In Netflix's latest hit comedy Dumplin' [1], one of the most significant characters barely even appears onscreen and doesn't appear at all in the story's present day [2]. We're talking, of course, about Aunt Lucy, mentor and beloved aunt to the heroine Willowdean. Lucy is the one who takes care of Willowdean as a child and who inspires her to enter a beauty pageant in the first place. But, in the present day of the movie, Aunt Lucy has been dead for six months [3]. It's a role with little screentime, but a big impact on the plot [4]. If you don't recognise the actress playing Lucy, there's a good reason for that.
Dumplin' is the screen debut of actress Hilliary Begley — no relation to Ed Begley Jr., beloved American actor. She previously had a comedy career, but is now moving into acting. She recently wrapped her second film as well: When We Last Spoke, starring Cloris Leachman. The family drama film is set for a 2019 release. After that, who knows? But if Begley keeps it up, we're sure we'll be seeing her in many more movies to come! Until then, you can follow her on Twitter [5] and Instagram [6].
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