André Holland Is Restoring an Old Movie Theater in His Alabama Birthplace — with His ‘Incredible’ Mother (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Mary Holland and André Holland in 2014.Photo:Araya Doheny/WireImage

Araya Doheny/WireImage

André Holland can’t help but smile when says he andhis motherare “as close as 19 is to 20.”

The star ofExhibiting Forgiveness, artist-turned-director Titus Kaphar’s new movie, says it was his mom, Mary, who was “the one who introduced me to acting” in their Alabama hometown.

“We had to drive really, really far to find any kind of arts programming at all,” André recalls. “And she was committed to doing that, she and my dad [Donald] both.”

But, he tells PEOPLE, “it was a heavy lift” getting him to local theater companies to make his stage debut. “So one of the passions that she has, and that I have, is to bring arts programming to my immediate community that I grew up in, in Bessemer, Alabama.”

André Holland at the New York premiere of ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ on Oct. 9.Steven Ferdman/Getty

Steven Ferdman/Getty

Through his non-profit organization The Holland Project, André and his mother, he explains, “found this old movie theater which we’ve purchased and are in the process of restoring.”

TheLincoln Theatrein Bessemer is “going to be a single-screen cinema,” says theMoonlightstar, like it was decades ago when it was apicture housededicated to movies for Black audiences. “And then there’s a little community center that we’re building that’s right next door to it — essentially a community space where we’re going to give kids and people in the community access to world-class arts programming.”

And Mary is “spearheading that whole thing,” he adds with a grin. “She is incredible.”

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Donald, who also supported a young André’s acting pursuits, sadly passed away “not long ago,” he says. “My relationship with my father was so wonderful.”

André Holland and Mary Holland at the Ketel One Family Made Vodka Celebrates Filmmakers at the Official Gersh Agency Party at the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 20.Araya Doheny/Getty

Araya Doheny/Getty

“I’m also in school,” reveals the actor-producer. “I’m doing a master’s degree at the Harvard Divinity School. I’ve loved every second of it. The program is called Master’s of Religion and Public Life, which is all about how to have our work, my work as an artist, have a greater impact in the world through the academic study of religion. It’s been an amazing experience.”

Exhibiting Forgiveness, which costarsAndra Day,Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, John Earl Jelks and Ian Foreman, is in theaters now.

source: people.com