Naman Shrestha
Inspired by the tragic fire disaster that engulfed Paradise, California, in 2018, Lifetime’s ‘Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story’ is a biographical drama movie helmed by Jozua Malherbe. Based on the brave EMS provider, the narrative dramatizes the heroics of Nichole Jolly. It follows the nurse who puts her life on the line in order to do what she does best — save lives. When the town is struck by an unexpected wildfire, she does everything she can to help her colleagues, patients, and other residents evacuate the burning town. Putting her own needs aside, Jolly shows immense courage and proves where her passion lies. Amidst the smoke-filled town of Paradise, Nichole Jolly serves as a hopeful presence throughout the narrative.
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story Filming Locations
‘Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story‘ was reportedly filmed in its entirety in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape. From the looks of it, the principal photography for the Lifetime production took place in the month of February 2025, over the course of a few weeks. The titular lead, Chrissy Metz, opened up to Digital Journal about what it was like working with Colin Moss, stating, “I loved working with Colin. He is so lovely and so easy to work with. Colin and the two kids did such a great job. I believe this was the first project for the two boys. The whole cast was so wonderful to work with.”
Western Cape, South Africa
Though the narrative is set in Paradise, California, ‘Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story’ was actually shot entirely in the province of the Western Cape in South Africa. From what we can tell, a significant portion of the filming took place in the country’s capital city of Cape Town. The port city boasts a diverse landscape that supports an urban and rural setting, effortlessly doubling up for many locations across Europe as well as the Middle East. Not only that, but it also boasts first-rate production complexes, highly proficient cast and crew members, lucrative tax incentives, favorable climate, and cooperative locals, which further aid in ensuring the production process goes smoothly. Therefore, it served as an ideal shooting spot to portray the inspiring journey of the brave EMS provider, Nichole Jolly.
The production team likely utilized the services of a studio facility in the region to showcase the devastation caused by the destructive wildfires in Paradise and the surrounding areas. Furthermore, with over 97% of the cast comprising South African actors, the Lifetime movie offered local talent a platform to shine bright on international screens. During her time in the beautiful city, Chrissy also visited Oranjezicht City Farm, a local beautiful Market Garden + Farmers Market at the Granger Bay site within the precinct of V&A Waterfront. While there, she not only scoured through the fresh produce of vegetables and fruits, but also marvelled at the stunning array of vibrant flowers at the stall of Adene’s Farm Flowers. It is likely that she also interacted with the locals.
In the same interview with Digital Journal, the actress opened up about why she chose the project and also shed light on her overall experience while bringing the film to life. Metz said, “Truth be told, I didn’t think I could do it. This is a very emotionally and physically demanding role, and I told them ‘I might not be the right girl for the job.’ I love to portray real women, especially heroic women that might not be recognition in that way, so I decided to do it for Nichole.” Also known as Mother City, Cape Town has gained prominence as a global filming destination.
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story Cast Details
The cast of Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story is spearheaded by Chrissy Metz. The Florida-born actress has been actively working in the entertainment industry since 2005 and has over 20 acting credits to her name. Over her two-decade career, she has earned critical acclaim, accolades, and several nominations, including a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination. Interestingly, she is also the lead singer of her own band, Chrissy and the Vapors.
Chrissy brought immense experience to the heroic role in the Lifetime movie, giving a nuanced performance with just the right amount of emotional depth. The movie also stars South African actor Colin Moss, who essays his role with utmost authenticity. He kickstarted his career as a stand-up comedian but ultimately realized his true calling lies in acting. Since then, he has cemented his name in the industry and logged over 40 titles in his filmography.
Chrissy Metz as Nichole Jolly
Chrissy Metz dons the garb of Nichole Jolly, the local nurse who heroically strives to save many patients from the deadly California wildfires. She is a prominent name in the world of movies and television. Her most renowned work is her portrayal of Kate Pearson in the hit show ‘This Is Us,’ for which she also bagged a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. You may also recognize her from her work on ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ as Barbara/Ima Wiggles, ‘Sierra Burgess Is a Loser’ as Trish, and Breakthrough as Joyce Smith. Chrissy’s other works include ‘Entourage,’ ‘All of Us,’ ‘Superstore,’ ‘My Name Is Earl,’ and ‘Stay Awake.’
Colin Moss as Nick Jolly
Colin Moss stars alongside Chrissy Metz as Nichole’s husband, Nick Jolly, who ensures their son is safe while his wife, Nicole, is performing her duties to the people of their town. The versatile actor is best known for his work in ‘Unseen’ as Ruben Theron, ‘The Deuce’ as Well-Heeled John, ‘1923’ as Charles Hardin, ‘The Blacklist’ as Graham Flynn, ‘Isidingo’ as Stewart Buller, ‘Warrior’ as Franklin Thayer, and ‘The World Unseen’ as De Witt. By delivering compellinHe has proved his mettle as an actor byperformances across projects of varying genres, he has proved his met and shows like ‘Angeliena,’ ‘Good Life,’ ‘The Kissing Booth 3,’ ‘Vagrant Queen,’ ‘Abraham Lincoln,’ ‘Jessica Jones,’ ‘Cape Town,’ ‘Black Mirror,’ and ‘The Morning After.’
The supporting cast of ‘Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story’ comprises Keeno Lee Hector, Max Botha, and Thomas Farham. You may recognize Keeno from his work on ‘Karavaan,’ ‘Bloodshot,’ ‘Novocaine,’ and ‘Bluestone 42.’ Meanwhile, Max can be seen in ‘Summertide.’
Read More: Where is Nichole Jolly Now? Update on the Heroic Nurse
