Actress Elizabeth Tabish says ‘a lot of grief’ marks season four of streaming series ‘The Chosen’

Elizabeth Tabish, who portrays Mary Magdalene in “The Chosen,” wants viewers to be prepared for “a lot of grief” in upcoming episodes of the hit streaming series. But since it depicts the life of Jesus and followers, what’s to come in season four in February shouldn’t surprise most watchers.

“Hopefully, everyone’s been warned,” Ms. Tabish said in a video interview with The Washington Times. “It’s a really painful season; there’s a lot of grief in this season.”

In coming years, viewers will join Mary Magdalene as Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cheers of the crowd, only to be crucified between two common criminals days later. Her character will be the first to encounter the resurrected Christ at the tomb and proclaim that news to the others.

“I think about it all the time,” said Ms. Tabish, who lives with her family in Cleveland. “I realized after each season’s finished filming, oh, there’s more, and it gets harder; it’s going to get harder and more painful.”

She said the impending difficulty is not just about the events to be portrayed in the show, but also “it’s showing up to work every day in the sun outside, crying over and over and over with all your friends” during production.

“Every time it’s over, after each season, there’s this relief of like, ‘Oh, I can rest,’ but not for long, knowing what’s coming up the line,” she said.

One issue tackled in the new season is why one individual is healed by Jesus and another isn’t, Ms. Tabish said. “There’s just, I think, really difficult questions that are sort of answered.”

But she said there’s hope in the story, found in “the relief that comes from Jesus, the peace that comes with that, there is light to the dark, that there’s purpose in all of these things.”

“At the end of the day, it’s like, well, that’s what faith is: You aren’t really supposed to know while you’re alive,” Ms. Tabish said. “That’s the whole point of faith is believing in something without truly knowing it.”

While the show has been cathartic for many viewers — the actress said she hears from fans who say they see themselves in Mary Magdalene and identify with the character — “The Chosen” has also been therapeutic for her.

“I was going through a depression before I booked the show,” she said. “I don’t think I would have booked this role had I not experienced that and felt that. I’m constantly surprised by these gifts that come from pain. And these wonderful things that come from really difficult experiences.”

Ms. Tabish said she’s also aware of the responsibility she has in portraying one of the most notable women in Christian history. Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem and the events in which Mary Magdalene is involved are familiar to billions of people around the world, and it’s likely audiences will scrutinize their re-enactment in the series.