Soul on Fire Star Was Chosen To Play John O’Leary’s Mom In Biopic

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The movie Soul on Fire shares the incredible true story of John O’Leary, and one of the actors reveals how they came to play an important role in his life. Directed by Sean McNamara (known for Reagan), the film follows O’Leary’s journey from a childhood accident that left him severely burned, through his inspiring recovery, with support from his family, faith, and baseball legend Joe Buck.

James McCracken and Joel Courtney star in Soul on Fire, alongside John Corbett (known from And Just Like That), Stéphanie Szostak (A Million Little Things), and William H. Macy. The film, released in theaters on October 10th, has received positive reviews, with an 80% approval rating from critics and a remarkable 98% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

To celebrate the release of the film, Joe Deckelmeier spoke with Stéphanie Szostak for ScreenRant about Soul on Fire. Szostak explained that she and her husband first discovered O’Leary’s work 15 years ago at a company event. They were so inspired by his speech that they “came home deeply moved” and wanted to help share his story.

Early in his career, John recalled a gathering of around 40 people where everyone was deeply emotional – he said they were all crying. He came home with a book his parents had written, titled ‘Overwhelming Odds.’ I was really touched by the story, and especially by how John emphasized the incredible support he received from the community and how much we all affect each other’s lives. It’s remarkable how he shares his experiences without making it solely about himself.

I recently learned some fascinating backstory about how Romany Malco landed his role in Soul on Fire. It all started around the time his memoir, On Fire, came out – which the film is based on. He discovered that Kevin O’Leary has a podcast where he talks to people who’ve overcome tough challenges, and Romany was really moved by that. Apparently, while Romany was promoting his show A Million Little Things, his husband actually suggested he reach out to O’Leary to be a guest on the podcast. That conversation ended up being the seed that grew into Romany getting the part in Soul on Fire – it’s a pretty cool story!

I wrote a letter to this man, telling him how much his work meant to my family. He invited me onto his podcast, and at the end, he jokingly said he’d call me when his book was made into a movie. I thought that was a nice gesture, but I didn’t expect it to ever happen. Surprisingly, we stayed in touch and became friends, even though we never met in person. Then, he texted me with incredible news: his book was becoming a movie, and he wanted me to play his mother! I immediately accepted – it would be a dream come true.

Once Szostak landed the role, she focused on making her portrayal of Susan, O’Leary’s mother, feel genuine, starting with the voice. While her French background gave her a foundation, she worked with a fantastic dialect coach to perfect the St. Louis accent of the character’s mother, using a surprisingly effective method.

She had me study videos of Susan O’Leary, first focusing on her mouth movements without any sound. I practiced those movements until they felt natural, and only later did I pay attention to the audio. I also revisited her book and listened to a podcast featuring her son. The goal was to thoroughly prepare, connect my own experiences to hers, and then fully immerse myself in the role on set. Meeting Susan in person was incredible – she often visited, and seeing her watching on set was a huge inspiration. It wasn’t stressful at all; it simply reinforced the importance of respectfully telling her story.

Szostak found a special way to connect with Susan by talking to her about her very first memory. Susan had learned this technique from an acting book early in her career. She remembered helping to take care of her grandmother, and Szostak felt this memory revealed Susan’s life purpose: to help and care for others.

I asked her about her earliest memory. I’d read in an acting guide that even when creating a fictional character, it’s helpful to consider their first memory. She recalled playing with her sister while their grandmother lived with them, and specifically remembering being asked to help wash her grandmother’s back. She said her grandmother would say, “Susie, come help me wash my back.” I was struck that her earliest memory involved caring for someone. While it wasn’t a formal caregiving role, it was a moment of helping another person. This resonated because she went on to become a caregiver for most of her life, looking after her son and her husband, who lived with Parkinson’s disease for thirty years.

Everything Else Szostak Shared About The Importance Of Soul On Fire

ScreenRant asked how the filmmakers portrayed the complex relationship between John and his mother, specifically how they balanced showing her strength and the tough love that helped him survive with moments of tenderness.

Stéphanie Szostak described a challenging scene in the script where the mother asks a piano teacher to resume lessons for her son, John, after he’s been hospitalized for months and undergone numerous surgeries, resulting in an amputation. The dialogue is initially shocking – John questions why the teacher is there, and his mother firmly insists he continue with lessons, refusing to treat his situation as an excuse. While seemingly harsh, this moment ultimately pushes John to learn the piano. Szostak interpreted the mother’s actions not as cruelty, but as a display of courage. As a mother herself, she understood the instinct to shield children from hardship, and saw the mother’s sternness as a necessary step to help her son regain confidence and believe in his own abilities.

ScreenRant asked how the movie’s focus on family, faith, and community resonated with the actor personally, given that he’d already mentioned those themes were important to him.

Stéphanie Szostak believes the film is fundamentally about the power of community and how much we affect each other’s lives. It emphasizes the importance of supporting those around us – family, healthcare workers, and everyone else. She highlights a powerful scene where a hospital director asks his interns who the most important person is, leading to a realization that it’s not the doctor or even the patient, but the janitor, whose work prevents potentially fatal infections. Another moving moment involves a nurse who cared for the main character as a child. Seeing him again after twenty years, the nurse confesses he always knew he was good at his job, but only now understands that he truly mattered. Szostak feels the film beautifully illustrates that we all matter and make a difference in the lives of others every day, and we have the power to choose what kind of impact that will be.

You know, that scene really stuck with me too. What I think is so interesting about John’s journey is the idea that we get through tough times because of the connections we have with other people, and the film really tries to show that. It got me thinking about my own life and career – and honestly, yeah, I absolutely believe that’s been true for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of the people I’ve worked with and the relationships I’ve built along the way.

Definitely. We can’t succeed on our own. We all have a role to play in moving forward, but we need support – people who challenge us, encourage us, and bring joy to our lives. Human connection is essential; it’s what binds us together, no matter our backgrounds or beliefs. We’re all human, and that allows us to connect with one another. That’s why I find this story so meaningful – it’s all about the power of connection.

ScreenRant asked if working on this film changed or strengthened the actor’s views on dealing with loss and bouncing back from difficult times, as he’d discussed before.

I was really struck by something John said, and it’s stayed with me. It’s so easy to fall into self-pity and ask ‘Why me?’ when things get tough. We all do it, honestly. But hearing his story, and the incredible hardships his family faced, really reframed that question for me. It made me think, instead of dwelling on the negative, maybe we should be asking ‘Why not me?’ It’s a powerful shift in perspective, and a great reminder of resilience.

ScreenRant asked, “John’s film focuses on everyday people facing incredible challenges. What message do you hope viewers will get from it?”

Everyone will likely connect with the movie in their own way, based on their personal experiences. I really hope audiences enjoy it, especially seeing it in theaters together as a community. It would be wonderful if families went and it prompted some meaningful discussions – things like, ‘Who was a mentor figure in your life?’ or ‘How can I be that for someone else?’ I even asked my son if I’d ever used ‘tough love’ with him, and he said I had, but only because it was always balanced with unconditional love. That led to a really great conversation. Ultimately, I hope the movie inspires people and gets them talking.

ScreenRant noted that this role feels like a full-circle moment for you, as you first encountered the story around 15 years ago. Now, playing Susan, who is reflecting on her own career, how meaningful is this role to you?

It’s incredibly meaningful to be a part of this film, especially because it’s based on a true story. I’ve never played a real person before, and John’s story deeply inspired me and my husband. It’s a real honor to share his message, both through the movie and his book. He has a way of helping you change how you look at things, find joy, and discover more meaning, even when life is challenging.

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2025-10-22 00:42