to find out in one of the most dangerous times in Church history, the fourth century A.D.
1. An Unexpected Photo Shoot with Fabiola Actress Emily Hawk
We had such a fun time having Emily Hawk come down in late 2025 to record the tap dance and get a few pictures of her as Fabiola! We worked together last winter and again this winter and I called her up and asked if she wanted to trek back home with me (3 hours south) the following weekend. I was excited and quite surprised at her adventurous spirit when she quickly said yes.
We had already planned on filming the tap dance for the Christmas Special, but the original plan was for me to film it alone. She adapted quickly to a new plan when I told her I'd rather have the whole crew and the only way that would happen is if we both came down to the studio.
But I had another surprise in store for her. Mary suggested that we could maybe put the Fabiola costume on Emily Hawk and get a few pictures of her while she was there. As it turned out, I hardly saw Emily Hawk the next couple days and didn't have an opportunity to tell her that we had also planned a photo shoot during the trip.
So when we arrived at the film location after our long drive I saw the costume box and was suddenly reminded that I hadn't yet told Emily that she was going to also be Fabiola that day.
"Oh, I forgot to mention" quickly came out of my lips before I explained the situation to her. I remember she just looked at me. Her blue eyes easily betrayed her surprise and I could tell that she was a little nervous about putting on an unconventional outfit and having a photo shoot surrounded by my family whom she had just met. But she handled the situation with the same adventurous spirit as she had our surprise trip. She laughed and said, "Yeah, I don't think you mentioned that until now."
"Surprise!" was all I could think to say with a sheepish grin.
But let me tell you: Emily Hawk rocked the Roman garb. As seen by the photos we have now on the FABIOLA page, she pulled off a graceful and beautiful Fabiola.
The things about Emily Hawk that I love best are her friendship, her love of adventure, and her easy going attitude. I can't wait to get to filming so I can spend more time with her. We were surprised when someone asked us how long we had known each other and realized that it had only been a year.
I feel like I have known you forever, Emily.
All this being said, I am very excited about our goal for these opening weeks of 2026. If we reach our $200,000 goal, we could start looking into filming the next 6 scenes of FABIOLA! I can't wait to work with Emily Hawk on those next scenes and will always be grateful to everyone who helps us get there through contributing and investing in the film!
Learn more about FABIOLA here!
Agnes - Fabiola's Christian cousin. Although she never tells Fabiola that she is a Christian, she always implies the truth and tries to help Fabiola see the light in a darkened time.
Fulvius offers her life and the breaking of her vow or virginity, or death. She chooses death and she is arrested and handed over to the tribunal. Continue reading a more in depth character description here...
Syra - Fabiola's Christian slave. Syra also strives to convert Fabiola through constant conversations about philosophy and truth.
Although Fabiola is at first angry with Syra for contending the most profound ideas of the day, she eventually learns to listen and learn from her slave.
Bought from Syria, Syra is an ornament of Fabiola's apartment, adorning it with her great skill in embroidery. Although she is a slave, Syra is going to exhibit a very modest form of Roman women clothing.
Fabiola begins by treating her as what she is, a slave, but ends up respecting her as a dear friend and learns many truths of the Holy Faith from her.
Medium Roles
Caecilia - Syra and Agnes' blind friend. As a Christian, Caecilia accepts and even embraces her blindness as a cross she must lovingly accept.
Caecilia is happily the catacomb guide. As a guide, although blind, Caecilia is a representation of the virtue of faith - blind, yet leading the way. She is among the first to be martyred in the film.
Afra - Fabiola's African slave. Afra is an enemy of the Christians and a pagan priestess. She pretends to conspire with Corvinus to help win Fabiola for him, although she is actually just getting money out of him.
Afra's greatest goal in life is to buy her freedom and marry the captain of the archers, Hyphax. The opportunity arises when she has the power to persuade Hyphax to let Sebastian survive his execution in exchange for her own freedom.
After a life of wickedness, Afra realizes that her life is not getting more satisfying, only feeling more empty. She begins to study Christianity and is martyred by her husband for embracing it.
Small Roles
Lucina - Pancratius' Christian mother. Lucina watches her husband, Quintinus, be martyred in the arena in the beginning of the film and always encourages her son to be everything his father was.
As a pious widow, Lucina dedicates her life to the Church and is in charge of the virgins as well as provides the pope with housing. She again stands in the arena to see her son, Pancratius, be killed the same way his father was, eaten by wild beasts.
Lucina is described as being "A matron not beyond the middle age of life, whose features, noble yet mild, show traces of having passed through sorrow at some earlier period. But a powerful influence has subdued the recollection of it, or blended it with a sweeter thought; and the two always come together, and have long dwelt united in her heart."
Emerentiana - Agnes' foster sister. Emerentiana is first met when she is a sweet and innocent pagan. Through the influence of Agnes, she soon becomes a Christian.
Emerentiana is later martyred while honoring St. Agnes' grave by some pagan men who are angry that she will not comply with their evil intentions.
Graia - Fabiola's Greek slave, the gossip. Graia is another "good" pagan who later becomes a Christian with Fabiola's entire household.
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We believe storytelling has the power to shape souls. In a world where mainstream media often undermines faith and virtue, we are dedicated to reclaiming the art of filmmaking for Christ and His Church. Our mission is simple yet bold: to populate the movie industry with good, Catholic films that inspire, uplift, and ignite a love for truth and beauty.
Populating the movie industry with good, Catholic films that inspire, uplift, and ignite a love for truth and beauty.