Redeeming Love, a sweeping romance arriving in theaters on January 21, brings Francine Rivers' bestselling novel to life. Set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, the film follows a young couple and outlines the obstacles they face on their way to each other. Angel (Abigail Cowen, Fate: The Winx Saga), a hardened women who's gone through tough times, doesn't believe in love or even happiness until she meets the softhearted Michael (Tom Lewis, Gentleman Jack).

Some of the obstacles they face come in the form of Duke (Eric Dane, Euphoria) and Duchess (Famke Janssen, How to Get Away with Murder). These individuals represent Angel's dark past and threaten to wipe out any possibility of her future, holding her back and dragging her down into their depth. Duchess runs a brothel which boasted Angel as its star, while Duke is another level of nightmare altogether. With such forces as these against them, can love still prevail?

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Dane and Janssen spoke to Screen Rant about what drew them to Redeeming Love, and how they found their way into their complex characters.

Famke Janssen in Redeeming Love

Were either of you familiar with Francine Rivers' novel? If not, what was it about the script that enticed you?

Eric Dane: I wasn't familiar with the novel.

The script was great, but my character wasn't so great. He was a tough guy to find a way in. Throughout various conversations and ideas and a collaborative effort, we figured out a way for me to engage and really commit to this character. It's my story starring me.

Famke Janssen: I was not familiar with the novel, and I purposely didn't read it because I find that sometimes that ends up coloring how I would come into this character or choose to portray her.

As an actor, I am definitely very much here to serve the purpose of a story. It's different when you've directed one movie; then it's a very different approach to do it. But as an actor, I really like to come in and just realize this is her role, and this is the role that she plays in the story. And I really don't want to play place any moral judgment on who that person is.

But my way in definitely was [that she's] this woman in 1850 who is an entrepreneur, who is running a brothel, who's strong and has been hardened very much by life. She probably must have come out of prostitution herself to even come into this in the first place. I think it's a story of survival for the Duchess as well. She doesn't do it in the most flattering and kindest way and, like I said, I'm not here to play any moral judgment. But it is a really strong and powerful character in a time when women didn't inhabit those kinds of jobs. So, for sure, it was fun to do.

Eric, I was most struck by your accent in Redeeming Love. What conversations did you have with director D.J. Caruso to reach that portrayal?

Eric Dane: You know, I turned down the role at first because there was a charm factor they wanted this character to have. As an American, I just didn't see him [that way]; it just wasn't on the page. I just didn't see it.

D.J. wanted to speak with me, and I read it again the night before I spoke to [him]. I was just kind of messing around, and I started to say the lines as a million different things. I started saying them as an Irish - not really a leprechaun, but an Irish guy. The way the Irish speak is very lyrical and sing-songy and musical; the way they speak is musical.

So I said - and I fully expected them to have a Marlon Brando wanting to play Jor-El as a bagel moment. I said, "Listen, I can do this role, but you have to let me play him as an Irishman." And D.J. was like, "Huh, alright. Yeah, that's a good idea. Let me talk to the writer, because the character is not written as an Irish person." But historically, contextually, the West was founded on the backs of the Irish and the Chinese. So, it fits.

It made sense, and Francine allowed me to take creative license is with this character. I think, ultimately, it was the right thing to do.

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Redeeming Love opens in theaters nationwide on January 21.