Local actor Danny Sheppard stars in powerful WWII film ‘The Triumph of the Heart’

Oldham-born actor Danny Sheppard has taken a significant step in his acting career with a powerful role in the new historical drama ‘Triumph of the Heart’ - a poignant and gritty portrayal of heroism and sacrifice during one of history’s darkest periods.

The film, which has already premiered in Poland and the United States, tells the harrowing true story of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Catholic priest who volunteered to die in place of another prisoner at Auschwitz during World War II.

“It’s based in Poland, and it centres around one of the country’s patron saints, Maximilian Kolbe,” Danny explained in a recent interview with the Reporter. “He was taken to Auschwitz when it was still a concentration camp - not yet the death camp it became. When a prisoner escaped, the commandant decided ten men would be chosen at random to starve to death. When one man cried out that he had a wife and children, Kolbe stepped forward and said, ‘I’ll take his place.’”

The film focuses on the agonising days spent by the ten condemned men in a starvation cell, where Kolbe’s unwavering faith helped maintain a sense of humanity among them. “It doesn’t end well,” Danny said, “but it’s strangely heart-warming - an intense story of sacrifice, faith, and survival.”

Danny plays a prisoner named Marik: “a bit of a nasty piece of work at the start,” as he puts it, whose arc takes him from callousness to quiet redemption. “I put someone forward to be picked at the start, so you don’t like me at first,” he laughs. “But it’s a layered role. Marik hears the men singing, passes on a message to one of their sons… he’s not all bad.”

The journey to the role, however, was anything but straightforward. Danny discovered the casting call on Facebook, initially wary due to the platform’s reputation for dubious offers. “There are a lot of sharks out there asking for credit card details and dodgy stuff,” he said. But after some due diligence and a successful video audition, he was offered one of the lead roles, only to turn it down.

“I panicked. My agent warned me about being out of the loop for six weeks and potentially missing something bigger here in the UK. I said no,” he admitted. “Then I went to my drama class, told my teacher, and he just looked at me and said, ‘You’re an actor. You got offered a paid lead role… and you turned it down?’”

Fortunately, fate had other plans. Director Anthony D’Ambrosio reached back out with an offer for a smaller, yet still pivotal, role - two weeks of filming in Poland. Danny accepted.

The film’s production team, largely based in Texas, is rooted in Catholic filmmaking circles, with the director’s father being a well-known Catholic speaker. “They’ve got distribution all over the U.S.,” Danny said. “As for the UK, we’re hoping for a release next year. If not, it’ll definitely hit some film platforms.”

Danny has since seen the final cut of The Triumph of the Heart at the premier in Poland where it was a bit hit amongst the audience and believes it could resonate well with British audiences. “You never know what you’re walking into - some films fall flat, others take off. But after seeing it, I honestly think it’s going to do really, really well.”

Danny on the red carpet at the premier of Triumph of the Heart.

While his role may not have been the one he initially turned down, Danny says the experience was invaluable. “Big regret turning down the lead, of course. But in the end, I still got to be part of something really special.”

As the film makes waves abroad, local audiences will no doubt be looking forward to seeing one of Oldham’s own take on a role in a story that’s as moving as it is meaningful.

Triumph of the Heart will be in theatres across Poland and the US on September 12^th.

The trailer can be watched here: Triumph of the Heart