Portraying the mother of Jesus is a daunting task for any actress.

Noa Cohen, a 22-year-old actress from Israel, says she felt an immense “responsibility” in her role as the lead in Netflix’s “Mary,” which premieres on Dec. 6. YSL News has the exclusive first look at the trailer for director D.J. Caruso’s faith-oriented coming-of-age thriller that reinterprets the traditional nativity narrative.

Producer Mary Aloe states, “This is a story that aims to inspire individuals of all faiths at a time when the world is encountering remarkable changes.”

The film chronicles Mary’s life from her miraculous birth—something her parents feared they would never experience—through her childhood and teenage years, eventually leading to her engagement with Joseph (played by Ido Tako). Following a revelation from the angel Gabriel about giving birth to the son of God, Mary faces rejection from her community due to her pregnancy. After the birth of Jesus, the family must flee as King Herod (portrayed by Anthony Hopkins) becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the child.

Director Caruso aimed to produce a “rich biblical epic that resonates with audiences regardless of their beliefs,” while also delivering “a heartfelt coming-of-age tale.” The narrative incorporates elements from both canonical scriptures and apocryphal texts to fill in cinematic gaps: for example, depicting Mary riding horses (with Caruso joking, “I left the slow donkeys behind”) and providing a more detailed portrayal of her family life than found in the Bible.

Caruso emphasizes the importance of portraying Mary with both reverence and relatability, stating, “It was essential to honor her grace while also showing her as a realistic teenage girl, facing fears and doubts like anyone else. However, it’s her bravery, love, and faith that propel her forward. Our Mary has an attitude – she’s authentic and relatable – and viewers will witness her challenges and victories like never before. She’s not so different from today’s youth as she embarks on her journey to becoming the iconic figure we all know.”

Regarding the “very intriguing” Herod, Hopkins expressed his intent to collaborate with the filmmakers to portray a character that feels “real, powerful, and contemporary on screen.” Meanwhile, Cohen mentioned her enjoyment in capturing Mary’s “vulnerability and resilience as she confronts both divine trials and very human struggles.”