Film tribute to nun with dreams of stardom

A LONDONDERRY actress who gave up her dream of Hollywood to become a nun has finally made it to the big screen two years after she died in an earthquake in Ecuador.

The film All Or Nothing was made by Sister Kristen Gardener (31) as a tribute to her friend Sister Clare Crockett and features footage from 120 interviews conducted with people around the world and relatives here at home.

Speaking in the documentary, Sister Clare’s mother Margaret says “everything she done was drama”.

“She wanted to go to Hollywood and she was going to be a great star,” she adds.

It also features inter views with residents in Playa Prieta who took part in frantic rescue efforts after the building Sister Clare was living in collapsed during the powerful quake that struck on April 16, 2016.

“Suddenly t he earthquake happened and the sisters’ build- ing fell completely,” one eyewitness recalls i n t he documentar y. It was as if the four-story building had never existed,” another said.

Sister Kristen, originally from Ohio but currently serving in Spain, has travelled to Derry to attend tonight’s sold-out screening at the Brunswick Moviebowl.

She believes Clare’s remarkable story has the power to transform lives.

“We were all ver y moved by the number of people who showed interest in Clare’s life, I really wanted to make this film and I am so happy at the reaction so far,” she said.

The documentary, which will also be screened in 20 countries to mark the second anniversary of a quake that claimed 400 lives, will be played again on Wednesday night.

“I spent months on my iPad gathering old pictures and videos of Clare and travelled to Ireland to interview her family,” Sr Kristen added.

Sister Clare entered the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother after making her vows at the age of 18, a year after her conversion during a pilgrimage in Spain.

It was there she formed a friendship with Kristen who become a nun in the same order.

Sr Kristen said God definitely has a sense of humour and is helping to promote the tribute to her friend, who was epitomised by her “all or nothing” attitude.

“She found true happiness in Him and now He is giving her what she once thought she needed,” she said.

Documentary: Sr Clare Crockett