T i m e s O b s e r v e r - www.timesobserver.com
Until two months ago, Taylor Firth's acting experience consisted of helping youngsters do skits at church during Sunday morning worship services.
Beyond that, any performing that the Grand Island, N.Y., resident did was reserved for the ice at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y., or in similar venues throughout North America. As one of the top 20 women's figure skaters in the United States, she was perfectly content to merely let her athleticism and her passion for the sport do her talking.
That all changed in February - in the grandest way imaginable.
All it took was a curious producer, a pair of conscientious coaches and some God-given talent to land her a starring role on a remake of "Ice Castles,'' a movie first shown on the big screen three decades ago.
"Everyone has different things they're good at,'' said Firth, who turns 18 on Thursday. "Everyone is equal, with their own talents and gifts, and using them to the best of their ability.''
Firth has practiced what she's been preaching.
And Hollywood has apparently taken notice.