Kerby Anderson

Ashley Bratcher is the actress in the upcoming film, “Unplanned.” The story in the film is powerful, but so is her personal story. The film will be out in March and tells about the conversion of Abby Johnson who was a clinic director for Planned Parenthood and became a pro-life activist. Ashley auditioned for the part and considered herself pro-life but admits she was certainly not an activist. However, as she read more about Abby Johnson and about Planned Parenthood, she was convicted and thrilled that she got the part. When she got the call to play the role, she was told to pack for seven weeks and be ready to leave in a few hours. It all happened so quickly that she didn’t have time to tell family and friends why she left. When her mother called her, she hesitantly answered because of their strained relationship. When Ashley was in high school, her mother shared with her that she had an abortion when she was 16. Three years later, she had Ashley. As Ashley began to tell her mother the story about Abby Johnson and Planned Parenthood, her mother fell apart. She said, “I need to tell you something I’ve never told you before.” Through tears she confessed, “I was going to abort you.” In fact, she was on the table for an abortion when she changed her mind. Ashley later called her father and asked if this story was true. He admitted that it was and added that they didn’t have enough money for the abortion, so he pawned a shotgun to pay for the abortion. Ashley is so grateful that her mother believed her life was more valuable than the price of a pawned shotgun. Now she has a story to tell that is just about as powerful as the story she is telling about Abby Johnson in the upcoming movie, “Unplanned.” When the film comes out, I encourage you to watch it and bring your friends. The story in the film is powerful, but so is the backstory of the actress in the film.