My Real-Lıfe Angel

The parts Della Reese and I played on TV were the parts that we ended up playing in each other’s lives

- Roma Downey

I first met della reese on the set where we were filming the pilot for the TV series Touched by an Angel. I had already gone through hair and makeup and taped a few scenes. But I was eager to meet the woman who would be my counterpart on the show. I heard that Miss Della Reese had arrived. I went back to the makeup trailer, and there she was. I reached out my hand and said, “I wanted to introduce myself.”

Della stood and said, “Oh, baby, I don’t shake hands. I hug.” And she wrapped me in the biggest embrace.

We were an unlikely duo—an earthy jazz and gospel singer from Detroit, Michigan, and a soft-spoken actress from Ireland. Still, we hit it off immediately, talking about our lives, our challenges and our faith.

Deep within me, there lived a little girl still longing for a mother. I was not quite 11 when my mother died. For me, it was as if the lights had been turned out and all the color of life removed. She was the center of my world, and then in an instant she was gone. No more Mom waiting for me at the end of a day, no more songs as I fell asleep, no more holding hands with her and running in the rain.

I had been searching for the kind, tender, unconditional love that only a mother can give. I found that in Della. The chemistry that we shared offscreen was very present in our relationship onscreen. Della, like her character Tess, was the older, wiser, tougher angel. Fiercely protective. My character depended on her.